338 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



An obsei-ving gentleman from another State, in writing to me on this subject, 

 says : "No part of the farm pays as well as the kitchen garden, if well taken 

 care of. I do not mean by this that every farmer can make money by raising 

 vegetables for market, because that is impracticable ; but it is a self-evident 

 fact that a farmer must procure the support of his family from his farm, and a 

 well-conducted garden will produce more towards this than any other part of 

 the farm of five times the extent." 



It is said by medical men that vegetables and fruits as diet are conducive to 

 health, and as most people, and especially children, are fond of garden fruits, 

 it is policy for every farmer to provide a plentiful supply for home consumption. 

 It would seem that people possessing all the conveniences that farmers have, as 

 regards land and leisure to take care of a garden, would consume the largest 

 amount of vegetable food, but the truth is that more is used by the people in 

 cities and villages than by the same number of land owners. Take a look 

 among the farmers and it will be found that one-half of them have no gardens 

 at all, or at most, a little corner in a grain field, which is half overrun with 

 weeds. Others have a place set apart for the purpose, but do not find time to 

 do anything in it until all the spring farm-work is done, thereby making it too 

 late to secure any of the vegetables requiring early planting. This is a great 

 l-'SS when we take into consideration that such things are relished much more 

 in the hot weather of June and July than later in the season. What is more 

 aggravating than to know that one's neighbor has green j)eas, new potatoes, string 

 beans, and the like, and his own but just up, and all through his own neglect 

 in not planting in season 1 And the farmers' wives and daughters also feel the 

 effect of this neglect when, during the first two or three summer months, they 

 have to rack their brains to think what to get for dinner ; for when the men, 

 weary with labor, come in from ihe fields their stomachs are apt to revolt 

 against salt pork and old potatoes. But if there are early potatoes, peas, beans, 

 and other vegetables in the garden, there is no trouble in getting up a dinner 

 that the men can eat with a relish ; and few things are more gratifying to the faith- 

 ful housewife than to see her husband enjoy the food she has prepared for him. 

 The garden should be near the house, as housekeepers do not always have 

 time to go far ; and if it is near by, a great many leisure moments can be spent 

 in weeding and taking care of it. It should also be so enclosed that neither fowls 

 nor stock can enter it. No success can reasonably be expected if fowls are 

 allowed to range in a garden, as their instincts lead them to the freshly-moved 

 soil for some of their most essential food. They are, therefore, always ready 

 to scratch where the gardener has just fashioned his new beds, planted his 

 choice shrubs, or scattered his early seeds. If enclosed, the space alongside 

 the fences may be occupied by raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, and other 

 climbers, which will serve the double purpose of affording fruit and providing 

 a shelter for more tender plants. If a path runs between these and the more 

 central portions of the garden, these climbers can be conveniently cultivated 

 from it, and their spreading be very easily prevented. 



The manure for the garden should be well rotted, and if allowed to remain 

 in a vault or cellar through the summer, all seeds would be killed, thus saving 

 a vast amount of work in weeding. Apply the manure in the fall and plough 

 in immediately, ploughing again in the spring, which thoroughly mixes it with 

 the soil. As soon as the weather will permit, plant early potatoes, peas, and 

 all kinds of early vegetables which are not liable to be killed by frost. Put 

 in others along as the season advances, and when they come up, keep them 

 well hoed and free from weeds, and you will enjoy the satisfaction of having 

 something good as well as your neighbor. 



LOCATION OF THE GARDEN. 



Every man should do his best to own a home. The first money he can spare 

 -Ought to be invested in a dwelling where his family can live permanently. 



