Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20

something OF gafoen. II II ls only
scrap of space in the back yard
there is pleasure and satisfaction found in
digging it up, and putting in few seeds or
plants-eyery leaf and bud of which will be
watched with anxious solicitude-or If it in
only pot or two, or a box, on city window
sill, it is still manifestation Of the natural
love of everybody for dirt and what comes
OF ia certain affinity perhaps between
them and that of which they are made. All
men do not want the earth, but all doubtless
would like little share of 1t to call their
own.
:, 10 own bit of ground to scratch
II with hoe, to plant seeds and
Waten their renewal of Gfe-this 10
Ine commonest delight of the race,
the most satisfactory thing q man can
do, says Charles Dudley Warner. This is
one OF the pleasures that come in spring and
all OF those In city homes or suburban
places, who have any ground to go on, are
proceeding to make the most of 1t during
the spring passion for digging in the dirt
and trying to make something grow. On
all hands are to be seen the preliminary
processes of agriculture and horticulture.
With what buoyant enthusiasm men begin
10 garden. and with what cheerful unanim-
lty tney peter OUT when the sun grows
not IN the summer, and the weeds with ap-
palling eelerity and indestructible yigor
weaken their courage and abate their zeal,
THE PERvERsITY OF WEEDS.
An amateur gardener has no show before
the wickedness of weeds. Thouuh he riseth
up early in the morning and worketh until
oVertaken by darkness in the evening. vet
still will the "devil grass" the crawling
cartwheels." the malignant ''puslev." the
rampant rag weed, the Haunting robbers
that exhaust the soil and choke the desired
plants over run and make themselves domi-
nant lords of the soil. He has a tough
struggle until he discovers that mans
powers are no match for the vigor and per-
sistenee of weeds. Potato bugs, rose slugs.
green flies, worms, caterpillars and the
neighbors' chickens seom like small things,
but their power to promote profanity, to
magnify madness and to take the heart out
OF the amateur gardener is something amaz-
ing
Still withal, there Is a pleasure in culti-
waiting a garden that no other work or
amusement can bestow-that is, when there
IS not too much of it. To furnish your own
table with the fruits of your own industry is
a triumph to gloat over. 1t fills the soul OF
the agriculturist with glow OF satisfaction
and honest pride. The peas and beans and
corn and tomatoes he has raised have a ha-
vor beyond the common-a sweetness and
freshness that the market cannot furnish,
moreover he can enjoy the comfort and sat-
isfaction OF being
BENEFACToR TO HIS RACE.
fit is admitted that whoever could make
two ears of corn or two blades of grass to
grow upon a spot of ground where Only one
grew before, would deserve better of man.
kind, and do more essential service to his
country, than the whole race of politicians
put together, as Dean Swift somewhere
wisely observes. This, as farmer remarks,
may be morally and philosophieally true,
but 1t does not fall in with financial notions,
since he makes more money oftentimes on Q
short crop than on a rich harvest.
Epicurus, the eminent Greek philosopher.
who taught that pleasure or happiness was
the supreme good, did not think the best
joys OF life attainable without garden.
Bacon afirms that in its cultivation men
hnd the purest of human pleasures, and
Locke seconds him by saying it furnishes
the httest, sweetest and healthiest of recrea-
tions for men of business Men of wealth
reach the highest delight of living in their
country homes. Men of letters find inspira-
tion and recreation amid the rural scenes OF
country life. Carlyle, in the solitude of his
farm upon the moors, had his happiest days,
and has said he could do twice as much,
and better work in a given time there than
in London. Men of business find in a small
garden and greenhouse both pleasure and
refreshment.
With all this in view it would seem that
all of those in the pursuit of happiness
should aim at the possession of a home of
their own, however humble, and little bit
of ground in which they can daily with the
hoe, and cultivate for their own health aud
pleasure.
The first bower of bliss was the Garden Of
Eden, where the first love story was told mid
leafy groves, where birds sang joyous songs,
gentle breezes set the green leaves whisper
ing, flowers dispensed luxurious fragrance,
and spicy shrubs spread sweetest odors to
enhance its joys. Not likely until after
Eve, with a woman's craving for knowledge.
ate the fated apple was Adam condemned to
dig and delve for living and Eve to keep
house outside the walls of Paradise.
WHAT ADAMS FALL BROUGHT.
With the fall of Adam, which developed
original sin and instituted total deprsyity,
it is likely that the ineradicable weeds
entered the world to become the untiring
foes of not only the first gardener Adam,
but of all others since the dust of the earth
and the fruits of tilling it were invented.
But-with all its drawbacks of deyouriug
insects, and obstinate and overpowerin0
weeds, there is pleasure and profit in q
garden-not such profit perhaps as can be
measured by money, but BY the pleasure Of
the imagination, the joys of anticipation,
and the felicity that passeth understanding,
As to what to plant-don't plant onions.
You can remorselessly weed q bed Of
onions through the whole blessed summer
and not have more than 20 cents worth Of q
harvest. Don't count upon a crop of crisp,
sweet lettuce, because yours will not be
prime until everybody is sick and tired Of
it. Potatoes are a poor lay out if time 10
money, for battle with the bugs is gen.
orally losing game for an amateur.
The crops that pay him best are peas,
tomatoes, Lima beans. asparagus and corn.
These fresh from the garden are miles ahead
of those stale from the market. We speak
from narrow experience to be sure, but il
suficeth for those who have been there.
In recent journal women, who
desire to make money at home, are
advised to start a kitchen garden, if they
have taste and faculty that way. In every
neighborhood are to be found people who
want vegetables, fresh from the garden, and
are willing to pay for superior quality,
Women who are disposed to work in such
line may find this valuable suggestion, not
only as to health, but money and q plain
road to success, since choice fruits, fine
flowers and fresh vegetables are always in
demand and never 20 out of fashion.
BESSIE BRAMBLH