The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-22
Farmer Gardens.

As IA general thing, farmers do not pro
vide themselves with good gardens; at least
50 far rs the writer has travelled, he has eel
dom seen what he would call good garden
on farms. The excuse for this neglect il
generally the same with all Of them-they
shave no time to attend to such small mat.
ters." And yet 1t may safely DO asserted
that IN acre of ground appropriated to a
good garden will be more profitable to the
farmer than any other ten acres Of the farm.
The interests Of the farmer, the comforts oi
his family, the good condition and health Of
his whole household, require such . garden
on every farm in the country. And 1t should
be ydrden-not mere excuse for one, a
mere weedy patch. 1t should be one 80
managed and arranged that every vegetable
Of wholesome quality for human food,
should be raised in it in perfection, and at
the earliest season. After Winters diet
on solid and generally salt animal food, the
human constitution requires the deterging
operations of free vegetable and fruit diet,
and, Us general rule, no one can dispense
with it safely. Besides this, tho natural
appetite calls for it, and there are few plea.
sures that may be 50 safely and even bcnef-
cially INDUCED in. In the latter part Of
Winter and early in the Sping, measures
should be taken to secure early vegetables OF
all kinds capable Of early cultivation. De-
tails will not be expected here; there are
other books and papers appropriate to such
information but l cannot help saying, that
when lam at farmhouse, at season when
early peas, beans, cabbages, cucumbers, po-
tatoes, green corn, lettuce, &C., are properly
in season, and find none Of these luxuries on
the table-nothing but the blue teef, salt
pork and beans or potatoes Of winter-l am
free to say do not envy that farmers life
nor his family their enjoyments. These very
people are fond enough Of such things when
they 90 to the city, and 1t is not therefore
want Of taste. 1t is simply the fault of neg.
liscnce. Why may not every farmer in the
State have every kind of carly vegetables on
his table as carly as any gardener near the
cities can raise them? There is not single
reason why h0 shonld not, while there arc
great many why he should. The gardeners
have to incur very considerable expense in
procuring hot manure for their hot-beds,
while the farmer has it in his barn-yard.-
The gardener has every thing to purchase,
and draw n considerable distance, while the
farmer has nothing to buy. The small
quantity of lumber required isprobably rot
ting on his premises. 1t would only be a
source of amusement during Winter for him
to construct the frame Of hot bed, and
prepare the manure and bed for use. Hav-
ing done this, and got his plants in thrifty
state, he can, in o short time, when the
season arrives, get his garden ground in Or
der and make his plantations. And then
he will have these vegetable lu.uries as
early as many of his town friends can pur-
chase them. 1t only requires little indus
try and attention to accomplish this, and,
as said before, his enjoyment, his health,
and even his interest, as well as the comforts
of his family, will bo benefited by it.-Er-
change.