A FARMER'S FRUIT GARDEN. 447 



and although our trees had not been disturbed evidently something 

 had happened during the night. Long afterwards we learned the 

 story of that night's frolic. Some mischievous boys had planned 

 a raid upon our orchard as well as others in the immediate neighbor- 

 hood. Their plans were overheard, and two young men entered 

 our orchard and voluntarily went on guard. They soon fell asleep, 

 and were rudely awakened by the raiding boys who nearly stepped 

 on them. Immediately they gave chase, but forgot the wire fence, 

 and soon men, boys, barbed wire and fence posts were hopelessly 

 mixed up, resulting in a big scare and loss of apples to the boys, and 

 tattered and torn pantaloons for the young men. 



Our garden is quite a distance from the house and barns, m 

 order to remove it beyond the depredations of the chickens. Usual- 

 ly there is a narrow strip of grain or sweet corn between the house 

 and garden, thus to more effectually bewilder these marauders. The 

 garden is laid out in long rows for horse cultivation. My straw- 

 berries occupy one part of the plot ; aim to plant some four or more 

 rows all the way through each separate, yearly planting. Try to 

 plant in one row those vegetables that require cultivating about the 

 same length of time, but also to have several parts of rows abreast 

 each other, like corn, so that the pollen may have a betttr chance 

 to produce more perfect results. Sow a few radish seeds with all 

 slow, germinating seeds, so that the rows may be cultivated and hoed 

 from the first, thus saving as much weeding as possible ; but the 

 radishes must be removed before they become a hindrance to the 

 growth of the other crops. Usually sow more seeds than needed so 

 that if, during a busy time, the weeds get the start, then that 

 part of the garden can be cultivated up, and some other crop take 

 its place. This plan works well, if that part of the garden escapes 

 my father's eye ; otherwise, I may get a gentle reminder of the nec- 

 essity of never allowing the weed to seed or, better still, to be seen. 

 I sow all of my flower seeds in the garden with the vegetables. 

 Then, when they become quite strong plants, transplant some around 

 the house and in the yard ; but even in this way, the chickens bother 

 much. So aim to produce cut flowers in the garden, where the soil 

 is rich and mellow, and under thorough cultivation every year, and 

 no grass allowed to sap the strength from the soil. There are a few 

 things which I have learned from practical experience, and after 

 noting what occurs to my memory I will not longer tax your 

 patience. Sow plenty of seed, both vegetable and flower ; the plants 

 can easily be thinned, saving the more vigorous ones, as all seeds at 

 their best are apt to prove a delusion and a snare. Of course you 



