The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-03
Prairie Gardening.

We published an article some time since
giving description of the garden of Mcssrs.
Gage Bro. 4 Drake "A few miles from this city.
The Journal has since obtained some figures
which are interesting, as showing the quantity
produced from the fifty acres under ,cultiva-
ton.
From a piece Of land, which, last year was
mud hole two acres in extent, this year
600 bushels rcd and yellow onions to the acre
have been raised; Is acres of potatoes, 225
bushels to the acre, and a half acre which un-
der careful culture and manuring, has
turned ont 800 bushels of immense potatoes
this half acre has ,akcn the premium as the
best half acre of potat res in the State, and
an acre % carrots, $50 bushels: twenty tone
of Boston marrowfat and Hubbard sonashcs
from one acre and a half, 90, 900 roots celery;
two acres of sweet potatoes lis bushels to the
acre, large, handsom, and of good quality;
two acres of tomatoes, 500 bushels to the
acre, half an acre of Lima beans, 376 quarts;
900 dozen nutmegmclons from two acresi
GOO canlifiowcrs from one third of an acre;
an acre of salty, 500 bushels Besides these,
several acres of splendid turnip beets were
raised, larger quantities of watermelons, egg
plants and peppers, some fine stalks of the
Victoria rhubarb ochrc, spinnagc, lettuce,
monater cabbages and a great number of tur-
nips. Besides enough to supply the fremont
House, the owners have sold 5000 worth of
cucumbers, and $500 worth of asparagus,
The land as it stands, with it's stock, build
ings and improvements, is, at a small esti-
mate, valued at $4,000, the interest upon
which is $1,000 The cost of labor for the
year is estimated at 50, 900; store room, mar
ket expenses, and housekeeping, $1,000,
fuel about S27; insurance S25, or total of
expenses amounting to s3,5s2 The value
of the crop last year, with twenty acres I'M
der cultivation, was S. 900; this year is esti-
mated at S, 900, thus leaving a profit ofs4,-
41s above expenses, or s3 200 above expcn-
ses, interest on taxes, thus paying per cent
ge of 16 per cent, on the entire valuation.
proportionate and even larger profit may
be obtained, for instance, by lessee, as MANI
items of expenditure, included in the above
estimate, need not be incurred where a per
son devoted his own time and labor.
The farm is also stocked with $50 hogs Of
the Essex and Suffolk breed. In march.
1853, there We're 72 hogs on the farm, and
since that time, $50 pigs, Ga hogs and 115
stock hogs have been sold, and there is $50
left. Their food costs little or nothing,
being the olfal from the fremont and
Briggs houses, and vegetables from the
farm.
There are eight Durham cows upon the
farm, but the owners will not 90 into tho
milk business until next season, at which
time they will probably secure a different
breed, as although the Durhams are fine
stock, there are other breeds which are much
better mixers. The working stock of the
farm consists ofsix pair of hcrses and strong
team of mules. The poultry embraces 200
ducks, all raised upen the farm, aud a largo
number Of chickens turkeys and Guinea
hens. Besides these are the ornamental ap-
pendageS of Guinea pigs, doves, rabbits, &c.
During the year an average of eight men
have been employed, and at one time during
the spring, twenty were actively engaged
A large number OF apple, peach and pear, as
well as ornamental trees have been set out,
and currents and goosebcrries set from slips,
fiourished well this year.