16 
BULLETIN 1427, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
EQUIPMENT 
In gardening to the best advantage adequate machinery and 
suitable tools will be found almost indispensable. These may be 
procured with a reasonable outlay of money. The following items of 
equipment are recommended : 
A hotbed frame (6 by 12 feet), 4 standard hotbed sash (3 by 6 feet), a garden 
trowel, a steel dibble, a wheel hoe, a garden planter, a 9-shovel cultivator, rakes, 
hoes, etc. 
Fig. 6.— Pruned and staked tomatoes in the acre garden 
CONCLUSIONS 
More farm gardens are needed in the northern Great Plains. 
Comparative success may be attained every year under dry-land 
conditions by intelligent management. The yields are somewhat 
smaller than those obtained in more favorable sections, but this may 
be offset by planting larger areas. Man labor is scarce, so horse 
labor and machinery should be used as much as possible. One acre 
is ample in size for an average family of five. Seed and plants for a 
garden of this size may be provided for approximately $15 to $20. 
Returns should average in value around $250. The essentials may be 
briefly summarized as follows: 
Make a definite planting plan, in order that sufficient plants and seeds may be 
provided. 
Follow a system of crop rotation to provide the necessary food requirements 
for special crops and to aid in eliminating plant diseases and insect pests. 
Select early maturing varieties of vegetables. The harvest season may be 
extended by succession plantings of most of these. 
Practice wide spacing and thorough and clean cultivation, in order to conserve 
all available moisture. 
Keep crops growing with as little check as possible, making use of insecticides 
and fungicides as needed. 
o 
