CHAPTER II. 

 FARMER'S GARDENS IN CALIFORNIA. 



It has already been admitted that there has been, ever 

 since the development of large farming enterprises was 

 seen to be possible in California, an indisposition on the 

 part of our farmers to engage in vegetable growing. Sev- 

 eral reasons are urged as explanatory of this very wide- 

 spread sentiment and some of them may be cited : 



First : The proper conduct of a large specialty farm gives 

 no time for gardening not even for the direction of work 

 upon it and it is better to buy vegetables than incur the 

 worry of a garden patch. 



Second: In small specialty farming on a limited acre- 

 age of especially fitted and high priced land, it is not prof- 

 itable to set apart land for vegetables when its yield in 

 the special product may pay several times the cost of 

 purchased vegetables. 



Third: Success with vegetables in California is very 

 difficult to attain especially so in certain parts of the 

 State and a farmer is more apt to lose than to gain by 

 any venture he may make in that line. 



Fourth : It is impossible to have a garden without irri- 

 gation water, even on lands which with ordinary rainfall 

 will yield cereals and carry productive deciduous fruit 

 trees if they are given good summer cultivation. 



How Far Are the Objections Tenable? It must be 

 granted that there is some force in the demurrer which the 

 California farmer often enters against his indictment for 

 lack of thrift and neglect of opportunities in not under- 

 taking to produce his home supply of fresh, crisp and 

 wholesome vegetables instead of depending upon the stale 

 and wilted goods of the itinerant vendors. It is perfectly 



