Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-11
GERMAN WOMEN GARDENERS.
Attractive Mingling Of Flowers, Fruits
and Vegetables.


Most American travellers in Germany go
to the principal cities, see as much sights
Of art, architecture and scenery as possible
and return without having the chance to
stop on the waysides and learn Of the real
home-life of the people. No existing guide
books lead to such roads Mecklenburg
Schwerin. with it's little sister state Sire
iitz. is only twenty Eight German miles long
and fourteen broad. but 1t Is one of the
most fertile agricultural districts existing.
The finest breeds of farm animals, the
richest crops Of grain. fruit and grass are
raised here Husbandry in all its branches
Is studied from long experiences and when
we consider that all farm land has been
for centuries under cultivation. with no loss
Of productiveness. we see that there must
be some reason and effort which keeps 1t
up to so high standard.
Every family has garden and the work
in 1t is done exclusively by women. In the
villages, where a minister resides, who al
ways has big farm to cultivate as his sup
port his wife Is the leading spirit in
the garden. In other places, perhaps the
wife Of the schoolmaster or forester takes
the lead. Often there is friendly contest
to who shall have the first peas and
carrots for the table; Of course, everything
grows In open air. On Whitsunday all try
to have the first lettuce and. If possible. a
young chicken or pigeon for dinner. Gen
orally the garden is close to the house:
when surrounded by stone fence the main
path runs in the middle. If the green hedge
incloses It, the path runs all around next
to 1t. because close to the hedge nothing
will grow. All beds are laid out in straight
fines. no turf whatever Garden land may
not be wasted and grass grows in the
meadows. Along the main walk on both
Sides are beds about Ave feet wide called
rabbats. At each end is generally a clumn
Of lilacs or cherries Rose. currant and
gOoseberry bushes are planted at intervals
in the middle Of these beds and are trained
to resemble little trees. This leaves room
for diverse perennial flowers underneath.
Gooseberries grow to excellent size and
favor. For Easter they have the first shives
and as the season advances each variety.
as 1t natures. Is greeted with delight and
thankfulness by the family. Asparagus is
one Of their favorfte vegetables. 1t is
grown in raised beds and cut three times
daily for fear that the heads of it turn
blue or green when exposed to the sun.
They like 1t white. Green, long shoots are
not eaten. Beans they have, but they pre-
fer long, very aeshy pods of Lima, as the
latter Is almost unknown. as are also sweet
corn and tomatoes. except at the rich
domains. where gardeners are employed.
OF peas they have. besides other kinds.
very large pod bearing, called sugar
peas" which is cooked whole, like string
beans. Parsley is raised In two distinct
varieties, the curly for decorating, the
plain for it's roots, which are used in SOUPS
OF celery the turnip-rooted is only known
and prepared. when cooked for salad and
soup. An immense amount of different
sweet herbs, for use in the household, al
ways find a place. Cara way seed is cut
twice during the season. The broad bean
is grown in single rows between the DO
tatoes. Pear plum and apple trees are
distributed all over the farm in single
specimens. Orchards of one kind are sell
dom found. Peaches. aDricots and grapes
are grown on trellises in some protected
spot, or on the south side Of a house or
barn. Onions, carrots, turnips and similar
crops are sewed broadcast On the beds;
children and old women do the wedding
Particular stress Is laid on such vegetables
as can be preserved for the winter, either
in mature, natural state or dried. Nothing
is wasted, even the rose leaves are gather
ed before dropping, and exchanged at the
drug store for something necessary Privet
tain time a long blue and green-looking fly
appears, which feeds on the leaves. It is
the Spanish fly; the children are eager to
pick them off and sell them; they are used
for making fly blisters The gradens of
the more wealthy people and noblemen's
estates are laid out in English style with
curved walks and the turf dotted with
beautiful flower beds. The ladies are all
good housekeepers, take personal inter-
est in all matters. oversee the garden and
help, often, to gather the vegeta bles for
dinner. All summer. in fair weather. be-
fore and after school hours, women ac-
companied by their servant girls and chill
dren. go, with little handbaskets or wagons
containing lunch, a-gardening; they
work. enjoy outdoor life, fresh air and
healthy recreation