GOOD FOOD FROM THE GARDEN. 77 



of a soluble biphosphate of lime, which must be neutralized by 

 the alkalies in the soil in order to be used by the plants. When 

 South Carolina rock is used in making the superphosphate,, much 

 of it reverts and becomes permanently insoluble. Phosphoric 

 acid is almost the only constituent of modern fertilizers which 

 admits of a reduction in cost, as nitrate of soda and the various 

 forms of potash are probably as cheap now as they will ever be. 

 Minutely divided bone dust will be found to be the most satisfac- 

 tory form in which to use phosphoric acid, as a large proportion 

 is available for present use, and the residue is rapidly brought 

 into condition for future crops. 



A mixture of half a ton of cottou-seed meal (a cheap and con- 

 tinuous source of nitrogen), six hundred pounds of nitrate of 

 soda, half a ton of high-grade sulphate of potash, and one ton of 

 pure bone flour will meet the requirements in most cases. 



MEETING FOR LECTURE AND DISCUSSION. 



Saturday, February 27, 1897. 

 A meeting for Lecture and Discussion was holden today at 

 eleven o'clock, Vice-President Benjamin P. Ware in the chair. 

 The following paper was read by the author : 



Good Food from the Garden. 



By Miss Anna Barrows, Managing Editor " American Kitchen Magazine," Boston. 



Since the Massachusetts Horticultural Society has asked a 

 woman to address this meeting, presumably it wishes to look at 

 the interests which it represents through the eyes of the house- 

 keeper. This is a hopeful sign, and indicates that in the near 

 future producer and consumer may cooperate to secure the best 

 interests of both parties. Today they seem to be separated by a 

 multitude of middlemen, who, perhaps from ignorance of the best 

 methods of handling garden produce, often injure rather than 

 help this branch of trade. 



The gardener, the marketman, and the housekeeper should have 

 frequent conferences, to the end that all people should be better 

 fed ; that the human body may repel disease and temptation to 

 crime, and may be able to bear the heavy burdens of the twentieth 

 century. Let us look at the possibilities of obtaining good food 



