The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-04-12
SOME FARM TOPICS,


One Of the compromising advan-
tases offssttipg depression Of farm val
ues ID to oblige farmers to give more
attention to their gardens. The great
majority of farmers have not lived
up to the opportunities which farm
life affords In this respect. Instead of
being noted for the freshness and ex-
ceilence Of the garden vegetables and
fruits which can be procured In the
country, the fact has been exactly the
reverse. The market gardeners near
large cities produce vegetables In great
quantities and sell them 30 cheaply
that every city market 10 supplied at
low rates. Not only this but the sur
plus that can not ind an immediate
market IL canned or otherwise pre-
served for future use. Farmers, In
stead Of going to work In the old-fash-
Toned way and producing their own
supplies Of garden vegetables and
fruits, have learned the bad habit Of
relying on what they can buy from the
surplus products Of the market gar
den put up by the canneries.
This evil policy has reached its eli
max. The depression in price Of many
Of the staple products Of the farm
gives farmers less money to buy, and
with this condition tegins to come a
realization that to grow such pro-
ducts for himself and family is more
profitable than aud satisfactory even
though money were plentiful. The
production of gordon vegetables for
home use secures them fresh and in
the best condition, besides saving the
profits Of two Or three middlemen
through whose hands suck goods must
pass ON their way from the market
garden to the farm. II the farmer
cannot make the garden pay under
these circumstances, 1t is a pretty good
sign that he cannot succeed In any
kind Of soil cultivation. When he buys
canned goods he pays n much higher
price than the market gardener ever
receives. aud what IL worse, he gets
an inferior product therefor.
Much of the popular objection to life
on the farm will be changed to enthus-
iasm for 1t just us soon as the farm
garden Is given the position that it
deserves. Instead of being put second
to everything else, the garden should
subordinate all other farm work. No
part of the farm will. II properly man.
iGed. make 30 much clear profit as
viii the garden. 1t is always the rich
.st part Of the farm. BY that fact
t ought to get the most care and at
tention. Small cramped gnrtleDs are
almost never seeded with clover.
This is sown with some grain crop
and the garden is too small to be
cropped with grain. Resides, owing
largely to the difficulty in cultivating
1t with horse power, the farm garden is
nearly always the weetiiest place on
the farm. The great amount of nan.
lllc IL receives helps TOW ar1ls this also.
With heavy n"lnuring the garden IN.
der tlpf: best conditions will be hard to
keep frac from Werds. When made
so snail that tile greater part Of the
work has tc he done by hand the task
leccItes impossible II gardens were
made In open fields. the work of keep
Ing garden crops free IT weeds will
be reduced two-tDliris. Not everything
can be made grow probably in rows
each way, but IL rows of root crops
are made straight and the cultivator
Is freely used one way very little
hand hoeing will I've needed.
But cult, ated by present methods
the farm garden Is, when properly
cared for, the best paying spot on the
farm: During the growing season it
supplies palatable food at cheaper
rates thur It can be secured In any
other way. A good garden adds great.
~ to the attrnctiveness of farm life.
as Its absence. where 1t should be, is
the most frequent reason why wealthy
men do not find their pleasure in coun-
try homes as they do in most Euro.
pean countries. Many Now England
farmers have learned the advantage
Of developing as much as thcy can
the attractions Of their locality as sum
mer resorts for those taking their va
cation from city life. The very hest
way to make the most of these com.
try attractions is to prepare. a better
home supply Of all garden yecetn bies
and small fruits in their season. The
American Cultivator.