Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-04-20
AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN.
Interesting Letters from Hancock
County Farmers,

|
ELLswoRTH-Ian giad to see that "The
Farm Garden" 10 w be the subject of our
| next bulletin. AS briefly possible l
Will tell what know of the farm garden.
In the early 70's bought my farm. AT
| that time / was running a lumber con-
Germ, having from forty to eighty men,
| mill men, river men, teamsters, exc, aud
my own family, living at the miIihouse
| l hired good man to run my farm, who
said to me: Give me plenty OF seed and
dressing, and l will give you farm pro-
duce." / did, and he faithfully kept his
promise. He came first with great bas-
kets OF lettuce, which looked nice, green
and cool on the table, and we all relIshed
1t very much. He next came with early
vegeta bles, one after another in their sea-
sou, and In the fall filled our cellar with
| potatoes, turnips etc, enough to last till
| they came on the next season. To say that
l was surprised at the difference in our
| living, and above all the difference in my
store and grocery bills, does not express
1t. My store bills were so per cent. less,
and we had everything fresh and good
fresh eggs, cream, milk, etc. l have kept
this farm garden up ever since, and en-
larged some every year. Have an orchard
OF five hundred trees, berries, etc. Shall
look with interest for the different ideas
in regard to spraying, etc. 1 intend to do
| some spraying myself. l never have and
| want to learn all can.
JAMES T. CUsHMAN.
BLUEHILL.-There is 10 doubt that a
good garden Is not appreciated, on most
| farms, rs it should be, but the ma iority OF
farmers especially those on small farms,
| strive to have an abundance OF garden
| products for home use, and unless one
| has good market, this is all that it pays
| to raise. The kitchen garden should con-
| tain every variety OF fruit and vegeta bles
that can be grown, and profitably used in
the family. The garden will give better
satisfaction il it is not too large. From
one-eighth to one-haf acre is about
right. This, il it is dressed heavily and
we'll cared for, will produce more than a
badly titled garden OF twice the size.
One should read carefully all the papers
ana seed catalogues in order to keep in
formed in regard to the latest varieties
and met hods OF work. Often neig bors
| by exchanging seed can get new and i'm
proved varieties without much expense.
H. B. GRAY.
! HANCoCK-A kitchen garden, in which
should be grown those hardy fruits and
vegetables which are necessary for the
healt and happiness of every family, is
almost an Indispensable adjunct to every
| farm. Very few families III Maine are
so situal ed that they can well afford not
to support such a garden; most especially
is this true of those who get their living
through agricultural pursuits. Although
the time has arrived that the average
| field crops il he is to keep up with the
progress of t he times, | greatly doubt il
the time Will ever come when, from a
point OF true economy, we can neglect
the kitchen garden; there is other
way III which can be so sure of a good
supply OF fresh fruits and vegeta bies.
Unless t his is one of the farm specialties,
the smal-fruit plot should be the first to
| be considered for the reason that it is
very important that the family should be
| well supplied with these fruits. OF the
one fourth acre set apart for the garden,
say for a family of ten, twelve rods should
be occupied by this fruit; three rods each
| for Strawberries, raspberrles and black
| berries, and three rods for currants and
| gooseberries. This viii give a variety of
fresh fruits for over three months, and
| II good culture is given, an abundance
during the whole time and a surplus at
| times for canning for winter use. The
remaining twenty eight rods can be
| planted to those vegeta bles in common
use that are not included in the farm
speciality or specialties. Our expert
ence in spraying last summer with
the Bordeaux mixture to prevent
rust upon potato vines which superin-
duces the rotting of the tubers, and in
spraying strawberry vines to prevent
their rusting, did not endorse the popular
idea that is now fast gaining ground
(more, we think, through the power OF
advertising spraying apparatus than the
practical demonstration Of its efficiency
that we have in this a sure and practical
remedy for the rot or positive preven-
| tion against rust. Experimenting has
advanced so far that there is no doubt
but that sulphate OF copper, even in so
weak solution as to produce no injuri-
Gus effects upon the foliage of most vege-
tation, has the power to check or kill the
fungus known as rust upon vegetation;
| but we should take into consideration the
fact that the conditions that favor the
development OF this disease to such an
extent as to affect the development OF the
crop to any great degree, or to cause the
crop to rot to any great extent from its
direct effects, are such as to be antagonis-
tic to the practical application of this
remedy. at least as far as the potato is
concerned. By far the largest cause of
rot in this locality with the potato, one
year with another, can in no way be
traceable to the effects Of rust.
E. W. WOOSTER.
BUCKsPoRT-A good vegetable garden
is one OF the indispensable things on a
farm. Every farmer should plant vari
ETY.. For early beets, plant as soon as the
soil will possibly do, whether in April or
May. For winter use, plant later. For
peas, get the earliest variety, OF her things
being considered, and SOW at intervals
Plant few radishes and some lettuce, in
fact, anything that the family will relish.
What one cares for another may dislike,
so each should have in the garden what
he can relish, and what you cannot use on
the table can be disposed of in some other
way. Some are always complaining of
hard times and that what we produce on
the farm brings but small price, but we
have some things to comfort US. What
we consume on the farm we get fresh and
it is worth just as much for our tables as
though it brought double the price in the
markets. Look well to the garden.
ii. j. HARTMAN.
WEST EDEN-Being in the poultry and
market garden business, there is not
much that | say in regard to the
questions sent, but would like to ask one
or two. Has Leggetts Dry Bordeaux
mixture been used enough to know if it
is as good as the common mixture? Also,
what do you think of the Bordeaux mix
ture put up in cans ready to dilute with
water? II it is good it would be very
handy for small farmers.