The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-28
HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN.
Worth Many Times Its Cost to Every
Farmers Dinner Table.

Farmers Dinner Table.
Professor ]. R. Shinn, horticulturist
of the Idaho Experiment. station, Mos
COW, Idaho, in a recent letter gave the
following suggestions concerning the
home vegetable garden:
1.-The vegetable farden 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 interest in
farm life if properly planned and man.
aged.
"The fact that a vegetable garden
will aid in keeping down the expenses
of the home is likely to appeal strongest
to the average man, and for this reason
it demands first considerati IN. 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 .S5 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-haIf acre gave a
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
etable garden may exercise an import
ant mission. Happiness always comes
to those who are deeply interested in
the things that surround them. If a
farmer has fine herd of Hereford calves
he Immediately shows his interest by
taking his friends or relatives tc see
them as soon as they arrive at the
farm; il the wife has something in the
parlor that is attractive and new, no
time is wasted before the guests receive
information about it, and from these
facts the whole household rejoices and
the guests are made glad with them.
In like manner the vegetable garden
may create another avenue for happi-
IS. Visitors will undoubtedly enjoy
seeing a well kept garden and especial
ly if the number varieties is great and
the size of the individual vegetables
large, the pleasure OF the occasion will
be at it's maximum. Then the comfort
of sitting down to q meal where vege.
tables in great variety adorn the table
will be greeted with the utmost salts
faction on the part of guests, but it is
to the family that gather around the
4 same board three times each day that
such an assortment of food is the most
satisfying and comforting. Pork and
beans may satisfy hunger adequately
for time, but the same things appear
ing ON the table too frequently become
distasteful. The average individual
therefore needs change in his ration
often. No other method is SO readily
accessible to the farmer as the garden
to meet this demand for variety for his
table.
"Asids from the economic value Of
the vegetable garden and the satisfac
ton it brings to the home, the interest
which it may create in farm life may
be Of no small moment. Rightly plan
ned and properly conducted the garden
may furnish the first element that shall
interest the farm child in his surround
ings. The little tots all enjoy garden
making time and no farm garden Ii
complete without certain definite por
lions set aside for the special provision
for the children's garden. Here il
where the first lessons in the science O.
agriculture should be taught, ano
i through these lessons the very sanes
: and brightest children will decide early
l. in their career to follow the calling o
" their parents.
;. "viewing the vegetable garden from
q the standpoint of it's economic value
a its value as comfort and pleasure t
e the household, and its usefulness il
= arousing a deeper interest in the farm
- it behooves every farmer to direct hi
= attention toward plan ming the gardel
for next year during the long evening
at his disposal this winter"
r. TOMATO BLIGHT.