The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-02
The Garden ON the Farm.

Floral Cabinet.
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 a rule, an abundance of
weeds. But what a rarity a good garden is in
connection with the farm, the proper and legiti
mate place for one The farmer is the of
all men who should have not only a good garden,
but the best one possible. He, of all men, can
not afford to be without garden. yet he is the
only man who tills the soil and says he cannot
afford to have one. His plea is that it inter
feres with his farming operations, which are of
greater importance, when, 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
happiness, but because it pays the best dividends
on the capital invested In healthful, nutritious
and delicious food
Every farmer no matter what the size of his
farm may be- should take an acre adjoining his
dwelling, inclose it with fence, which should
be made to answer for grape trellis as we'll as
to keep out all depredators. The plot should be
in the form of parallelogran, say 100x400 feet
with border of three feet IN width all around
in which should be planted grape vines in such
varieties as will best succeed in the soil and sit
uation that is to be given them. This border
like all the rest of the garden, should be made
rich and worked very Deep The vines should
be planted eight feet apart, and always kept well
pruled and properly trained, and we need not
say that the border should be kept perfectly
cleay from weeds. In this border there should
be nothing 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
it dry and hard, and to prevent the weeds from
growing.
''The plot should then be divided into two
equal parts, with an avenue running through
the center wide enough for horse and cart to
be driven through. On each side of this ave-
nue. should be planted row of currant and
gooseberry bushes, which will require space
of four feet on each side. This will form two
plots 175x8S feet each. One of these should be
devoted to asparagus, rhubarb. Strawberries
and other small fruits. The other plot should
be devoted to early and late vegetables. If the
ground is of a tenacious character it should be
thrown up in RIGGS in the fall, in order that it
may become thoroughly pulveriZed by the ac
ton of the frost during the winter AS soon
in the spring as the soil is fit to work, plant
peas. radishes, lettuce, early potatoes and
beets also, have ready to transplant early cab
bage and culifiower plants in sufficient quanti-
ties for family Later on, as as all
dangers from frost are past beans, both pole
and bush, summer and winter squashes, mel
ons in variety a few hills of cucumbers, sue
cession of peas and, i'll fact, any desired vegeta-
bies may be planted Where early peas are
sown the ground may be cleared in time for a
crop of celery, and where the early potatoes are
grown crop of turnips for fall and winter use
can be obtained.
Nov, after the small fruits have come into
bearing, let us take an inventory Of the garden
and see what the acre up to this time has furn-
shed for the table. Very early in the season we
had all the rhubarb that required for sauce
and pies, and for which purpose there is nothing
more wholesome. Next in order asparagus, the
most delicious vegetable the garden Affords and
a splendid appetizer. Soon thereafter radishes
and lettuce were ready for use Before 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 where it is produced! And now, in
the height of the strawberry season, the acre is
yielding all the peas, beets, onions and potatoes
that are required for the family. By the time
the strawberries fail the raspberries invite us to
their portion of the acre and crafty our appe-
ttes for at least three weeks longer. In the
meantime string BEANS summer squashes, Gu
cumbers, early cabbage and caulifowers in
vite our attention; and while they still
Injuries the blackberries will be ready for use.
And with these will be bountiful supply of
green corn early tomatoes. and in rapid success
sion melons in variety, egg plant, and, in fact,
all other vegetables that will relieve the monoto
ny of the too common diet 1.-the farmer-his
favorite pork and cabbage All these luxuries
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 if properly cared
for, there will be sufficient to last until spring
Nor is this all. The acre will afford a sur
plus of all the small fruits, which can be dried
or canned for winter use: A keg OF cucumber
pickles can be put up, and all the tomatoes that
will be required until the next seasons crop is
ready can be canned or preserved. The root
cellar can be well filled with cabbage turnips
parsnips, carrots and satisfy, and dry room,
away from frost. may be filled with squashes for
winter use.
This is not theory but common practice of
one who has not got the acre. but who accom-
plishes all these results upon less than an acre
of garden. Farmers, try the experiment and
see if this acre does not yield larger income
than any FIVE acres of the farm that are devoted
to regular farming.
Grating.
New England Farmer.