The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-06
THE FARMER AT THE TABLE.
STANLEY HATHAWAY.

| lANLIl hNl w AZ.
In considering tho farmer in his vari-
Gus positions and under his many cir
cumstances, we find that there are
times and places over which he is, or
may be, master of the situation, and
we further find that if he is not, it is
the fault OF no one but himself. The
farmer cannot govern tho prico Of
wheat or corn, nor can he keep tho
price OF hogs at u nickel. In the open
market he is not only subject IT, tho
law Of supply and demand, but IS also
subject to the will Of the gamblers in
Chicago and other market cuntrcs.
They bull the market aud tho price OF
corn goes up; so do the spirits Of the
farmer when he hears Of it. Then
tho bears bring in extensive reports of
enormous crops and visible surplus,
and jump onto the market with both
fcct and tear it down, little by LITTLE
sometimes even tearing the vtry foun
datlOn from under the lowest anLicl-
pated prices, then do the spirits of the
farmer drop accordingly. But there
Is a place whore the markets OF the
world need not worry him, nor cause
any uneasiness on account Of the visible
surplus. and that place is his own
households; at his own table. The
farmer who plans Il little, and carries
out his plans, may have his table sup
, piled tho year round with a variety,
8 both Of vegetables and meats, and fruit
n no may gather fresh from the garden
= five months in tho year. Now somo
will say How can this be ?" In this
s way: Tho farmer should set out fruit
plants and trees that will cover the
d full timo Of ripening from the last of
d May, when hc begins picking straw
a.. berries, until in October, when h.
O. picks his winter apples and pears
y, Fruit is wholesome, and there are few
" persons who do not enjoy eating fresh
berries or hard fruit from the hand, ant
~ tho cunning and preserving Of fruits
!, currics the season from one years enc
a to tho other. Beginning with the
# straw berry in the early Spring, W,
have one OF the most delicious Of al
y, fruits, aud ono which evcry farme
e may be we'll supplied with if he viii
20 only tako a little care. There need bt
~ no cXpcnSt. A f"w plants each o
d strawberry, raspberry and black berry
N II properly cared for, will in two year
Ia give an abundance OF fruit, and plent,
"a Of plants with which to extend tn,
4. fruit-bcd if 80 desired. Aud 90 it i
ia VITA tho currnnL aud sOUoeO.r,y-al
~ arc brought into early and aDundan
A. bearing with but little expense 0
trouble. Before the black berries ar
On ner apples and pears, and once in
ss wnlle peaches. In this locality on,
- need not expect peaches as regua
AZ crop, but II he will set out two o. Lrrc
4 trees and give them some attention h
vo will be amply rewarded for tho tim
os ho bestous upon them, for pcacl
ld crop once in three or four rears vii
IN pay good rent for the ground occupied
M by tho tree. The Fail and White
fruit may be made to extend through
n tho season until berries come again
~ Apples are easily Kept six month
o. after picking, and can be kept tel
m months by keeping in II low and ever
ID temperature and excluding the circula
"a ton Of tho air.
"A Now turning to tho vegetables, We
,t find that tho early outdoor gurdcr
vi gives us asparagus, picplant. lettuce
|. onions, radishes-and spinach about TIN,
n first OF May, and arc soon followed b,
Of hects, peas, beans, potatoes, etc, o
A. which we may have continuous sup
D. ply until the November frosts cut dowr
II all outdoor growth. Whom frOs
comes or il expected, we gathor ant
It store the remaining vegetables int
"a the cellar or pits, and thus continue
At the supply Of potatoes, parsnips, car
il rOJs, boots, cabbage, and Il few others
n until tho Spring garden again comes
l. to our rolief. There arc many kinds
81 Of vegetables which arc not commonl ,
!, found in the farmers garden, but
q which he can grow with little trouble
+ and with much pleasure to his family
- SQuashcs arc easily grown and very
productive, and may bo kept all Win
y ter along with pumpkins in dry
g place, safe from freezing. Egg plants
n must not be put in tho garden until
sottled warm weather, but arc then
n rank growers, productive and hardy
o until killed by frost. Caulitlowers arc
: as easily grown as cabbages, and
n celery may bo grown equal to any from
! Michigan or elsewhere, ii 1t only re-
n ceives the fertility and plenty OF water.
+ Thus We might extend tho farmers
list of vegetables, even to the limit OF
extra time to care for 80 great Il variety
O in the garden.
Along with these vegetables and
, fruits, tho farmer can produce all the
meat required for his own table, be-
q side, that which he prepares for mar
ket. Sugar cured ham Is included in
his daily bill of fare; he also has all
tho other hog products within his
reach-lard, sausage and bacon--that
ho knows to be from good, thrifty,
healthy hogs.
But his meat supplies should not be
limited to the one item of pork.
Many farmers keep sheep and can
have fresh mutton or lamb occaS-
sionally.
a farmer cannot alono use whole
mutton, veal, or beef, but by comb!n-
ing, as Is done in many neighbor
hoods, they can kill and divide the
caroass at once, thereby furnishing