396 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



No. 94, "The Vegetable Garden;" No. 61, "Asparagus Culture;" 

 No. 148, "Celery Culture;" No. 154, "The Home Fruit Garden;" 

 No. 39, "Onion Culture;" and at the New Hampshire Station, Dur- 

 ham; Bulletin No. 99, "A Selected List of Vegetables for the Garden;" 

 No. 86, "Growing Watermelons in the North;" No. 74, "Growing 

 Strawberries in New England;" No. 52, "Growing Muskmelons in 

 New England," etc. Many similar bulletins are likewise to be had 

 from the Massachusetts Experiment Station at Amherst, for the 

 asking. 



With this as a start, we should be well fortified for making a suc- 

 cess with our garden. After reading, thinking over and digesting as 



much as we can, we 

 are prepared, with seed 

 ordered and on hand, 

 to proceed. In order 

 to cover the ground 

 and touch on the more 

 important matters, let 

 us discuss each step in 

 order, as far as possible. 

 I. Fall Plovnng. — 

 After frost has come in 

 the fall, rake together 

 and clean up all dead 

 vines, cabbage stumps, 

 etc., and throw them 

 upon the compost heap ; 

 then plow up the ground 

 fairly deep, and allow 

 the furrows to remain 

 on edge over winter. 

 Freezing and thawing, 

 with free access of air 

 to the soil, are beneficial, and assist in destroying insects. In the 

 spring such soils drj' out early, and are more quickly put in condition 

 for planting. 



II. Plant Food. — The keynote for success with the home garden 

 is this question of feeding the plants. We do not expect to get results 

 from unfed animals; neither shall we get much pleasure in gardening 

 unless we make the conditions necessary for good results. Let us 

 take the time to visit some of the large gardeners about Arlington, 

 Belmont, etc., and get an idea of how they feed plants; and if we 

 follow their example, the most essential problem in succeeding in the 

 home garden will have been solved. Stable and barn manures are the 

 best fertilizers at all times. Commercial fertilizers are all right in their 

 place and when used by persons who are experienced in such use, but 



Laroe Bell Pepper. 



