The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-20
New York Herald /

A Plea for the Garden.
New York Herald
The time of year has come when farmers
may find time 10 ponder over subjects which
do not come to them readily in the busy
days of the year. We wish distinctly TO i'm
press upon our farmers the importance of
continuing and laying out garden plan for
next spring. You can always tell the differ
ence between families which have good
vegetable gardens and those which never
have any. Their physical appearance is
better. 1t is said that since the more general
introduction of vegetables among the
farmers of England the disease called land
scurvy has almost enterely disappeared from
among that class although We are of opinion
that this di appearance of the disease
has been greatly caused by the more
general use of fresh meats. The constant
use of salt meats, as is shown by the damage
done TO men at sea, is productive of bad
blood and of great debility. DR.. Kane re-
lieved his men by the use of raw meet and
raw potatoes. But in those parts of Ireland
where peasantry rely entirely Tor their food
upon poor potatoes the disease of land scuryy
prevails. 1t follows that other diseases are
bred by the use of poor or SPECIAL food. You
must vary it. The salts and ACIDS that are
con tained in vegetables aud fruits are neces-
saTy to the proper development of the phys
ical system. LII you would have your child
rem possess bright minds in fine bodies you
must give them proper nourisbment. 1t is
fact that the greatest number of cases Of
insanIlyin this country may be found among
the farmers. Yet you would not think il.
Something beside country air is needed to
make a sound man. Yet we have known
farmers who cultivated great acres of corn
aud wheat and hsy, but VINO never dreamed
of having a good vegetable garden. We
remember rich farmer who had never eaten
.gooseberries, and to whom tomato was
perfect stranger He was yellow aud bilious,
and always in an ugy temper of mind;
nothing ever pleased hun. He never took
any acids; he lived on salt meats. 1t was
just the acids in fruits aud vegetables that
he needed On ships that now go to sea
bottles of lemon juice are sent for the daily
use of the crew, and where mort is uttered
vegetables are Immediately bought Raw
onions are certain cure for scurvy, and if
they are so useful at sea, why are they not
invaluable on land? The onion is very nu-
tntious, in this respect being. perhaps, equal
to eggs. They should be raised, not only for
the young bulbs, which are SD eagerly sought
for IN the early season, but also for frequent
familyiuse all the year around. Treated raw
with vinegar they are very health ful. Boiled
they are sim ply delicious. Added TO stews
they make manya dish palst able ana savOry.
Baked they are a rich garnish. Fried and
eaten with beef they are a b. arty gOurmand's
ioy Next year raise enough onions for
family use the year round. They will save
doctors bills. The same may be said of the
tomato. Its acid Is very healthful, though
one doctor (Dio Lewis) contends against its
use in great quantities OF course too much
of good thing is good for nothing. Toma-
toes will grow luxuriantly If you can keep
the cut worm aud the chickens away.
Stewed, they are eagerly eaten by children.
They make an elegant soup. Raw, they are,
with vinegar, a fine salad. Children love
them raw with vinegar and sugar, and in
summer they are, wnen fresh aud cold,
delightfully."- heaIthful beginning TO a break
fast. Stuffed as you woulo stuff chicken,
large tomato, hot and spicy
from baking pan, makes fine dessert, or
even a nice dainty supper Yet IL is only 8
few years since the tomato WAS curiosity.
Thomas Jefferson thought they were fit only
for hog feed. What blessing he misSedl
We must not omit the value of all kinds OF
green's, the use of which. thanks to some of
our German gardeners Is becoming more
general in our country. We all remember
how our grandmothers occasionally went
out on the sod and got some dandelion
leaves or dock for greens" which they
boiled with pork. But the work of getting
them was hard, although the dish was
good. Some of the men folks used to look
down upon such truck as so much grass.
The old ladies were right and the gross was
great health gIver Spinach, unless grown
er's garden, and yet it is exceedingly health
| full and served with the gravy Of roasted
meat makes a delicious dish. 1t is easily
raised, and requires but little labor. Any
soil that will grow good corn will grow
spinach Toward the latter end of August
| ground til at has been used for summer crops
| msy be prepared and MANFRED for spirach.
| Sow in succession from the first to the end
of Srptember, cover with straw at the
approach of cold weather and the
most forward will furnish greens for
| the table when other vegetables are scarce,
and the latter crops will give wholesome
vegetable IN early spring. The same ground
| by having it Well MANFRED for spinach will
| be in good condition tor beetS, carrots etc,
the following spring. Asparagus, which IS
scarcely ever found on the farmers table, is
highly valued foe its healthfulness, and is a
| delightful article of food. A few feet of
| ground devoted TO its growth viii supply a
family, and will not need renewal for twenty
years.