The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1907-11-30
HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN.
Worth Many Times it's Cost to Every
Farmers Dinner Table.

Farmers binnoF tAp'o'
Professor ]. r. Shinn, hortjculturis
OF the Idaho Experiment station, Mos
COW, Idaho, in recent letter gave th'
following suggestions concerning the
home vegetab BILE garden;
"The vegetable garden should be an
important factor in every farmers home
throughout the country. 1t will afford
him an economic element In providing
for his family it will add to the COM
fort and happiness of the mother, the
children and himself; and it Will DO
much toward creating an intsresS IN
farm life if properly planned and man
aged.
1.-THE fact that a vegetable garden
will aid in keeping down the expenses
of the nome is likely to appeal strongest
to the average man, and for this reason
it demands frst consideration. In or
der to gain some definite idea OF the ex-
act usefulness OF the home garden the
experiment station Of Illinois conducted
experiments with garden for period
Of five years. This garden consisted OF
one-half acre OF black prairie soil and
the average net profit for the five years,
after all expenses for seed and labor
had been deducted, was $74 .86 per year.
Some years gave less returns than 9TH
ers owing to the effect Of dry seasons
but under irrigation it is probable that
the returns would be much more con-
slant and even higher. During the best
year this plot Of one-half acre gave
net profit OF GIL 0o. Where could the
average farmer turn to find more pay
ing use for his ground?
In the matter of creating happiness
in family and rendering the home
life more comfortable the farmers veg
etsble garden may exercise an import
ant mission. Happiness always comes
to those who are deeply interested in
the things that surround them. II
farmer has fine herd Of Hereford calves
be Immediately shows his interest by
taking HE friends or relatives tc see
them as soon as they arrive at the
arm; il the wife has something in the
oarlor that is attractive and new, no
lime is wasted before the guests receive
Information about it, and from these
acts the whole household rejoices and
he guests are made glad with them.
n like manner the vegetable garden
nay create another avenue for happi-
LES. Visitors will undoubtedly enjoy
eeing well kept garden and especial
y il the number varieties is great and
he size Of the individual vegetables ,
arge, the pleasure Of the occasion will /
70 at its maximum. Then the comfort !
sitting down to meal where vege-
ables in great variety adorn the table
I'LL be greeted with the utmost salts !
lction on the part of guests, but it is o
the family that gather around the !
anne board three times each day that :
1ch an assortment of food is the most :
stisfying and comforting. Pork and 4
cans may satisfy hunger adequately +
II time, but the same things appear q
lg on the table too frequently become 7
stasteful. The average individual .
lerefore needs change in his ration =
ten. No other method is so readily
'cessible to the farmer as the garden
meet this demand for variety for his y
BILE.
aside from the economic value of =.
10 vegetable garden and the satisfac. a. a.
IN it brings to the hone, the interest =,
hich 1t may create in farm life NAV :,
OF no small moment. Rightly plan .,
ID and properly conducted the garden a. :,
ay furnish the first element that shall -
terest the farm child in his surround Us
gs: The little tots all enjoy garden :.
iking time and no farm garden il -
mplete without certain definite DOR ." q.
ms set aside for the special provision ~ ~
the children's garden. Here is 81 ~
lere the first lessons in the science Of az a.,
riculture should be taught. and a. AZ
.ough these lessons the very sanest ~ ~
brightest children will decide earlv 9e
their career to follow the calling Of ue .
'ir parents. VIZ
Viewing the vegetable garden from nd
standpoint of its economic value y.
value as comfort and pleasure to h hq
household, and its usefulness in nd
using deeper interest in the farm gre
'ehooves every farmer to direct his 10
'ntion toward plaI nng the garden AM
next year during the long evenings ' sn'
lis disposal this winter" ke!