The National tribune., 1899-04-27
THE VEGETABLE
GARDEN.
A Timely Article Full Of Prac-
tical Suggestions.
BY C. h. GREATHoUsE, A. n.

article below gives line salient portions.
1t treats of making vegetable garden.
| The farm garden probably pays better
| than any other land on the place No
| figures have ever been collected to show
| of what value its products are, but in the
census of 1890 full statistics for market
gardens were obtained and from these the
conclusion Just stated may be argued.
| The average value OF garden stuff to the
acre was found to i've Sii7.17, while for
wheat the average was only Sl1 90. Later
| reports show that the average for wheat,
corn, oats and hay is s7.75 per acre. 1t
seems clear, therefore, that market gar
dening is more profitable than farming.
But the home garden must pay even
| better than the market garden, for il IS
| not subject to the heavy losses incident to
| marketing periS1able crops. Its products
| are used directly on the home table and
| there need be very little waste. 1t follows
that the garden pays better than the
| field. A good garden will supply half the
famiiy's living. and when field crops show
a balance on the wrong side becomes a
very important means Of support.
In addition to this the garden may be n
bountiful source of quiet pleasure. A
keener appreciation OF such natural Joys
OF the farm home and skill to develop
them would do much to repreSs the crav-
ing for excitement which draws young
men from country lie.
The garden is frequently under the care
of the farmers wife. 1t should be in such
case as near as practicable 10 the kitchen,
so as 10 be in easy reach for gathering the
vegetables and for Il minute opportunI-
ties for gardening. Also all heavy crops,
as potatoes melons, squash and cabbage,
must then lie put in the field, where they
can he cultivated with horse ard pillow.
Further, the site should be chosen with
reference to sun ard wind. A surface
that slopes gently 10 the south is 10 be
preferred, and if the incline is toward the
east it is the better for it. woodland or
high hill as protection from the north
winds and heavy storms is great ad
vantage, and equal and better Will be
wall or hedge iudciously placed as a
windbrcak 1t should usually be on the |
north or northwest in this country; y |
wire netting or high paling fence will be
needed to keep out the chickens, If any !
are Oh the place.
Finally, soil and natura! drainage must
be considered in selecting the location. |
A light sandy loan is usually preferred,
but fine vegetables are grown with ordi-
nary care on heavy dark soils, on sticky |
red clays, and on sands apparently no
better than the sea-h0re. y mellow nch |
soil which will hold moisture well IS
easily recognized, ard should be chosen |
if available; but hardly any soil need be |
rejected as impracticab!e until tired. |
Good natural drainage should be sought |
Marshy or even damp ground Will call ior
much labor and expense to make II nt ior
use. The character of natural drainage
can best be determined by observation OF
the lay of the ground, Of the appearance OF
the soil, and OF the vegetation 1t mas
borne.
The size Of the garden plot should de
pend on the size OF the family ana thcir
taste for vegetables; also upon what Eege-
n he Helu crops. y |
quarter OF an acre is considered sullicieht
for a garden for family OF four. IL pota-
toes, cabbage, corn, and melons are to De
grown in it this estimate is hardly suili- |
cient; but if these vegetables are put IN
the field less than half an acre Will be
enough giving Ioonl for early potatoes
and sweet corn. The best shape is
square, or nearly so.
DRAINAGE.
When the size and place for the garden |
nave been determined, attention should
be given to the drainage, unless 1t Is
naturally very good indeed. The purpose
IS to get rid of any excess OF water, Whlchi
he roots Of the vegetables and stops their
,rbwth. The work must be done thor
jughly before planting; afterwards no
emedy can be found for failure at this
,oint.
ne ground While this plan has dis
advantages, it is commended where no
)ther seems practlcdnie:
F. II. Burnette. HorticulturaliSt at the
Louisiana Experiment Station, writing IN
3ailey's Garden making Tor southern
iardcus, saws: vegetable seeds oi all
<inds should always be sowu on slight
idges on all but very sandy soils. II the
,eed be sown on a leve! bed, as practiced
# the North, the ground will become as
lard as a turnpike road should heavy
ain occur"
But really effective drainage must be
and tile drains are usually
most economical. Where tile cannot be
lad. stones or brush may be placed IN
he bottom of the ditch. For most soils
he bitches should he three to four leet
,eep and about 80 feet apart. They
should have plenty o! thll ana be care
,IIy leyeled at the bottom. When the
Itch is ready to fill, Sods, straw or paper
holIId be put over the tile or stones to
,eep out the loose earth.
Trenching will often take the place OF .
rains. This consists OF breaking up the
oil two spades deep instead oil one. ,
from the top a spadeful of earth is thrown
MT and then the subSoil to an equal
epth is cut, but is not taken out and
,,rned over. 1t is only lifted up little
nd allowed to drop back into its place.
his must be done, however, IN way 10
reak uD the eartN thoroughly. IieliNH- {
ne needs to be done only every two or
hIee years. 1t is especially useful when
he subsoil is very hard or comes near the
urlace. Thorough subsoil plowing rem
ers trenching unnecessary.
PREPARATION OF TIE SOIL. 3
The ground is made ready for planting 3
' plowing, narrowing, rolling and fertiliz-
ig Spading may he done for small 3
arden or where special preparation is
euuired for limited space. The rake is S
sually employed i'll finishing of the ]:
eds. The soil should be broken fine as
eep a. the plant roots may be expected Z
, 20. This is from % to 20 inches. The
arth is left loose and mellow, so the
ender roots may grow through it freely. 3
then holds moisture and lies close TO
ne roots, SO as to supply them readily
18th Iood. (
Flowing should be done in the Fall in
ny haid or cloddy ground, especially in
tiff clays. The clods are left exposed to
he frost, which is natures most effective 8
gent in opening up soil and putting it in &
rder for plant growth. A stiff clay thrown Il
n edge by the plow will break up during 8
he Winter into mass OF fine-grained !.
latera!, almost as open as sand and
-eil adapted to growing vegetables. But
tho hr.ali-1 i. Loft fiji SDripU II the