Graham guardian., 1911-11-10
WORKS THREE ACRES
Pennsylvania Makes Living on
Small Farm.
Success Is Mostly Due to the Irriga.
tion System Which Has Been In
stalled on Piace-Water is Of
Utmost Importance.


fullest capacity, Fred w. Richie, who
lives within the limits of an eastern
Pennsylvania town, is able to make
an excellent living. Mr.. Ritchie con-
fines himself mostly to crops that ex-
perience has shown him pay best in
his locality and sells the greater part
of his produce in the market houses
Of his home town. where regular Gus
toners are eager for his vegetables at
good prices, writes e. Harrington in
the Country Gentleman. The plan OF
taking stall at a market house Is one
that has many advantages over the
practice of selling from house to
house, which must be followed in more
northern cities II one has private Gus
toners. During the season when busi-
ness is dull Mr.. Ritchie is able to sup
plement his income by buying some
produce to be retailed at market
prices.
His three acres, however, together
with two greenhouses, keep him busy
most Of the time. He practices the
most intensive culture and uses water
literally. The fact that he has city
water on tap makes this possible. In
deed, he says there would be little
possibility Of making a success In his
line Of work unless water could be
used without stint.
Within the last year or two an irri-
cation system has been installed on
the little plant. Several lines of pipe
extend the length Of the field, running
parallel to each other, and are go ar.
ranged that the streams which they
throw cover the entire area. The Diff
ferent lines Of pipe are governed BY
levers near the house. so that in
few moments time 1t is possible to
have water playing over the entire
field. The pipes are raised on wooden
supports, perhaps foot and half
above the ground. Mr.. Ritchie's land
is divided into two fields, on opposite
sides OF the street. The irrigation
system proved SO satisfactory in the
field nearest the house that 1t has now
been installed in the second field.
In addition to this plan Of outside
irrigation, Mr. Richie also waters his
greenhouse crops In the same way, the
pipes being so arranged that the turn.
ing of lever will cause sprays OF wa
ter to reach the whole surface of the
beds. drenching them with gentle
shower that does not wash out the
smallest plants. Mr.. Ritchie has found
this method Of applying water great
convenience as well as a time.saver.
The leading crop on this little plant
Is lettuce, Of which enormous quanti-
ties are grown. The market price for
lettuce varies, but sometimes 1t runs
as high as ten cents. On several oc-
casions Mr.. Ritchie has had large
crops growing which he estimated as
worth eight cents In the field. For q
long time he considered Big Boston
the best variety for his purpose, but
for the last two or three seasons has
been importing much Of his seed from
Germany, having found variety
which proved particularly good crop.
per, as we'll as producing well-formed
and attractive heads. Mr.. Richie con-
siders lettuce-or salad, as it is more
commonly known in Pennsylvania
the best crop for market gardeners of
limited areas, especially In parts OF
tho country where the summers are
very hot, because the farmers cannot
raise 1t, owing to the lack of suff cient
water. A large part of the produce
on sale at the market house is brought
in by farmers, and the successful
market gardener grows the crops they
cannot well mature instead OF trying
to compete with them In producing
such vegetables as cabbage and toma-
toes. Everything depends upon taking
advantage Of circumstances. Some
farmers in Pennsylvania, isolated
from good retail markets, have found
cabbage highly profitable crop.
Mr.. Ritchie sometimes uses artifi-
cial shade during the hottest weather,
arranging canvas covering over q
part of his crop. and finds the plan
worth while. Parsley and red beets
have proved excellent crops. although
the demand for the former is not SO
great that 1t can be grown in large
quantities. Radishes, celery and on
ions are also grown to some extent,
the radishes finding ready market
very early In the season.
Manure is relied upon for fertilizing
the crops and all the cultivation is
done by hand, wheel hoes being en-
ployed to large extent, though con-
siderable work in wedding is done on
the hands and knees by the five or six
helpers who are employed during the
busy season. The manure is hauled
from neighboring stables. The hired
help Is secured wherever possible and
constitutes one of the greatest prob
lens Mr.. Ritchie has to meet. In an
attempt to solve this question OF Ia
Dor, Mr.. Ritchie has recently largely
increased his greenhouse area and
now has 10000 square feet Of glass.
heat being provided by two modern
hot water boilers. The greenhouses
are devoted entirely to growing ger.
aniums for cuttings.
This work gives employment to five
men throughout the winter. and Mr.
Ritchie is now able to engage his men
by the year. He expects that this plan
will largely obviate his annual spring
worriment over the matter of iaborers
to take care of the summer crops.