St. Tammany farmer., 1906-05-19
FARMER AND PLANTER.
HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN.
Plant Variety, Plant For . sus-
cession, Somthing Coming Au
the Year Round.

Of the family. It would seem, therefore,
that every home should have its vege-
table garden and that every member
Of the family should take an active in
terest in its maintenance. AS a CO.
operative enterprise, it is at its high
est value, adding attractiveness to the
premises and smiles to the family
board; offering instruction in natures
secrets with the satisfaction incident
to odd moments usefully employed.
To the vegetable gardener the soil is
an interesting study. The problems
presented by the different articles
which he hopes to produce in their per-
fection enlist attention, whilst the sci
ence and the art of gardening become
matters of greater import than mere
quantities OF cabbage or potatoes. If the
garden site prove to be not well chosen,
through some defect Of drainage or ex-
posure, he hastens the remedy. Should
fungus or insect threaten his products
measures for relief are quickly resort
ed to.
The novice at gardening should be
warned against grass. Hay is valua-
BILE crop, but costly one in the gar
den. It will squelch more enthusiasm
than the averages mortal is blessed
with. To avoid such a disaster and
for other important reasons, the gar
dener must have proper tools for cul-
tivating his plants, and these must be
in effective condition, or his exercise
will become laborcus and vexatious
Rust and dullness are not conducive to
good gardening:
can not forego the opportunity Of
urging the wheel hoe. With this tool
and its attachment the cultivation Of
the home garden Is an absolute pleas
ure; the dust mulch Is maintained,
moisture is conserved, grass and weeds
destroyed as they germinate, our
plants are not subjected to the adverse
conditions that might otherwise pre-
vail, and the work necessary to keep
the garden In the very best condition
may be accomplished without fatigue.
Above all things. don't expect to
keep your enthusiasm alive or interest
your co-laborers with q few rows Of
red pepper and 'scollards." Variety is
the spice" of gardening.
There are many good things cata-
logued by seedsmen besides the novel;
ties, and II there be any reasonable
reason why the novelties advertised by
reliable seedsmen should not be given
trial, it escapes me at this moment.
A small packet OF seed represents an
Insignificant investment; and If your
novelty fails to meet all expectations,
very little Is lost. Plain the ''old re-
LIABLE" and the novelty too. II you are
entirely awake you will introduce q
novelty yourself some day.
Plant for succession. Get returns
the year round. There is no month
(weather conditions being favorable)
In which something may not be plant
ed, cultivated or harvested. :
Read up. have seen one farmers
bulletin, published in North Carolina,
that is worth more to green garden
er land some who are not Of this -color)
than all your expenditures for vegeta-
Bile seeds in any one year of your life.
It will add much to the pleasure Of
your work, and possibly something to
your understanding, to become ac-
Quainted with the work of others in
your particular line. Don't try to dig
1t all out by experience, or you'll be q
century or two behind. Somebody was
experimenting on the same thing per-
haps before your grandpa finished his
A B C's. And, please, don't be a China
man!
When you have become a garden
crank; when you have succeeded in
turning the boys and the girls your
way; when you have turned the "old
man little away from cotton, so that
bale or two more or less does not
obscure his vision; when you have TAX
en- your share of this poor old abused
earth, fed and tended It. refreshed it
with your kindness, and through some
manipulation helped it to answer ma
ture's demands in harvests Of things,
good and useful: when you have real
lied what a privilege was yours in be-
ing given this to do, and how impossi-
bic It is to express the satisfaction that
has come to you in the doing Of it
why, just then should like to be per-
mitted to touch your hand and to-take
dinner with u.-Cor. Progressive
Farmer. i.s.34