The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-01
AGRICULTURAL.
The Farm, Garden.

The ordinary farm-garden is fraud. It
contains a few hills of cucumbers and
squashes. few rows of beans and sweet
corn, and possibly beet-bed, few cabbages
and some peas. All these are planted on the
same day, "when it comes handy" are hoed
once or twice, and then left to take care of
themselves.
Too many farmers have an idea that gar
den, that is, a garden worthy the name,
should be the property only of a gentleman
of wealth or of leisure, and that a plain
farmer who farms for profit cannot afford the
land, the manure, or the time necessary to
make and cultivate one. We believe that
greater fallacy than this is not harbored in
New Hampshire farm houses; for a large
garden, judiciously laid out and we'll cult
will not only do very much towards feeding a
family the year round and supplying them
with many luxuries which belong to the land
owner but if its.products are estimated at their
market value, it will make as good showing
as the potato-patch or cornfeld. But the
produce of farmers garden should be de-
signed for home use, the surplus only going
to market, and a farmer who doesn't have
one and enjoy it neither appreciates nor de-
serves the blessings which surround him.
1t is not our purpose here to give detailed
directions as TO the planting or scultivating OF
q garden, for we have not the space, but
there are few general rules which are al
ways applicable.
Make your garden large; if it contains
half an acre, all the better.
Make it on good land.
Manure it literally.
Don't attempt to plant it all in one day or
one week or one month even.
Plant variety of kinds of vegetables and
variety of each kind, so as to have them
early and late.
When planted, cultivate it well.
Concerning the substantials of a garden,
such as beans, peas, potatoes, corn, squashes,
andl cucumbers, no farmer needs instruction
but care should be taken when a garden is
laid out to provide for several different plant
ings of each kind. By doing this and using
seed of early and late varieties, any farmer
may have upon his table green corn, peas,
beans. and their accompaniment until the
frost comes.
The same remark applies to beets, cab
bages, tomatoes, and many other common
garden vegetables. When all these have
been provided for In variety and abundance,
there are score of others less common,
but worthy place in every garden. We
were at an agricultural fair last fall where
one farmer exhibited one hundred and fifty
different kinds of vegetables, all grown in his
garden and nearly all valuable for food, At
least one hundred kinds are marketable, and
would In their season be an addition to any
mans table, and we wish we could induce
our farmers to try some of them for the first
time this year. There is no more healthful
or desirable relish than celery, and, though
it requires care and plenty Of manure, its
culture is not difficult. 1t is always in de-
mand in our market at good price. The
same is true OF asparagus, radishes and
dozen other similar vegetables. Then there
are many herbs such as sage and summer
savory which find place in the household
economy of every farmers wife and should
be given a place in the garden.
And. finally, no farmer is excusable until
he has set out good-sized strawberry bed
and brought the plants to bearing condi-
ton. Strawberries are easily cultivated, and
very prolific, and of all the fruits which the
Creator has given us, they come the nearest
to being perfect. They are always ready for
the table, always luscious, always healthful
and helpful, and our farmers should raise and
eat bushel where they do not now quart
-ErchdnQe