4 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



by spade or plow somehow. That is not im- 

 portant. The seeds you must select and put in 

 with care and patience yourself. I count that 

 really important. Now you must work it yourself, 

 work it thoroughly. The amount of work your 

 garden needs will depend on you rather than on 

 the weeds. 



The almanac will not help you. The clock will 

 be of little use. Let me tell you when to work. 

 In the morning early, if your head feels heavy 

 and the day's work seems too much for you; if 

 your confidence is low, your courage gone ; if you 

 trust your friend a little less, suspect your neigh- 

 bor, doubt the good, why, that's just the time 

 to work your garden. And, mark me! work it 

 hard, in the place that needs you most; and al- 

 ways turn your back upon the house, the world. 

 Perhaps, after dinner, when the meal is over, you 

 will need to go at it again. Then it may be best 

 to remember that the bugs are on the cucumber 

 vines and the May beetle grubs are eating the 

 strawberry plants. There are shady places in the 

 garden at noon, and there is always plenty that 

 needs to be done. You will know when to work; 

 and you will know when to neglect your garden. 



When your courage is high and your nerve is 

 steady, when you can laugh with life, then you 

 may let the weeds grow. It cannot hurt much. 

 Mother nature is a "steady hand." She works 

 early and late and plods on patiently, keeping 



