Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-07-10
A PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY.
Planted as an Experiment, q HALEY
Garden Yields Rich Returns-A Hint
tn IOf. .(lWners.

Garden Yields Rich ketNrnS-A hint
to LOt.Owners.
Notwithstanding the general opin-
ion which has hitherto prevailed re-
garding the comparative fertility of
the soil upon which this town stands,
still it has been generally believed
that, owing to our cold nights and cool
summers, very few plants could grow
to maturity in this vicinity; and as
this place has but recently been set
tied scarcely any opportunity has
offered to dispel that conviction.
Early this spring, however, Mr..
Banfield determined to give our soil
thorough test, and for that pur-
pose broke the 1!acre lot at the up
per end OF First avenue, on which
his dwelling stands, and prepared it
for garden. The result has proved
so satisfactory, that what was started
as mere experiment has grown into
a productive industry, and Mr.. Ban
field has about made up his mind
that he can make more money out
of his property as vegetable gar
den than he could by selling it for
building lots.
A TINES reporter visited the
garden the other day, and
found it in as thriving
condition as it could be anywhere.
There were hempstalks foot high,
locusts for shade trees, apple trees
ten inches high,currant bushes grown
from cuttings, strawberries that will
be good next year, blackberries, goose
berries, splendid mint, Chill cheyle,
China spinach, Kentucky bluegrass,
two species of tomatoes, pepper, mus
tard, American spinach rose cabbage,
parsnips, three kinds of lettuce,
squashes, cabbages, beets, rutabagas,
radishes, greens, celery, potatoes,psas
oats, rye, clover, onions, leans-in
brief, almost everything that can be
grown in vegetable garden any
where. Even corn was there-bu,
only for ornament, as none will ripper
in our climate. But with this single
exception, everything was as thrifty
as could be desired. Even the pota
toes, which were somewhat damaged
by frost, were growing finely.
A garden would, of course, not be
complete without flowers. OF thest
there are roses, hollyhocks, 4 o'clocks
marigolds, poppies, morning glories
lilacs, pinks, even sunhowers. The
pinks blossomed within seven weeks
after planting-something that proba
bly, never occurred before.
All Of the above with the
exception of the currants) were
grown from the seed and vii
therefore be acclimatized. Mex
year the seed gathered from
these plants can be planted almos
anywhere in this region, with a fai
probability of success.
The garden so far has more thar
paid for itself Excepting an ode
day now and then, when two China
men have been employed, one China
man has attended to it, under Mrs
Banfeld's instructions, and the veg
etables sold have realized more tha
enough to pay his wages and a
other expenses connected with th'
garden. Next year this little /.
acre plot is expected to do mucl
better still, and to yield net prof
of 81, 500 to $4,000.
HALEY is entering upon an era o
prosperity scarcely paralleled any
where. By this time next year sh'
will have population of at leas
5000 souls. This large number 0
persons will consume a vast quan
tity of vegetables, fruits, flowers, ane
other garden produce. The none,
paid out for such produce will ag
gregate $4,000 or $4,000. All thi
can be kept right here, in town, if
few persons will only go to tn
trouble of raising the prod uce.
the produce is not raised here tn
amount above stated will have to b
pa id out to ranchers from Cassia 0
u