VALUE OF A SMALL PLOT OF GROUND. 5 



the other two-thirds produced on the average only $16 worth. The 

 average good garden was only one-tenth larger in area and cost only 

 one dollar more for labor, fertilizer, and seed than the average poor 

 one. 



SIZE OF GARDENS. 



The average area devoted to gardens by all families visited is 723 

 square yards, or 0.15 of an acre. This area varies considerably, even 

 in the same village, the size being dependent both on the area avail- 

 able and on the inclinations of the family. Some families do not 

 begin their work in time to utilize all the land available, some care 

 to raise only a few varieties of vegetables, and others think the re- 

 turns are not worth the attention necessary. "We do not bother 

 with much of a garden " is a common expression. A small poultry 

 yard may take up a large part of the lot. 



As would be expected, the value of vegetables raised is greater on 

 the larger gardens, though the value of vegetables raised per square 

 yard is less. The amount expended on the gardens and the variety 

 of vegetables raised increase with the increase in area of garden. 



The fact that the large gardens show the larger returns should not 

 be taken to indicate that the small gardens all give low returns. It 

 is found, for instance, that of the 144 families who have gardens of 

 sizes between 300 and 499 square yards, 35 raise on an average nearly 

 $50 worth of vegetables, which is considerably more than they pay 

 for rent per year. 



The value of vegetables sold is greater for the larger gardens, but 

 at most the amount sold is comparatively small. The surplus vege- 

 tables raised generally find a ready market. It is a common practice 

 in some villages for one to give to neighbors the small surplus raised 

 or exchange it for other vegetables. 



A very small quantity of the vegetables raised is canned for future 

 use. It was found than on an average only 28 quarts were canned 

 from the largest gardens, while the average number of quart cans of 

 vegetables " put up " for all the families was but 22. The average 

 number of those who canned was 37. A little more than one-third 

 of the families did no canning. Beans and tomatoes often are 

 raised in larger quantities than can be utilized for family purposes 

 during the season and might be canned for use during the winter 

 when fresh vegetables must be bought. 



SIZE OF FAMILIES HAVING GARDENS. 



The average number of persons per family, for all the families vis- 

 ited, in terms of adults, was 4.5, 1 boarders being included as members 

 of the family. Arranging the records according to the size of the 



1 In giving the size of family in terms of adults, children 12 years of age and less are 

 counted as one-half of an adult, and all persons older as adults. 



