8 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



In making a practical estimate of the results of 

 this dry -farming garden, the price considered was 

 the average retail price that would have been paid 

 to the grocer, had the fruit and vegetables been 

 purchased; and these rates were, of course, be- 

 fore-the-war prices. Expenses are considered 

 only in part. The gardener's labor is not in- 

 cluded, because it was a labor of JOT and brought 

 great returns in health. 



Let us turn the expense of labor toward the 

 balance of the real gardener's glorious profit. 

 Labor paid for amounted to f 6.51. The plowing 

 and general preparation of the garden was done 

 by the hired man and the farm team at off hours. 

 For seeds $3.10 was paid; $2.00, for commercial 

 fertilizer. Other fertilizers came from the farm 

 supply. The total of money paid out was $11.61, 

 leaving a money profit, on paper, of $73.60. It 

 seems only fair to consider the special handicaps 

 of that particular year. The late spring frost 

 of June 8th burned the strawberries, corn, 

 all unprotected currants and gooseberries, the 

 grapes and asparagus, even the First-of-All 

 peas. The drought nearly destroyed the summer 

 squashes, ruined the cucumbers, and finally be- 

 cause of slow development nearly spoiled the 

 winter squashes. The early fall frost of Septem- 

 ber 12th came when many vegetables had not 

 reached their best. Nearly three dozen winter 

 squashes would have matured, in spite of the 



