The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-04-28
The Garden.

Somerset farmers reply to conundrums
of Secretary cKeen in Board Bulletin
relating to the farm garden, thusly:
ST. ALBANs-The garden for the far
mer is not given the attention it is en-
titled to in the farm. Where land is
cheap, good method of planting is to
have rows three feet apart and use Guilt
vator drawn by horse, thus saving much
labor in wedding. This is entirely practi-
cal and could be adopted with profit in
many cases. Spraying fruit trees, | am
satisfied, pays, so far as practiced about
here. Spraying potatoes with Bordeaux
mixture prevents rot in a great degree
and it should be tried by each farmer.
S. H. Goodwin, (Member.)
CoRNvILLE-I do not know as | have
anything new or special TO write in rela-
ton to the farm garden. Judge most
farmers know more about gardening than
their practice on this line would indicate.
Some farmers don't like TO take the pains,
put in the required time. exercise the care
or indulge in the fussing. that is necessary
in order to have good garden. To have
a productive garden the soil must be
literally dressed. | would plow in large
quantity of good manure every fall and
then pillow again in the spring. 1t is an
advantage to have the arrangements such
that You can work in the garden with
morse and cultiva,or. If you harvest
good crop from the garden, weeds must
not be allowed to grow. To keep down
the weeds requires time, patience and
perseverance. A farm with all its attach
ments, if we'll managed. is great institu-
ton for keeping man busy. And why
not be busy? What else is the average
man good for but to perform honest toll
for some useful end? A. SMITH.
PALMYRA-I think one-fo fourth of an acre
of land devoted to farm garden we'll
fertilzed and cultivated could be made the
most profitable of any of our farm operat-
ions. On it could be grown all the early
potatoes, all the sweet corn, beets,
turnps, cabbages, carrots, onions, cucum-
bers, lettuce, celery, and strawberries,
any family could possibly consume in any
year, and at price far below the cost of
purchasing them. The farm garden is
very properly the first theme for discuss
ing this year. | hope every one who
occupies any land, and especially those
who receive Board Bulletin No. 1, will
lose no time in starting the growth of
those seeds in doors, that we may have
our tables supplied early in the season
with Injuries of our own produc ion fresh
every morning, noon and night.
]. p. LoNGLEY.
SKoWHEGAN-It is not early for farmers
to begin to arrange for the garden. Get
the seed ready and trust only such as can
be depended on. One can purchase
tomato and celery plants WHEN wanted or,
sow the seed in boxes and raise them
without much trouble, but remember that
no garden is complete without an abund-
ance. Onions and early peas are hardy
and should be sown as soon as the ground
is in fit condition. Too many farmers
have only an apology for garden, and
are losers in consequence. We should
not forget that time required to cultivate
good garden is not by any means thrown
away, as to many seem to think. And it
is well to be continually on the watch for
very best variety grown. Without enter
ing into details, we all know that there is
constantly marked and rapid Improvement
in the products of the garden, both in
small fruits and vegetables, and if the
board of agriculture can, through its Bull
etins or by any other method, induce the
farmers of the State to pay more attention
to their own interests in direction of gar
den culture, it will be doing valuable
service. S. F. EMERSON.
ANsoN-I run good garden, every
row twenty four rods long, and use land
enough to put the horse and cultivator
between every row. A good garden pro-
duces half the living, in summer. even if
some weeds do grow and some plants are
left that should be pulled. GEO. FLINT.