22 



A LITTLE PLACE IN THE COUNTRY. 



cold-frames, getting manure and composts ready, 

 etc., and it will be well to make a contract for a 

 term of nine months, as the last of the vegetable 

 work will not be out of the way before the first of 

 November. 



A garden two acres in extent, if worked to its 

 fullest capacity, will afford ample opportunity for 

 the complete exercise of one man's powers. A 

 greater mistake cannot be made than to suppose 

 that chances for profit will be. enhanced in propor- 

 tion as his territory is extended. " A little ground, 

 well tilled," is an old song; but it cannot be sung 

 too often while its moral is so universally disre- 

 garded. 



By a proper succession of crops, keeping the 

 ground occupied the season throughout, the two 

 acres will become five, at least. 



The questions of what shall be planted, and 

 when, and why, should all be canvassed and de- 

 cided, as far as practicable, before the work is be- 

 gun. Nothing should be left to chance. Our own 

 tastes will be a pretty safe guide. In the early 

 spring we want lettuce, and young onions, and 

 beets, and radishes ; and we want them early — the 

 earliest. So we may know that those who buy do 

 likewise. And then we want green peas, and early 

 cabbage, and cauliflower, and beans, and cucum- 

 bers. We know about what proportion we want of 

 each (if not, our wives do), and that may guide us in 

 planting. 



After these, which are mainly for immediate use, 

 come the crops which supply green vegetables for 

 the table and for canning and pickling, as well. 

 Such are late cucumbers and tomatoes. And those 

 which are put away for winter use, such as potatoes, 

 beets, onions, cabbage, turnips, celery, etc. The 

 good garden — that which is directed by "sound 

 mind and a sound body " — will fail in none of these. 



Although a crop which is not yet planted is a 

 long way from market, it is not too early now to be 

 considering the method by which the surplus of the 



garden shall be disposed of. As we are not (at 

 least as yet) professional market gardeners, we will 

 not care either to sell them about town from a 

 wagon, or to take a stall in the city market. 



There are as yet comparatively few country or 

 suburban towns in which one cannot find a grocery- 

 man who would be glad to arrange for a steady 

 supply of vegetables, grown close by, and sent 

 fresh to his stand every morning. If such an one 

 can be found, who will take the product and sell it 

 on commission, it will be the most satisfactory ar- 

 rangement that could be had. Failing in this, the 

 the product may be shipped to commission dealers 

 in the city, or it may be sold at home (and better 

 prices obtained) by employing a man or boy for 

 that purpose and giving him a percentage of the 

 sales. The best buyers will always be glad to ob- 

 tain their supplies direct from the garden of the 

 farmer, rather than from the city, or even from the 

 stand of the local grocer. 



Even those who have gardens will be our custo- 

 mers, for the average amateur's garden begins late 

 and ends early. By the time the hot suns of July 

 begin to shine upon the garden, the amateur loses 

 interest and gives up the battle with the weeds. 

 So that just when he should be enjoying the profits 

 of his labor, the garden yields nothing and its 

 owner is compelled to buy from his wiser neighbor 

 whose seed time and harvest have been planned to 

 run through the season. 



But to sit by a comfortable fire in this breezy 

 month of January, and plan our garden, or even to 

 walk abroad when spring winds blow, and say, " It 

 shall be thus and thus," is a very different thing 

 from that "four o'clock in the morning" courage 

 that takes us upon the same ground with hoe and 

 spade in hand. To plan is not to do ; and success 

 in gardening can only be had by the presence, super- 

 vision and personal work of the one who is chiefly 

 interested in the great and mostly definitive ques- 

 tion of profit and loss. 



