The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-15
aarifuIturul unA 0umsstir.
Farmers Gardens.


A carefully cultivated garden viii yle!d
a family more healthful Injuries than can
be obtained in any other way ~ Inc same
expense. The asparagu. anu PIE p!AAs = 2
ready for the table almost As soon as tAe
frost is out Of the ground crisp lettuce a--u
radishe5 come soon after; green peas ne"
nofatOes. and whole Isl OI Deets' onions
r.sbba0es caulifOwers, beans. squashes.
tomatoes and sweet corn follow IN ric1
nrofnsion. AL these are real delicacies,
and nearly all are relished by every paiA'e'
vet how many farmers there are MAo are
never well supplied with them 10" o.
Zen even in midsummer. when The garcen
.Eonld he most profase 10 the Injuries =
,-ialds do we see farmers tables destitute
~ Ali vegetables except potatoes ana
those peraaps those OF the previous year :
growth This neglect OF farmers 70 sup
NV themselves AID families with healthy
and delicious food. when il can be go cas-
Iy procured. has often perplexed us. We
cannot account for L, cannot excuse H.
have no charity Tor IL.
Look for moment az what farmers
garden usually is. A small corner IS cho-
sen somewhere in the neighbOrhoOd OF the
house generally because 10 happens 70 Oe
inconvenieutly situated for growing leid
croDs. around the edge Of this - SCI row
Of -tragllng unthrilty currant bushes, per
hans a few gOOseberry bushes yield lne.I
small mildewed fruit; n some perlOQ late
in he Spriug half hour is grudgingiy CIV
On "a plowing this "garden patch" IN q
slOvenly manner the farmer grumbAag
meanwhile az being Obliged 20 leave rs
corn ground 20 perform such unlmpOrtanl
work: the task Of pul,iug 10 lie seeds iOr
the garden "sas-7 IS left mostly 70 thc
women and younger BOYS; The women hav.
little spare time from their many laDCr.Ol'
household duties. and the boys have lltti'
skill so the ground IS no, made mellow
nor properly MANFRED, AMI the seeds ar
poorly put in: then comes on an army o
weeds which are but ieebly opposed; from
lack Of care In preparing the SOIL In plan
ting and cutivating the crops. q meagr'
supply Of poor vegetables is all that reach
Is the family table
A few messes OF lettuce, radishes FOR tel
d half dozen times. Two or three dinners O
green peas aud new potatoes late IN th'
season are about all that such garcer
Yields. There is no plentiful supply o. as
pargus in early spring when such veg
etable IS most grateful 10 the palate; pie
plant, there IS none, or al best Ouiy a few
half starved roots; Strawberries are VI
known; caulihowers was never heard VI
the Hubbard squash has only been read 0
In the columns Of an agricultural paper
the improved varieties OF sWee. corn arr
MYTHS. Those who take their daily fare
from such table, know little Of healthfu
Injuries. Well would II be for them If ;
large portion Of their salt pork could b
exchanged for fresh vegetables. and tn
indigestlble pies be replaced. hy strawber
ries. rasberries, and other cultivated fruits
Many farmers will read this and say il !
quite impossible for them % have such
supply Of vegetables and fruits as We ind
cate, because il would cost 50 much. Cost
Certainly. il will cost something. We know
Of little that is worth having that does 10
cost We admit that il costs something Z
grow good fruits and vegetables. but "
are fully convinced that IL does not cost 81
much as il does 10 do without then- Wher
table is beautifully supplied with the pro
products of u garden. The breadstuhs an
meats which constitute the grea, items q
expense in most families will be much les
largely drawn upon, and the amount 2
saved will pay the expense Of cnltivatin
the garden. Those whose diet is made NJ
largely OF fresh vegetables and ripe fruit
are generally more healthy than those VIII
are deprived Of them, and here is u saTiH
OF time and doctors bills. which IL IS 40
easy to estimate. Ii any farmer will cult
vate good garden for one year, and kee
4 correct debt and credit account with .
we are fully convinced thar at the cld
the year the credits will Tar exceed {.
debts.