The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-04-17

The are market cars on nearly all OF the
the railroads leading from the large cities,
which supply country stores with veget-
in the midst OF the finest agricultural
regions of the United States. Hundreds
of farmers in the rich counties of Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware and Maryland, procure
vegetables and fruits from Philadelphia
and Baltimore, purchasing articles that can
be grown on their farms at but little cost.
1t is their strong adherence to the staple
field crops corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and
hay that neglect of the garden, and many
of them know but little in regard to the
proper manner of growing garden produce.
They consider the labor necessary for gar
den too great in proportion to the amount
of produce derived therefrom, and will not
use hoes, spades and rakes, preferring to
perform all such work with horse power.
1t is not at all necessary for farmer to
inclose or set apart plot for garden.
Every crop that is grown in an ordinary
garden can be cultivated with horse hoe
if the seed is planted in long rows, each
row being sufficiently separated from the
next to permit cutivator to pass between
them. The sowing of the seed with hand
drill and the use OF hand wheel-hoe may
be necessary until the seeds terminate and
appear, but it is only short time before
the cutivator can come in, while the extra
labor is hut little.
Such crops as asparagus rhubarb, goose
berries, currants, raspberres and straw
berries entail but little labor for small
patch, for with the exception of straw
berries they remain for years when once
established. At this season, when no other
crops can be put in, it will not require
half day to prepare the land and put in
quite piece of onions and peas. Kale,
radish, lettuce and late peas can be seeded
before the month is out. After danger Of
frost is over beans, tomatoes. melons { if
the soil is light, squash, cucumbers, etc,
will require less than days work to get
them in the ground. Early and late cab
bage, early beets, carrots and parsnips
should be considered indispensable. \
strict account Of the time given to garden
crops, where the horse is used, will show
that the cost is insignificant compared with
some of the staple crops which give little
or no profit some years. II the horse is
used more land must necessarily be taken
| fnr ard DIM han h,rt l,a
method, but that is not worthy OF consider
alton, provided the garden crops take the
place of the sums expended for such
produce. Manure should be used literally,
however, and it should be fine and well
decomposed Simply keep the weeds and
grass down with the cultivator and the
table will be well supplied with variety.
No farmer can afford to buy that which
he can produce for himself 1t is true that
a farmer may grow valuable crop and
purchase the articles required with the
proceeds therefrom, but as farmer really
sells his labor in his crops he will always
manage to produce the extra crops with
but little extra cost for labor, as there will
be times when labor will be idle and can
not be applied except where garden is
cultivated. An advantage in having garden
crops is that the vegetables and fruits
come in early and late, some of them con-
sequently escaping drought or excessive
rains thus insuring returns from sources
even if there is loss with one or two
crops. If attention is bestowed solely on
few staple field crops drought may cut
off the supply of more than one article OF
use, while the labor bestowed on garden
is sure to meet with a recompense The
principal advantage in the growing of
vegetables and small fruits by the farmer,
however, is that he can at all times have
them fresh and good. He cannot procure
vegetables of as good quality and condi-
ton as those grown on the farm, and the
table can be supplied with greater variety
than can easily be purchased. II there is
no outlay except for seeds trial with gar
den crops, and giving horse cultivation in
long rows, will show that the garden is the
most profitable portion Of the farm, and
the farmer will enjoy his fare better, as
we'll as afford his family more luxuries
than are enjoyed on farms upon which no
garden crops are grown.
Put in the early peas and onions. Use
onion sets and apply only the finest and
best manure. If peas are to be grown for
i