Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-05-04
Garden, Farm andFIe|d.
BY JOHN J. GILL.
The Attractions of Rural Life.
BY JOHN J. GILL.

The Attractions OF Rurai Lille.
Cultivation of the soil has attrac-
ton for most people. To many ever
gardening is a relaxation and pleas
ure, no matter on what scale it may
be prosecuted. The garden can be
OF any size it may contain acres and
be a farm or it may be embraced
within a box or two. Whatever may
be its extent its variety is unlimited,
and it can be made to administer to
all tastes. If originality be the de-
light of its owner it can be unique.
If form contributes to his pleasure
its walks and beds can be Of all
shapes. The most fantastic faneies
can be impressed upon them by the
artist. Love and color can crafty
itself in the contrasts of its brilliant
flowers and practical skill find re-
ward in its fruits and vegetables.
Whether the garden or farm be utili-
tartan or aesthetic in its results there
can be no monopoly of its joys. In
this grand country of ours it is with
in the reach of every man and wo-
man to acquire and cultivate piece
OF land. In the beginning garden
ing or farming was mans allotted
occupation. In its present condi-
ton gardening or farming, with its
seeds and products, is the result Of
his highest attainments. By COM
mon consent mans greatest triumph
is over mother earth and successful
cultivation his grandest victory.
There is something in rural labor
among trees and plants that inspires
and rejoices the human heart. In
the judgment of the Deity himself
the highest punishment that could
be inflicted upon nan was expulsion
from Eden, and one of the most
curious things connected with Guilt
walton is the fact that there is a period
in the experience of most men when
there is a hankering for a spot where
exercise and contentment may work
and dwell together. In fact the sue
cessful rarely fail to betake them
selves to rural life. After having
been apparently forever weaned from
it they seem to think that cultivation
of their own soil is the browning of
all their other enterprises. This is
true of the successful men of all &C.
equations, of warriors, statesmen,
jurists, merchants and mechanics,
and some of the grandest characters
of history have given this evidence
of their kindly human dispositions
and of the wisdom that guided all
their actions. The most royal of
women have also found pleasure in
designing and working their flower
beds and the humblest of them
delight in their patches of pansies
and pinks. The subjugation of
soils, whether accomplished by the
march of armies or our more peace
full and American methods, always
interests mankind, and there has
been nc period in tie history of any
nation, modern or ancient, more
universally admired than that Of
our during the passing century in
which our rich and fertile lands not
only drew our population from the
Atlantic to the Pacific but attracted
millions from other countries to ours
to secure homes it was impossible for
them to acquire elsewhere.
At the start ground intended to be
cropped should be broken up as
deeply as its soil will adj
NIT. Of course no advantage
will be gained by bringing hard
pan to the surface. After be-
ing plowed it ought to be narrowed
and thoroughly fined, and in some
instances the roller ought to follow
the harrow. In all lands not COM
pletely exhausted there is a certain
amount of latent plant food and one
object of this treatment is to bring
it near the surface and make 1t
available for the nourishment of the
crop TO be sown or planted. Another
is to bury manure, weeds and trash
and convert them into mould. Til
lage is as necessary as blowing har.
rowing and rolling but its objects
are different-one is to keep up the
fine and mellow filth that blowing,
narrowing and rolling have created.
This will greatly reduce loss Of
moisture by evaporation and retain
it in the soil as a resource in
droughts should they occur. An.
other ia to DESTROY the weeds tha,
spring up after ploughing. Tillage
would therefore be necessary, ever
if there were no weeds, but thai
is seldom or never the case fol
ground that would not grow weed:
could scarcely be relied on to pro.
EEzEz SEBEh