Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-17
The Value IF a Garden

b1Ildllely Indy pOSSIOIt Ue utuueIt dZ
the pollteness ov hattery.
The Value of a Garden.
lnasmuch as the time is rapidly ap-
preaching when it will be necessary to
make preparations for garden work, few
thoughts and suggestions will, therefore,
not be inappropriate as to the value of the
food that may be raised IL a vegetable
garden, as well as the methods used to
bring about the best results, writes DIR. g.
W. Brooke, in the New York Mail
Farmers, above all the classes of people,
enjoy the best opportunities to indulge in
the luxury of a good garden, and yet COM
paratlvely few of them seem to know, prac-
tlcally, anything about what constitutes a
trst-class vegetable garden. Situated as a
majority of them are, somewhat remote
from town, they consequently cannot de-
pend upon butcher shops for their supply
OF fresh meat. and, as result, subsist al
most entirely, SO far as their food is con-
cerned, upon pork in some form or other.
1t is not necessary, In this day and age,
to attempt to show that this kind of diet,
as rule is unhealthy and detrimental to
our physical organization. and should not
be indulged in only at occasional inter-
walls, and by some not at all, increasing,
as it does, the tendency to scrofulous
troubles and tubular ailments. If the far
mer cannot get, or afford to get, beef, NUT
ton, fowls or eggs, he has a ready substi-
tute for these things in well-kept garden,
which with but little outlay of money, may
be made to yield him as bountiful and
nutritious food that could be desired. In
passing through the country one often sees
but the merest excuse of garden, and
that, too among men styled good farmers,
possibly patch 20, 80 or 40 feet square, in
which you can see row of peas, s Or 10
feet in length, with here and there stray
Cling hill of potatoes, possibly a hill or
two Of cucumbers, and may be one or two
hills of beans, with here and there stray
tomato vine, all of them contending fierce
ly with the grass and weeds for supremacy,
with the advantage largely in favor of the
latter
This condition Of thing you will find ex-
listing among men who are the owners of
very large tracts of land, perhaps, more
frequently than among farmers whose pos
sessions are much more limited. That
this is really a very serious drawback,
both to the financial success of the farmer,
as well as direct menace to the health
of the household, will be admitted by
every one who has ever paid any attention
to the value of vegetable garden, or is
capable of Judging of the relative merits
of the two kinds of food above referred to-
Although the great majority of people
who are extensive land owners are quite
negligent and Indifferent about the proper
care and proper cultivation of a garden,
yet there are many honorable exceptions
to this rule and their example and eff
forts in this direction are worthy of all
praise.
The first essential requisite necessary to
success in this enterprise is that the in
dividual contemplating work of this kind
should be absolutely In earnest in the mat
ter, and that this earnestness should be
supplemented by perseverance, industry
| and far degree of intelligence The To-
cation of the ground, the character of the
| soil, the use of fertilizers, the method in
which the, work is done, are all factors in
| the complete and successful issue of this
kind of work yet, as before said the in
| dividual who is terribly in earnest will
| accomplish wonders, no matter how I'M
satisfactory the surroundings may be,
whereas slow and Indifferent man, with
all the advantages of soil, climate and
every other essential necessary to secure
success, would very likely prove himself
as unworthy of his calling and situation
as did the parties who undertook, many
centuries ago. to look after the Garden of
Eden. If | can stimulate our farmer
| friends. or any one else who may possess
10 square feet of ground, so that they will
make proper effort to cultivate it, | shall,
| in a measure be satisfied.
A vegetable garden of from one-half to
one acre in extent should be the most
valuable field of the farm, and every fam
| lily that can secure enough land to raise
sufficient vegetables for their own use
could add from $50 to $500 to their income
by way of fresh, healthy vegetables, which
would take the place of other food hereto
| fore used, which has been consumed at the
risk both of health and comfort
1t may seem somewhat extravagant to
say that $500 worth of vegetables can be
! raised on one acre of ground, and possibly
people living remote from market, and
who have never either purchased or sold
them, would be unwilling to concede this.
Yet, let such person or family keep a
strict account of the cost of vegetables
purchased or If be has raised them him
self, he Will have no difficulty in real
| izing the reasonableness of the PROPOSE
! ton
In urging upon every family the necessity
of raising vegetables when they are so
| situated as to be able to do so, | but ask
| them to do that which shall be for the best
| interest, pecuniarily, and. what is still
much more important. will conduce to their
! health, vigor and self-respect.
Of