The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-03
Che 8utlaad Daily Glube.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1876.
FARMERS GARDENS.
An Essay Read ut the Meeting of
the Roard of Agriculture mt Spring
ned by NJ. y. Rice OF springfield.

the HOhru OF Agriculture mt spring
ned by NJ. y. Rice OF springfield.
have been requested to prepare paper
to be read at this meeting of the estate
board Of agriculture" upon gardens--not
the famous changing gardens of Babylon,
or the garden of roses-of spices, or of
nuts, in "the cline of the east, the land of
the sun'-nor yet the gardens of royalty,
or the nobility of foreign countries, not even
those of our own merchant pi inces, marvels
OF taste and beauty as many of them are
but farmers gardens-here in Vermont.
No chance for romance or fine writing on
this subject; but it is nevertheless such an
important one, and appeals so directly to
the heart of every housekeeper, that do
not hesitate to undertake it 1; tho really, it
would seem as if any suggestions of mine
made to farmers, in this age oflight progress
and Improvement upon any topic would
be superhuous, and in the matter OF a gar
den, it being so clearly evident that every
farmer is bound to have the very best his
circumstances allow. it appears preposter.
Gus.
cannot tell you anything about the cul.
tivation of your gardens which your agri-
cultural journals have not tolu you time
and time again, aud told it better than /
can, but your agricultural papers are not
edited by women, and only women know
how necessary, how indispensable good
garden is, and in no family as much so as
in the farmers. You tillers of the soil are
generally blest with good appetite, and
with your men and boys require goodly
amount of food of some kind. Your COM
fort and health demand that it should in
large part be composed of vegetables, and
when there is lack of these who shall an.
swer the daily recurring question of the
anxious housewife, 'what shall we have
for dnner?" The great problems which we
have striven to solve from the infancy of
our race down to the present time, have not
racked TIE brain and worn the body like
this.
am not supposed to know much about
farmers gardens in these days, but have
a tolerably distinct recollection of what
they used to be in some parts of the coun-
try, when was young.
The patch Of ground dignified by the
name of garden was not extensive. The
land could not be spared, or it would re
quire too much time to take care of it,
This was enclosed by ragged fence or
stone wall which offered little resistance to
frolic some calves and mischievous pigs,
whose raids were frequent and destructive.
In the way of luxury there were some i'll
kept currant bushes, possibly some goose
berries, which in those days wonld grow
and bear fruit despite neglect and bad treat
ment. Ornament there was none, il we
except one little spot which the poorest gar.
den could boast, devoted to the old-fash-
Toned flowers, bless them marigolds. sweet
peas, bachelors buttons, pinks-with lads
love and camonile- flowers easy of Gull
ture, and with names which common peo-
pie could pronounce. For the neces saries,
there were few beds for vegetables, irreg-
ular in shape, and with numerous breaks in
the rows, some crooked rows of peas and
beans, the former insufiicently pushed and
the latter with poles of q different length
for every hill. The few vines that the
bugs had left were wandering of, as if in
search OF better quarters, while winter and
summer squashes were such near neigh
bors that the product could hardly be
guessed at. There night be few hills of
sweet corn in one corner, but the main re-
lance for cooking was the field corn. All
the fowls about the premises having free
access, leaves of such plants as they rel.
ished had the appearance of having been
visited by a hail storm. No one here pro-
badly recognizes this picture. Every thing
is changed now, but there is still room for
improvement
What l want to impress upon your minds
is the Importance of raising an abundance
of vegetables and of the best kind. Test
the new varieties. Many ofthem are vastly
superior to the old. Procure the earles,
and latest, and as many of the intel mediate
kinds as will secure a succession, without Q
break. With peas, for instance, beginning
with the little Tom Thumb and winding VI
with the superb champion of England ant
the old marrowfat, "a good pea YETI yol
can have your table supplied for many
weeks. So with corn, starting with thu
dwarfsugar and going through the differen
varieties until you reach the evergreen
which lasts till frost comes, you have Ions
season for the enjoyment of this universe
favorite. Beans can be SO planted as to
keep pace with the corn, so that succotasl
(that most delicious compound, for which
we will bless the Indian, savage though he
beg may not be wanting.
Every garden should have an ample as
paragus bed. This fine vegetable is doubly
valuable as coming in that trying time
"between hay and grass" when the autumn
stores are exhausted, and mother earth has
not had time to mature fresh supply. The
same is true of pie plant, which makes III
welcome appearance when dried apple,
have become Stat, stale and improbable.
Some oe the new sorts which are super
ceding the old ones are great improve
ment. will not weary you by enlarginl
upon these points-paiticularly as do no
suppose / have given you single new idea
though hope have awakened some thai
have lain dormant.
l wish now to make some remarks upor
the beauty of vegetable garden. Perhaps
you never thought of it in that light, and
may attach no Importance to that view o
it, for it is true that to most people kitch
en- garden Gas it is called) conveys no idei
but that of utility, fine mealy potatoes fol
breakfast, variety OF vegetables for din
ner, with luscious squash pies, and melons
perhaps for dessert, a dish of currants OF
some other small fruit for supper, but t.
those who loox fer beauty, in all vegetable
forms "from the cedar of Lebanon to tn,
hyssop in the wall" there is something t
please the eye even in the least artisticall,
arranged garden. The leaves OF many
vegetables if they were not SO common
would be regarded with interest. A bee
composed of the blood, yellow ant
silver beet, if sOwn in sections OIL
ribbons has very pretty effect
The peculiarly rich green of the parsniI
renders it noticeable at all seasens, ant
the feathery leaf of the carrot is so grace
full that it is considered worthy of plac,
among the flowers of the parlOr vase. TIL,
cylindrical leaf of the onion is not withou
beauty, and the old gentleman was not s,
far out of the way when he mistoOk hi