The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-05

care must be taken and not blow when the soil is wet. The wholt years pleasure In working the garden can be easily spoil ed by blowing when wet. This will cause l the soil to run together. become hard and cloddy and disagreeable to work all ! through the after season.
 The main idea is to work the soil so that it will keep loose, mellow and fine all l through the season. When kept this way | there is some pleasure in the work, and even our women would delight in spend 1 ing an hour or so each day with the hoe l or rake working such a soil After the l soil has been fully prepared, the next 1 thing comes the planting.
 The crops should all be planted in rows thirty inches apart. Now, as to what to plant, this, of course, will depend on what l Is most needed. There are some staple crops which are always in order, such as beans, beets, cabbage. collards cucum- i berss, corn, lettuce, melons, onions oSra peas, potatoes, radsh. squash, turnips and tomatoes. Other things may be add ] ed if wanted.
 1 I would not advise the planting of corn 1 in the family garden, as this can be ] grown cheaper at some other place on the farm. These crops should all be planted just as early as the season will permit, and continued plantings may be iihoo ljtlOhBEbul tHe fedoOH ut Bui den may be made to produce a great va riety and quantity of crops by a thor ough knowledge of rotating crops. The main idea is to get the most out of the soil possible.
 The fruit garden should be a separate matter altogether from the vegetable garden, as one is not likely to succeed by mixing the two up together. Of course, a plot large enough for both may ha ad all IA fence, but should be kept separate, as they require different treatment. But the whole object on the farm should be to have plenty of fruit and vegetables, and then, too, 1t will be well to prepare flowers for the good wife and children to look after and admire. These things arc largely matters of habit, and if a family on a farm once gets to providing these things they will find it so nice and convenient that they will take 1t as a pleasure instead of a burden. So let every farmer see to It that he has a good garden this season.
 On the Road.
 l will now try and interest our read CTS for awhile with a few things picked up along the road. For the last few weeks l have been almost constantly on the road both day and night During this time l have travelled over good por- tions of the following states and terri tories: Arkansas, Kansas. Indian Terri tory, Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa.
 I have had the opportunity of seeing very great variety of country and quite a few interesting matters. I have seen the western boom where railroads are building fast; so fast indeed, that they are away out ahead of towns and stations, and the offices, both railroad and telegraph, are in box cars I have seen small board shacks that could be put up in day with great letter-signs First National Bank" I have seen real estate offices in covered wagons and and dug-outs. l have seen towns with two daily papers. banks and stores that are not yet to be found on any map daily map is almost as necessary in the west as a daily newspaper I have seen the great wheat fields of the west.