CHAPTER IX 

 A GARDEN 



ITS IMPORTANCE 



Value. — A garden is a very small but important part 

 of a farm. After the long winter, during which we have 

 lived largely on bread, meat, canned vegetables and fruits, 

 there is nothing more delightful than to get the fresh veg- 

 etables from the garden. They are succulent, easily digest- 

 ed, palatable and nutritious. 



A variety of good vegetables means much to every 

 housewife, who must plan and prepare at least one thousand 

 meals during the year. If she has at hand an abundance 

 of fresh vegetables for summer use, and of the same canned 

 for winter, the question of preparing suitable and healthful 

 meals is greatly simplified. 



For the boy or girl who wishes to help the mother, and 

 at the same time learn a great deal about soil and how to 

 cultivate it, about plants and how to grow them, there 

 is nothing on the farm that offers a greater opportunity 

 than the garden. A very few minutes of well directed 

 effort will work wonders in the production of many vege- 

 tables, such as radishes, onions, etc. 



Income from a Garden. — Some boys and girls, living 

 near town, may earn considerable by caring for a few va- 

 rieties of vegetables and selling the surplus in town, But 

 boys or girls have right at home a good market for as much 

 as they can raise. They may not, and perhaps should not, 

 expect to receive money for what they raise for home use, 

 but they may rightly consider that they earn all that the 

 vegetables would bring, if sold. Vegetables have a value 

 whether sold or used at home. Some farmers seem to think 

 that their living costs nothing. It is true that they do 

 not pay out money for much of their food ; but if they would 

 consider, for example, the vegetables used worth what might 



