The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-12
WOMEN As GARDENERS.


"
If there are To be beautiful flowers
and fine vegetables raised in gardens
attached 10 farms in the ucWly-Settled
states and territories Of the west it is
likely that they viii be produced by
women. As "a rule western farmer, do
not take kindly to the raising Of flew
crs or fine vegetables They have be-
come so accustomed to the use Of ma
chimes and implements operated 10y hoy-
ses that they do not ike 10 handle small
tools, like the garden hoe. rake, and
dibbIe. Having become used to killing
weeds in th fields bv the employment
of the pillow and cultivator, they dislike
to destroy tucm in the garden by pull
inc them on, OF tine ground by hand.
In a majority of cases western farmers
who keep mo- help have very little time
to devote to garden work. The season
for preparing lands for crops for sow
ing. planting, CuitiVatln-, and harvest
ing ls very short, and the time OF the
farmer must be devoted to the fields. Ii
hired men are employed on the farm the
chances are that they know next to
nothing about gardening operations
They are very awkward in the use of
garden tools, and if they are foreigners
it is quite likely that they are uRac-
quanted with our methods of raising
flowers and vegetables In European
countries field laborcrs do not raise
flowers, garden vegetables, and small
fruits.
The men on western farms can be re-
lied on 10 apply the manure to plat of
land set apart for n garden, TO piow it,
TO make the surface soil smooth and
light to open walks. if they are desired,
and TO harvest the vegetables that re-
main in the ground in the fail. They
will also provide brush for supporting
pea vines, set poles for running beans,
and on rainy days they viii transplant
vegetables from the hot-bed or nursery
row TO the places where they are TO
tand and make their Growth. A few
men VIII manage cabbage plants. beets,
carrots, and turnips through the season,
aS they can 10 most of the wOri, with u
culuyatOr. 1t tho table is 10 be supplied
with lettuce, celery, eresS, tomatoes, egg
plant. fine peas beans. and sweet corn.
thcy must in the majority OF cases be
raised by women. Ii there are to be
flowers in and about the house the wo-
men must raise them. Men do not like
To- bother with squash. melon, and GU
cuuOer vines. though they have no
aversion to eating the fruit they pro-
duce. or every hundred beds of culti-
waited straw berries found on western
farms an investigation would show that
ninety-nine were planted and cultivated
10y women. Most of the other small
fruits produced on western farms are
raised by women.
IL may be admitted that the wives
and daughters of western farm 5rs have
work enough to do without taking part
in tilliug OF the soil Besides their gen
eral household duties they have the milk
to take charge of, and generally they
have the care Of The fowls The men
have more machines to tighten their
labors than the women have. Still II is
likely that the women on most farms
would derive benefit by tending u
flower, vegetable. and fruit garden. 1t
furnishes Il change of occupation and
creates a necessity for exercise in the
open air and sunshine. 4 supply OF
fine vegetables and small fruits serves
to diminish the amount of cooking re-
quired. Less discomfort is produced by
handling the hoe and rake in the sun
stove. There Is actual pleasure in rais-
ing fine vegetables. small fruits, and
flowers. as Is evident from the fact that
many persons of wealth, refinement
and leisure adopt gardening as u pas.
time. The layIng-out, planting, and
cultivation of garden exert refining
influence on the persons engaged in
them. 4 woman who is good garden.
er is generally good housekeeper. The
habits OF care and order employed in
the garden are likely TO be transferred
to the house.
There is nothing degrading about
garden work. Ii i an employment il
which ladies of rank and quality have
been engaged in all ages and countries
In the days of slavery the wives q
southern planters did very little wors
in the house. but they took great pride
in their proficiency rs gardeners. The,
delighted in having to- earliest pea:
and asparagus. the tendcrcst lettuce
the largest tomatoes, and the fines
Strawberries. Ordinary garden work i
not very hard. ANY woman who can us.
broom or mopstick can handle hol
or rake without being fatigued. A grea
many kinds of light garden tools ar,
now made expressly for the use of wo
men, 1t Is as easy to make bed o
flowers TO grow in as a bed for peopl,
to sleep in. Nothing pertaining to tn
management of a garden is as hard a
washing and ironing. With gloves /.
protect the hands and broad-brimmel
hat or sun-bonnet. garden work may b
performed without endangering person
al beauty. which it is the duty OF ever
woman to preserve. Garden work call
In exercise in turn every muscle in tn
human body. and in that way aids il
securing beauty in form and graceful
ness In movement Chicago Times.