The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-04-15
FARMER AND PLANTER.
PLANNING THE FARM GARDEN
Laying Out and Getting the
Garden Ready.

L
In laying out the farmers garden,
make 1t long and narrow, with the
rows running the longer way. Berries,
herbs. asparagus and other things that
are permanently situated should be
placed at one side. 1t should be long
enough to allow turn-row at each
end. so that the rows end evenly and
nothing be trampled upon in turning.
Then a one-horse cultivator should
be bought, one of the kind that can
be widened out or narrowed down to
suit the width of the various rows. l
have used such cultivator for several
years. and can destroy more weeds In
20 minutes than a good man with hoe
in half . day.
In laying out my rows. / use couple
Of stakes and a long piece Of binder
Irvine. This is put down in early spring
at the side where plant my early veg
etables, and shifted across the plot as
/ proceed with the seasons planting.
My cultivator will run between 1S-inch
rows, and so l plant nearly all veg
etables in rows from Is inches to 2
feet apart
For fence, there is nothing superior
to closely woven wire, as it harbors
no weeds, is neat and effectively shuts
out poultry, dogs and all larger farm
animals.
The garden can be made q source Of
profit in more ways than simply pro-
viding vegetables for the table. l have
found 1t most valuable place to ex-
pertinent in soil culture. 1t was there
l had my first lesson in intensive cul-
tivation, learned by practical expert
ence the true value of the dust mulch,
and was convinced of the value of ro-
tation of crops.
In that section of the country where
strong south winds prevail in early
spring it is well to have a row of
low-growing evergreens on the south,
for strong winds injure the tender
plants. Then plant goodly supply of
such things as are permanent and do
not need resetting or seeding each
spring. In my garden, | have black
berries in rows. grapes, currants,
|
rhubarb, asparagus and horseradish, as
well as the various herbs.
These are ready, year by year, to
contribute to my health and profit, and
with very little labor, comparatively
speaking. OF course, they must be ma
nured, trimmed and cultivated. have
used a straw mulch very successfully
In keeping down weeds and to keep the
roots cool and moist in times Of heat
and drought.
In laying out my place, I put the
garden so that the upper or highest
corner is at the windmill, and in dry
times it is very gratifying to turn on
the water, and often I let the water
run down the rows for half day at
time. A child can soon be taught to
turn the water from row to row. 1t
runs in small main ditch along the
upper end of the rows.
| was told that cold water would do
more harm than good, but proved by
experience that / could run it fresh
from the well to the roots of the plants
even on the hottest days. By this
means I have vegetables in dry years,
and sell enough to pay for all expense
of tending From single row of to-
matoes. 40 feet long, sold 81 worth |
of tomatoes. besides providing plenty |
for home use. But If one irrigates in |
this way it is good plan to water |
heavily, then let the soil get just dry
enough to work. and cultivate so that |
the ground will not harden and the |
moisture be preserved.
also tried putting heavy, coarse |
manure mulch in the rows between |
the tomatoes when in bloom, and found |
1t to do pretty well. This would be a |
good plan where the help is likely to |
be short about harvest time, out the |
dust mulch is preferable.
Where ones garden is already laid |
out. and its shape and size will not per-
NIT the use of a horse to cultivate,
get a push pillow or small wheel hoe.
One of my neighbors has used such an
implement for two years, and now has
q much superior garden to that Of pre-
vious years. These hoes have several |
sets of weeder and small hoe attach
ments and are very desirable imple-
ments. Life is too short to hoe one |
side of row when both sides can be
worked with equally as much case