VALUE OF A SMALL PLOT OF 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 
