The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-02-09
FARMER DPLANTER.
THE FARMERS HOME GARDEN.
IL IL m Indispensable Adjunct to
Every Well-Regulated Farm
or Plantation.

| VIC" W ficltt as well as ptcdSuIcs
Its size, Of course, will depend upon
the size of the family, and also upon
the market end its distance.
Not only should the farmer have q
good garden, but also very early
garden. 1t is the early bird that
catches tic worm; so with verv early
vegetables. They may be little more
trouble than the latter, but we will
re remunerated for our trouble
There has been a great deal of satis-
faction to ne to be the first one in
this town to furnish new vegetables.
Any work we delight in is easy. l
would think it great sacrifice il
vas deprived of the privilege of gar
dening As soon as the beautiful spring
| opens. To Re truly successful one
E,nst begin preparations in the fall.
Zee that ycur hotbed-frames arc in
good shape. Store lot of ricn soil in
barrels or boxes in the cellar, SO you
can use |. at any time for your earl
est sowing of tomato, cabbage, pep
Ter and orlier seeds. Study your eli
mate, and sow your seeds accordingly
early or late. Further, study your
market.
Did you ever try to create a market?
], or rather my youngest boy, was
very successful in creating a market.
He has sold all my vegetables, fruit,
poultry. etc., for four years past, and
is now only ~ years old. He received
ten per cent. of all sales, with the un-
derstanding that the money was to be
wisely spent, and not for knicknacks.
He buys most of his own clothing, tab
lets, paper, pens and other school nee
essar1es. think he sold ove- seventy
dollars worth one year. Besides, he
does not lose eny time out OF school.
AS soon as the seed is sown in boxes
in the house in February or March,
and the tiny plants appear above
ground, look out for mice; they are
fond of them. After the second leaf
appears give them more room, and
continue transplanting as often as
they crowd. Do not set in the open
ground until all danger of frost is
past. In the meantime I prepare a
suitable space in a warm spot for my
earliest vegetables. While it is vet
doubtful about frost / SOW lettuce,
radishes, spinach, peas and beets; not
too many at time. also plant some
potatoes and sweetcorn very early.
You may win and you may lose. If
you win it makes you glad, and if
you lose you are prepared for the
disappointment. AS the weather
grows warmer you can sow and plant
the foregoing vegetables weekly in
succession, and have tender vegetables
all through the season. In my family
they are fond of green peas, conse-
quently l sow large patches, as my
market for them is good. For beans
| have little market, but / plant an
abundance of fall beans as shell-beans
for winter use. Tomatoes are staple
vegetable for farmers to use fresh as
well as canned, and for pickle and
catchup. My earliest of vegetables are
the winter onions; they are delicious,
and can be sold easily when neatly put
up. Spinach, pie-plant and asparagus
all may be grown very early by using
horse-manure literally.
Right here / want to enter wedge
for flower-lovers. Early in March 1
plant my sweet-peas, if possible to
work the soil. Subsequent frosts will
not hurt them. have bed one hum
dred and twenty feet long along the
public highway, one-fourth of a mile
out of town, and beautiful sight it
is, supported by mesh-wire stretched
on posts Is feet apart.
But to turn to the tomato. If you
have more than you use or have sale
for you may feed them with profit to
hens or cows. Carrots, beets, mangel-
wurzel, parsnips, etc., are all very val
liable vegetables for house use as well
as for milk cows and horses. / usual
ly grow sugar-beets by the wagon
load, and feed them to my cows and
hogs, as they eat them as eagerly as
apples.
Farmers around here talk about my
success with hogs-no, it's manage
ment in taking care of them. Mine
are never sick. Roots give the hogs
large digestive organs and good
sound muscles.
Lima-beans are very profitable. I
prefer the pole variety. Cabbage
should be found in large quantities,
and variety. Do not miss having u
little Savoy, for it's great tenderness,
and some Red Rock for picking. Flat
Dutch or Drumhead gives satisfaction
for general crop. OF course, each
one has his own choice. Where cauli-
flower can be grown it is profitable.
Early sweet-corn sells well and tastes
delicious. The cucumber must be re-
membered, and if rightly managed