VALUE OF A SMALL PLOT OP GROUND. 7 



CASH EXPENDITURES ON GARDENS. 



The average cash cost per garden was $3.54, distributed as follows : 



Labor $1. 51 



Seed - 1. 51 



Fertilizer . 52 



Total 3. 54 



This includes only the cash for hired labor, seed, and fertilizer. 

 The labor expenditure is limited practically to the cost of having the 

 garden plowed and harrowed for planting. Little or no labor is 

 hired during the season, the planting and care of the garden being 

 done by the family. The use of the land is not charged against the 

 garden, as the rent paid for the use of the house includes the use 

 of the lot, whether it is used for garden or other purposes. For 

 gardens of the same size the returns are greatest where the expendi- 

 tures are greatest. On these, however, the range of vegetables grown 

 is also greater, indicating that those who spend more for labor, seed, 

 and fertilizer also utilize their opportunities in other directions. 

 The best gardeners have the seed-bed well prepared, purchase good 

 seed, and apply fertilizer intelligently. 



WINTER GARDENS. 



Collards, a variety of kale, are grown in the fall and winter on 

 about one- fourth of the gardens visited. This crop is mentioned 

 here particularly because it does not compete with any other crop. 

 In one village where 42 gardens grew collards and 45 did not the 

 former averaged $9 worth of collards, and the average total value of 

 vegetables raised was $34. The latter group grew no collards and 

 the vegetables raised were valued at $24. The gardens were a little 

 smaller in the first group. Families who relish this vegetable for 

 greens will find it a profitable crop. Turnips, sown after the other 

 vegetables are taken off, are often grown in the winter for greens. 



FRUITS. 



The average value of fruits raised for all the families visited was 

 only $0.72, but the average for those who raised fruit was $3.20. 

 Three-fourths of the families visited did not raise fruit of any kind. 

 The fruit most commonly raised was the peach, with an occasional 

 family having berries or apples. More fruit could be raised to ad- 

 vantage. The continual changing of tenants probably accounts for 

 the small amount of fruit raised. Peaches, and even small fruit, must 

 be set out a few years before returns are realized, and the tenant who 

 has doubts of his remaining on his place for more than two years 

 will not set out fruit for the benefit of some one else. The initiative 



