CHAPTER XXIV 
THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN 
692. Importance. — The home vegetable garden is an 
important feature on practically every American farm. 
Thousands of village people devote part of their lots to 
the growing of vegetables for the family table, and a 
host of people in the suburbs of cities grow at least a 
portion of their own vegetables. The value of the 
products grown in the kitchen gardens of the United 
States amounts to millions of dollars annually. Inten- 
sive methods are generally employed, so that the returns 
for the area cultivated are much larger than from general 
farming or even from truck farming. 
The home garden, however, has other values besides 
those of a monetary character. It has been termed the 
“farm drug store.” A diet of clean, fresh vegetables 
counts for good health. There can be no dispute on 
this point. Again, many a weary business or profes- 
sional man or a tired housekeeper has found pleasure, 
comfort and health in the care of a garden. When the 
work is properly managed, it is equally attractive to 
boys and girls. The cultivation of vacant lots by the 
youth in our towns and cities should receive every possi- 
ble encouragement. 
£93. Aims. — In planning for the home garden the fol- 
lowing definite aims should be kept in mind: (1) The 
production of a liberal, uniform and constant supply of 
vegetables preferred by members of tbe family for 
whom they are grown. (2) Quality is even more impor- 
tant than in commercial gardening. (3) There should 
be as great variety as possible. The tendency is to re- 
strict the plantings to the most common vegetables. This 
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