174 



GARDEN GUIDE 



While the home gardener should never be satisfied with anything 

 but abundant crops of the best quality, let him also bear in mind that 

 the garden should be an expression of orderly arrangement. No gar- 

 den can do its best without intelhgent care. A well thought out scheme 

 must be followed if complete success is to be achieved. Have the plot 

 properly laid out before beginning its development. Mark on the 

 plan the location and quantity of each vegetable to be grown and the 

 dates for sowing and setting. Companion and succession crops should 

 be indicated. With the ground thus planned for utility, the crops 

 may be so arranged that there will be a continuous supply of fresh 

 and superior vegetables for the family table. 



In some instances, a vegetable garden is objected to on the ground 

 that it interferes with the beauty of the surrounding effects. But 

 the latter can be made to fit in with the general scheme. A well- 

 planned and neatly-kept vegetable garden need never detract from 

 the general appearance of the place; usually it is a decidedly attractive 

 feature; it lends an air of simplicity and ''hominess" which flowers 

 alone cannot furnish. On a "dollars and cents" basis alone, the vege- 

 table garden is, or can almost always be made, a paying factor. Even 

 where that side of the matter is to be disputed there is no question 

 that to get the very best quality of vegetables you must grow your own. 



The commercial grower must be guided in his choice of varieties 

 by the market demands, and by the factor of big yields, even though 

 the varieties which meet these requirements may not be those of the 

 best table quahty. The home gardener, on the other hand, may select 

 varieties which satisfy his own personal taste. Furthermore, there are 

 many vegetables which, to be had at their very best, must be gathered 

 only a few hours before they are used. As an old saying has it: "The 

 pot should be boiling before you pick your Corn." 



As a healthful recreation, nothing surpasses the cultivation of 

 culinary vegetables. It never gets monotonous, for the work changes 

 from day to day, and every day brings its own problems. The work in- 

 volved may be made as mild or as strenuous as is desired. If one fears 

 that not enough exercise i^o be had with a hoe, a few hours' "trench- 

 ing" with a spade will give him as big an appetite for his dinner as 

 anything he can fmd to do. 



It is not necessary to hesitate about having a vegetable garden 

 because such a location as you may have available is not naturally the 

 most ideal for the purpose. The plot of ground which cannot, with in- 

 telhgent preparation, be made to grow successfully practically every 

 one of the garden vegetables, is by all means the exception and not the 

 general rule. At the same tune it pays well to take advantage of any 



