Home Gardening 13 



Can you draw health from a pork barrel ? No more than you 

 can gather grapes from a thorn bush. 



Many a farmer having sown a half acre or so of Black-Eye 

 Marrowfat or Canadian Field peas, from which his family may 

 have an abundant supply of green peas for a whole week, and 

 given them the privilege to help themselves to all the roasting 

 ears they may desire from the corn field (half a mile away) for 

 another whole week, is self-satisfied with his generosity, and 

 boasts that his full duty is done. According to statistics taken 

 in Illinois in 1888, only seventeen per cent, of the farmers had 

 the luxury of a strawberry patch. Think of this. Only one 

 boy in every six knew what it was to pluck the luscious fruit 

 from the vine, and eat to his heart's content! Without the 

 stimulating, cooling and cheering effect of fruit and vegetable 

 diet, what wonder that the blood of so many becomes sluggish 

 and laden with impurities; what wonder the stomach revolts at 

 the excess of grease, and becomes nauseated from want of 

 change ; what wonder the race degenerates, dyspepsia, scrofula, 

 and similar afflictions are becoming alarmingly frequent and 

 general, while the concocters and venders of patent quack medi- 

 cines are making fortunes ! What wonder the sons leave the 

 farm, and rush to the city, and the daughters have no desire to 

 sell themselves into new bondage and deprivations by marrying 

 farmers! Boy nature (and girl nature either) will not long sub- 

 mit to the daily farm routine of 



" All work and no play 

 All pork and no pay." 



Even the dullest kind of a Jack will remonstrate against and 

 resent this treatment. I have been a boy once, and I have 

 learned the irresistible attraction that luscious strawberries, 

 raspberries, gooseberries, currants, plums, pears, nuts, etc., have 

 for young people and old ones too, for that matter. Nature 

 only claims her rights, and will not be outraged with impunity. 

 I have learned the charms hidden, in crisp lettuce, radishes, green 

 peas, and the like, in spring when the human internal machinery 

 is clogged with a winter's excess of animal food. 



There is nothing in this wide world, that with just and fair 

 treatment otherwise will keep the farmer's boys and girls content 

 with rural life, and make them appreciate the great natural 

 advantages of their situation as does a good home garden and a 

 bountiful supply of good fruits, and nothing that will bring the 

 bloom and happy smile on the good wife's face as the assistance 

 she will receive from the same source in solving the problem 

 how to provide the three daily meals to the satisfaction of all. 



I have already alluded to the moral side of the question. 

 The half-starved, lean-faced street gamin standing in front of the 



