144 TwBNTY-FlEST BlENNIAL EePOET ^ 



thusiasm. The companies donated the use of land and 

 the mules to prepare it for planting. Everywhere could 

 be seen men, women and children, fencing plats around 

 houses, preparing the ground, picking up stones, and in 

 many cases where ground was scarce, clearing up a field 

 of new ground on the mountain side near the camp. In 

 some places the ground was so rocky it could not be 

 plowed, but had to be dug up with a pick, and the rocks 

 thrown out in large piles or used to fence in the garden. 

 In spite of all difficulties, the work progressed rapidily, so 

 that in one month after work was started, practically all 

 " the ground in and near the camps, which before had been 

 waste land, unfenced and covered with empty cans and 

 weeds, was now fenced, cleaned up and planted in vege- 

 tables. In some places this was extended even to the top 

 of the mountain, and instead of one garden to a family, 

 in many cases there were two, one at the house for small 

 products and another on th^ mountain for large products. 

 The latter was in many instances of eight or ten acres 

 in extent. In the camps alone there were planted a total 

 of 2,600 gardens. For the first time in the history of the 

 mining camps, they were growing their own vegetables 

 and instead of buying all their produce, had a surplus of 

 some things. 



The question of using this surplus was discussed at 

 meetings and it was decided to can it in glass and tin 

 cans for winter use. Several of the gardeners bought 

 home canning outfits, others used lard cans and kettles. 

 Circulars were distributed over the county and canning 

 demonstrations were held at various points where the 

 best methods were shown. Mr. Graloway, of Pineville, 

 canned over 1,100 cans of string beans, tomatoes and cab- 

 bage and others canned corresponding amounts. 



At the close of the season it was estimated that there 

 were in the camps about 2,400 gardens, the decrease be- 

 ing due to various causes, prominent among which were 

 washouts due to the low situation of many of the gardens. 

 Local people claimed that there was four times the 

 amount of gardening in the county than ever before and 

 as this increase was largely in the mining camps, it was 

 very noticeable. 



