The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-03-19
The Best Acre of the Farm.

| name
Nor dove know Of farmer that appreciate.
vegetables, fruits or flowers for their intrinsic
worth. Almost every farmer has an orchard, o1
rather, has regulation number of fruit-trees
planted, but without regard to selection, as to
variety or of their adaptation to the soil climate
in which they are to grow. AS general thing,
our farmers seem to look upon choice fruit with
contempt; they cannot understond the value in
the family ofeary medium and late fruits of their
respective sorts: that they are of the Slightest
i'm ortance in domestic economy. We remember
visiting in a single day, during the past autnmu ;
nearly; if not fully; twenty farmers, an d not in
| one instance were we asked to see the orchard or
| garden, but in nearly every instance we were
asked to see the pigs, which seemed to be the only
product ion in which they were heartily interest
! ed.
Almost every farmer has what he calls a garden,
in which may be found very small and equally
poor selection of poorly grown vegetables and, as
rule, oil abundance Of weeds. But what a rari-
! ty good garden is in connection With he farm,
The proper and legitimate place fur one: The
farmer is the man Of all men who should have not
only garden, but the best one possible He of
all men. cannot afford to be without gaSden, yet
he is the only man who tils the soil and Says he
cannot afford to have one His plea is, that it in
terfercs with his farming operations which are of
greater importdnce wl1en, as a matter Of fact. it
should be the most important part of his work.
because it is not only the most essential to his
happ ness but be cause it pays the best dividend
on the capital invested, III hcalthful, nutritious
and delicious food.
Every farmer. no matter what the size of his
farm may be, should take an acre adjoining his
dwell ling, enclose it with fence, which should
be made to answer for grape trelis, as we'll as
to keep out all dcpredators. The plot should be
in the form of a parallelogranl, say 1OOx4OO feet
with border of three feet in width all around;
in which should be planted grape-vincs in such
varieties will best succeed in the soil and situ,
tisn that is to be given them This border, like
all ths rest Of the garden, sheuld be made rich
and worked very deep. The vines should be
planted eight teet apart and always kept we'll
pruned and properly trained, and we need not say
that the border should be kept perfectly Gle,
from wecds. In this border ther, should be moth
ing else grown excepting, perhaps, early radishes
and row of lettuce, and it should be separated
from the main garden> by path three feet in
width, covered with coal ashes to make 1t dry and
hard and to prevent the weeds from growing.
The plot should then be divided into two equal
parts, with IN avenne running through the centre
wide enough for horse and cart to be driven
through On each side of this avenue should he
planted row Of currant and goosebe erry bushes;
which will require space of four feet on each
side. This will form two plats, l75xsS feet each:
One of these should be devoted to asparagus, rhu:
barb, strawberries and other small fruits. The
tier plot shoull be devoted to early and late
vegetables. If the ground is Of a tenacious char:
actcr, it should be thrown up in ridges in the fall
in order that 1t may become thoroughly pulveriz-
ed by the action Of the frost during the winter:
AS soon in the spring the soil is fit to work plant
peas, onions radishcs lettuce, early potatocs and
beets; also have, ready to transplant, early cab
bage and caulihowcr plantsin sufficient Gi1 .ntitis
for family use Later Oh, as soon as all dangers
from frost are past, beans, both pole and bush.
summer and winter squashes, melons in variety;
few hills Of cucumbers, succession of peas
and in fact, any desired vegetable may be plant
ed. Where early peas are sown, the ground may
be cleared in time for crop Of celery. and where
the early potatoes are grown. crop of turnips5
FOR fall and winter uss, can be obtained,
Now, after the small fruits have came into bear:
ing, let US take an inventory Of the garden and
see what the acre up to this time has furnished
for the table. Very early IN the season had all
the rhubarb that we require for sauce and pies,
and for which purposes there is nothing more
wholesome. Next in order asparagus, the most
delicious vegetable the garden affords, and a
splendid appetizer. Soon thereafter ra dishes and
lettuce were ready for use Before we tire of these
the strawberry season commences: and what dish
is equal to strawberry short-cake. smothered with
rich sweet cream. which can only be had whore
it i. produced? And now, in the height Of the
strawberry season, the acre is yielding all the
peas, beets, onions and potatoes that required
for the family. Ry the time the Strawberries fail
the raspberries invite us to their portion of the
and crafty our appetites, Tor, at least, three
weeks longer. In the meantime, string beans
summer squashes, cucumbcrs, early cabbage and
caulifowers invite our attentions; and while they
are still luxuries the blackberrics will be ready
for USE. And with these will be a beautiful sup
ply of green- horn, early tomatoes, and i" rapid
succession melons in variety, eggplant, and, in
fact, all other vegetables that will relieve the
monotony of the too common diet of the farmer
his favorite pork and cabbage: All these Injuries
will be rapidly followed by delicious grapes for
dessert; and upon the approach of frost, the most
delicate OF all garden vegetables, the celery, will
be ready for use; and Of this properly cared for
there will be sufficient to last Until spring:
Nor is this ALL The acre will afford a surplus
Of ali the small fruits, which can be dried or
canned for wintef use. A keg of cucumber
pickles can be put up nd all the tomatoes that
will be required Until the next seasons CROP is
ready can lie canned or preserved: The root-ce
lar can be we'll filled with cabbage; turnips, par
snips carrots and sdlsify; and dry room; away
from FROST may be filed With squashes for winter
use:
This is not theory, but a common practice Of one
who has not got the acre, but who accomplishes
all these results upon less than an acre Of garden:
Farmers: try the experiment and see if this acre
does net Yield larger income than any five acres
Of the farm that are devoted to regular farming
Floral Cabinet.