CHAPTER XXIV 

 THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN 



692. Importance. — The home vegetable garden is an 

 important feature on practically every American farm. 

 Thousands of village people devote part of their lots to 

 the growing of vegetables for the family table, and a 

 host of people in the suburbs of cities grow at least a 

 portion of their own vegetables. The value of the 

 products grown in the kitchen gardens of the United 

 States amounts to millions of dollars annually. Inten- 

 sive methods are generally employed, so that the returns 

 for the area cultivated are much larger than from general 

 farming or even from truck farming. 



The home garden, however, has other values besides 

 those of a monetary character. It has been termed the 

 "farm drug store." A diet of clean, fresh vegetables 

 counts for good health. There can be no dispute on 

 this point. Again, many a weary business or profes- 

 sional man or a tired housekeeper has found pleasure, 

 comfort and health in the care of a garden. When the 

 work is properly managed, it is equally attractive to 

 boys and girls. The cultivation of vacant lots by the 

 youth in our towns and cities should receive every possi- 

 ble encouragement. 



693. Aims. — In planning for the home garden the fol- 

 lowing definite aims should be kept in mind: (i) The 

 production of a liberal, uniform and constant supply of 

 vegetables preferred by members of the family for 

 whom they are grown. (2) Quality is even more impor- 

 tant than in commercial gardening. (3) There should 

 be as great variety as possible. The tendency is to re- 

 strict the plantings to the most common vegetables. This 



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