142 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



March 



er, which of these resources have you upon 

 your own farm, of which you have not yet suffi- 

 ciently availed yourself? If you find that you 

 have one or more of them, have the courage to 

 resort to them at once, and you will never re- 

 gret it. ^• 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE GARDEjXT. 

 Every one who lives outside of the most 

 thickly settled limits of a city or village, and 

 owns a small piece of ground, usually devotes 

 a portion of it to a garden ; and in these tunes 

 of high prices is supposed to want to make the 

 mostTie possibly can from it. In order to do 

 this, the ground must be thoroughly worked, 

 and but little devoted to each kind of produce, 

 as we usually desire to produce a variety. 

 The farmer who owns his broad acres is under 

 no necessity of crowding his garden, as he is 

 who owns only a city or village lot; but can 

 have a goodly sized garden with one department 

 devoted to the production of kitchen vegeta- 

 bles ; another ibr Iruit, and yet another for 

 flowers. But with tlie generality of farmers a 

 small portion of ground is all that is usually 

 devoted to the garden, and too frequently this 

 is not made the most of. But 1 am happy to 

 say that of late years there is more interest 

 manifested in growing a greater variety ot veg- 

 etables, fniit,\^tc., and giving the garden bet- 

 ter culture and attention. 



The garden that satisfied our forefathers \vill 

 but illy'satisfv the more cultivated or dainty 

 appetite of tlie present age. Few at the pres- 

 ent dav rest satished with the salt meat and po- 

 tatoes "of former days, which constituted the 

 farmer's boiled dinner. A gi-eater variety 

 is craved, and as a general thing we lind it 

 conducive to healtli to gratify the appetite in 

 this particular. The gardener or agriculturist 

 performs but Uttie work except with reference 

 to future results. If he plants, or sows, he 

 does it with reference to the returns it will 

 make in the future, and patiently awaits the re- 

 sult. I'he winter, being a comparatively leis- 

 ure season with the tanner, is the time he 

 should give to study and planning ibr the com- 

 ing busy season. Let, then, those who have iiota 

 gai-den' suitable for growing a sufficient variety 

 of vegetables, fruits, &c., locate a new one or 

 enlarge the old, and plan it with reference to 

 all th'e dilicrent varieties of vegetables, &c., 

 desired to be produced lor a gooil liunily sup- 

 ply, from early spring to late autumn, with a 

 supply to store away' for winter use. A small 

 portion of ground devoted to a garden and 

 toell tended will give very much greater proht 

 to a llunilv, than any other e(iual portion 

 of the farm, aside from the pleasure it aifonls 

 in having its productions fresh and seasonable. 

 Many things needed for the successful culture 

 of the garden may be got in readiness for 

 Rpring use, by making new, or repairing old 

 ones. 



Hot-Beds. 



No garden is complete without one. They 

 are desirable for starting many kinds of plants 

 and vegetables early before the weather will 

 admit of open air culture. The frames may 

 be got in readiness. If new ones are to be 

 made, they may be made of matched inch .boards 

 or plank, the front 12 inches and the back 24 

 inches high, with the ends slanting to match. 

 The frame should be wide enough for a sash of 

 sufficient length for five panes of G X 8 glass, 

 and of any desirable length ; cross bars are 

 placed from front to rear of the frame for the 

 sash to slide upon ; and the upper edges of th- 

 front and rear sides bevelled to make a close 

 tit. A stock of fine rich garden mould is need- 

 ed to make the bed. If not already provided, 

 this may be procured when a thaw occurs and 

 put under cover, and turned over occasionally, 

 where it may be had when wanted, for use, 

 otherwise it may be frozen or wet._ Cold 

 frames are useful for keeping many kinds of 

 plants under during winter and early spring or 

 other times ; theseare of similar construction 

 as the hot-bed frame, with this difference, the 

 back side is not as high by 4 to 6 inches. 



Manure. 



Here lies the secret of success in good crops 

 both in the garden and field — abundance of 

 manure. Lav in for a good supply and increase 

 it by every known means of saving and add- 

 in"- such 'materials as may be converted into 

 plant food. Good loam, sods, muck, &c., 

 added to the barn vard. stables, piggery, privy, 

 and hen roost, will add to the supply without 

 deteriorating the quality. 



Poles for beans, brush for peas and other 

 trailing plants needing something to run on for 

 support, can be procured and prepared now 

 better than during the more busy season of 

 spring or early summer when wanted for use. 



Seeds. 

 A stock can be procured, if to be purchased, 

 now, better than later in the season, as at pres- 

 ent the seedsmen have a better stock, and 

 are more at leisure to attend to your or- 

 ders than they will be by and by ; look over 

 all seed saved to see that they are in order, and 

 try them by sprouting in wet moss or damp soil 

 in a warm room. 



Tools. 



Generally farmers provide but few if any 

 tools expresslv for garden use. yet there are a 

 few very durable ones lor this purpose; these, 

 if to be purchased, shotdd L)e procured at the 

 earliest opportunity; if hoes, shovels, forks, 

 &c., let them be of the best (piality of steel, and 

 li»ht ; thev mav cost a little more at lirst than 

 tiu)se of poorer (pialitv, but in useing them you 

 will never begrudge their cost, as wliat was e.x- 

 nended in money is more than saveelm muscle. 

 If old ones need repairing see. that it is done, 

 and all in order ready lor use. Have a tool- 



