HOME GROWN VEGETABLES 23 



to transform the ordinary farm hand into a gardener have usually 

 only yielded disappointment, and the professional gardeners who 

 are really worthy of the name find it too easy to acquire enter- 

 prises of their own to warrant their wage-earning on the farm 

 basis. It might as well be conceded at once that many large farm- 

 ers will do better to purchase their supply from some man who 

 has the knowledge and the soil and water facilities for successful 

 production. 



It is also true that in many cases the small scale specialty 

 farmer, working a small tract of high-priced land for a high- 

 value product, does well to plant his entire holding, except his 

 house site, to this product. But it is also true that other men of 

 this class will find the reservation of a garden area a most profit- 

 able proceeding. What each shall do depends upon his personal 

 traits and tastes. 



But though these exceptions exist and should be considered 

 in any claims that are made in favor of a much wider enlistment 

 of California farmers in gardening for the production, at least, of 

 home supplies, the fact remains that farm gardens should be mul- 

 tiplied and that, with proper spirit and effort and appreciation of 

 their value, they can be more easily secured than the popular im- 

 pression among California farmers would indicate. There is a 

 wealth of experience to show that where good timely work is 

 done, under conditions either naturally favorable or rendered 

 favorable by moderate effort or investment, very gratifying re- 

 sults have been attained on farms in all parts of California. 



Benefits of Farm Gardens. It is trite to build arguments on 

 this theme, but the points can hardly be sharpened by comment. 

 The dietetic benefit of vegetable food in variety has been demon- 

 strated both by individual experience and by the food studie? 

 which are now being systematically pursued both in this country 

 and Europe. Working force, thinking force, the quality of suc- 

 cess in all lines of human effort, are all promoted by a generous, 

 well-balanced food supply. 



The hygienic benefit of food, including due amount of the 

 succulent, aromatic, tonic and assimilable characters which are 

 inherent in fresh and well-grown vegetables, is universally recog- 

 nized by authorities. The truth has particular force in a region 

 of high temperatures like California. The so-called cooling of the 

 blood, the development of resistance to malaria, the free and 



