The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-01
agricultural.
Tho Farmor's K,tchon Garden.

Ii is to be regretted that among farmers
generally so little attention is paid TO gar
deniny. The garden Is too often left to the
care Of women and children, and IL any
work is required to be done in IL by stronger
hands than their. its too often put OF from
time to time, with the exclamation, 'Oh, we
are 80 busy now we can't he bothered with
the garden Or if the labor is given at the
demand Of some petticoated tyrant, or to
please some dearly loved wife or sister, il is,
perhaps, grudgingly bestowed, and some in
pericnced man or stable boy sent to perform
the uneuviable task. So great, in our opin-
ion, Is the value Of garden well stocked
with vegetables Of every kind, that IL too
busy 10 attend 20 il ourselves, we should not
hesitate to employ an expericncedh hand even ut
considerable expense, To put 1t into proper
order every spring. after which tho care OF
the garden and cultivation Of the plants in
IL would become a source Of pleasure as well
asprO6t.
II there are some big boys in the family,
il il good policy to consign the care of the
garden entirely to one Of them, and as an
incentive to attend well to il, purchase for
him good stock Of garden tools, seeds, and
one or two good works on horticulture, and
allow him 10 sell the surplus vegetables not
required for family use 10 whom he may.
What Is the mere value Of money in com
parisou 10 having health, and enjoying the
comforts Of civilized life, toward which no
thing conduccs more than having the table
beautifully supplied with wholesome vegcta-
bles, both In summer and winter.
The farmers kitchen is too often q dirty
little spot, somewhere out OF sight ut the
back Of the house, where all the slops arc
thrown. the cloths hung out to dry on the
few currant bushes growing there, the fowls
allowed to scratch for living in summer,
and the hogs TO root in autumn and winter.
What wonder then IL il becomes tho nursery
ground Cor weeds, and is an cye-sosJ u the
place. Better. far better, plow IL up ut once
and seed IL down TO grass, than allow 1t to
remain thus.
Others, again, with every disposition 10
do justice to the garden, vet turn il into an
orchard by filing il with fruit trees. which
are vel, enough when young and small. but
when they grow into the soodIy pronortions
Of maturity, they shade the ground ~ much
that any attempt 10 grow vegetables under
them ends In failure from want Of air ,h,,
embryo horticulurist becomes discouraged,
and gives up gardening in despair.
But there are some. and we hope numer
Gus, exceptions TO the pictures we have jus
drawn. We have secn farmers gardens tina
Il Vas real pleasure TO visit and look over
where every vegetable the climate would nd
NIT Of, grew in abundance, and where th
useful and ornamental were 30 well combin
cd that the eye could detect no fault. Sur
rounded by close board fence, neatly paint
ed or whitswashed, and trained with vine
ON the sunniest sides: and walks nicel,
gravelled, the soil wall drainedsnd cultivat
Cd. the beds kept neat and clean, and not |
weed allowed TO blossom, nor when roote'
out 10 block up tho paths, but removed q
once 10 the rubbish heap m the wood o
stable yard. In horticultural matters 10
what Is dono be we'll done, or else let gar
dening alone. II ID Of Importance that th,
soil OF garden should be rich. deep ans
we'll drained-if not naturally ~, NO pain
should be SPARED 70 mako ID 20.
II d not advisable b do any work in IA,
garden till the frost b entirely out and Ii,
soi becomes dry, unles 10 is 10 construct
hot-bed or two, or wheel manure on 10 th,
soil, TO be ready for spading in at the prope
time,) which may b dono while the srOuns