Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-01
The Farmers Gar,ien.

Next to the apple orchard, the most i'm.
portant thing to have on the farm is a good
vegetable and fruit garden. 1t would seem
to require little argument TO establish the
proposition; aud yet, the fact that a good
well kept and productive garden, with far
mers in general, is an exception rather than
the rule is, perhaps, sufficient excuse for men.
tioning some Of the more important reasons
why every farmer should have one.
First: Because he owes it to the comfort
and health Of his family. All Of the small
fruits and most kinds Of vegetables ere in
their season wholesome and palatable in the
highest degree they afford an agreeable va
riety to the farmers daily fare, and, accord.
log to high medical authority, serve in a
measure TO couuteract the putrclaciive ten
denotes Of animal and other heterogeneous food.
This alone would seem to be sufficient reason
why they should be constantly found upon
our tables in one form or another.
Second The care and cultivation Of a
garden bring rest and relaxation to the over.
worked farmer and his family. This may
seem. paradoxical but it is a fact, that after
hard days work in the fields man may
rest himself By half hours work in the
garden OF course do not mean by hard
work. but by doing little here aud little
thore.-now pulling few weeds, tying mp q
grape vine, or pinehing a supcrluous shoot
anon pruning dwarf apple aud pear trees
thinning out the fruit when too thickly set
aud attending TO other little matters, all nee.
essary to be done, but requiring little actual
labor. All this gives to the tired farmer ex
actly what he needs---a change Of muscular
action and new aud pleasauter channel fol
his thoughts | seldom get SO tired, even ia
the busiest season, but that | take my even
ing "run in the garden, and am satisfied
that sleep and rest better for it,
To the farmers family, the garden offer
ibs.cgy8'to yr- iohhd in rural life. TO IN,
mistress it gives an ever present opportunitl
tor outdoor exercise combining both pleasur,
and profit. Aud 10 children who are wei
taught, the neatly arranged and carefully
titled garden is at once a source Of instruc.
ton and means Of usefulness aud if al
lowed corner by themselves or stated
share Of the proceeds, they will generally be
found quite willing to do a reasonable share
Of the work. For myself, | know Of 20 more
sensible accomplishment, or one promising
greater usefulness in after life, than for our
girls" to be able to take care Of well-stock.
cd fruit and vegetable garden.
Third The garden, properly managed, is
the most profitable Part Of the farm. Not
always perhaps in dollars and cents, but it
sill produce comforts and Injuries which il
the farmer had them to buy at market prices
would cost many times the value of his tim,
and labor expended in their production and
if near a market, any surplus may always be
turned to good account in actual cash pro.
ceeds. Indeed. believe that, on many small
places near villages and large towns, the cul.
tivation Of such small fruits as Strawberries
raspberres, currants, gooseberrics, etc, and
Of such vegetables as cabbages, onions, toma-
toes and perhaps some others, will in many
Instances prove far easier and pleasanter
way Of " getting living" than the raising
Of regular farm crops This is one Of the
branches of farming yet to be learned for the
most part in this State Correspondent Of
Maine Farmer.