Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-19
Plans for the Season may be Made

This is a matter of more importance than
many farmers give it. The carpenter wonld
come out poorly who commenced hewing his
timber for frame without irst learning the
size and length required for his work. And
so in every other calling. Success in any
effort requires system. The farmer who
enters his fields in the spring without some
definite plan OF proceeding, finds himself at
l's' at every step. If he concludes to de-
vote a certain field to corn, be finds, by-and
by, that another piece is better adapted to
that crop and that be must change it. This
is perplexing, and carries With it from day
to day an uncertainty as to what is best to be
done.
1t is important, therefore, in the first place
that the farmer shall be fully acquainted
with the different qualities OF his soils, and
their character as to being wet or dry. With
this knowledge, he will be able, at his fire
side, to determine what portions of land
shall be plOwed for cultivation, and what
particular crop shall be applied to each
Nothing of this nd should be lett to be-
done wien the time for sowing or planting
has come, and men and teams are waiting to
enter upon the work.
He who commences in the spring with this
uncertainty and delay. will be quite likely to
find himself in the whirlpool of doubt and
difficulty, until another frost shuts up the
earth.
We should neglect duty, did we not urge
upon the farmer more attention to the gar
den. No part of the farm can be made more
profitable. 1t will be surprising to those
who have not tried it, how much may be
obtained from a we'll cultivated garden
towards supplying the table all through the
summer and autumn months with fresh,
nutritious and palatable food - the early
lettuce radishes, asparagus, peas, onions
early potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, beans
sweet corn, :ucumbeTs, squashes and melons
Then thtTe are the fruits delicious straw
berries fer the breakfast or tea table, or for
dessert at dinner. instead of costly puddings
or pies; the raspberry. currant, or the
white Or black thimbleberry, that will grow
and fruit abundantly on almost any soil.
These are healthiul, and highly appreciated
by all, especially the children, and are
altogether more wholesome than mucn meat
in hot weather. Some hardy varieties of
the blackberry, one of the finest fruits Of
New England, may also be grown in our
fields or gardens.
These garden growtbs not only minister to
our PHYSICAL wants, but they save much
money that is needed for other purposes
for the mechanic, for household conveniences
or comforts, FOR books, clothing, schools or
tle church.
Z" But" says one, . it is too putrerinr
work, / cannot break my back over 1t | had
rather raise oats or potatoes, and buy the
garden stuff " But be did no such thing ;
for when unexpected visitors came, he Dor.
y5tred few vegetables in order to break up
the awful blank between the bread and meat
upon the table. Without the garden, the
vegetables and fruits are not abundant upon
the farmers table. Weare happy to confess
that sensible change has taken place in this
matter.
There is no real difficulty in the way of
any farmer having good garden. 1t need
not be laid out in forms requiring the aid of
landscape gardener, but with those simple
lines which would make it easy and convent
emit 10 work among the plants. These should
be as far as possible in straight lines, so as
to do large portion of the work with a
hand cultivator or wheel hoe. The women
tIochildren would assist in wedding, and in
gathering the crops as they are wanted, so
that the task Of tending garden would not
be half as burdensone as is sometimes i'm
agined.-N E. Farmer.