The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-12-19
my TOMATO PATCH. /"

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The Journal is glad to be able to give
to its readers the.folloWing essay from
Miss Hazel McDavitt of Welsh, who
won the prize trip to Washington on
her tomato club work. The Journal in
a former issue told of her successful
achievement in this work and her trip
to the capital city along with other
winners from other Southern States.
In Washington she was presented to
the President and his Cabinet. She
was presented with a diploma of merit
by Secretary of Agriculture Houston.
In her essay entitled my Tomato
Patch Miss McDavitt says:
Two years ago, Mr.. Redhead, who
was then our parish agent. came to
our school in Welsh and told us Of the
club work other boys and girls were
doing in different parts Of the State.
He then formed a club in Welsh and
came often to see us. am very glad
indeed that became member.
Father willingly helped me to lay off
the tenth of an acre required and he
also helped me with the heavy work,
such as blowing to get soft mellow
bed for the baby plants, which l raised
in cold frame. When the plants were
big and strong enough l set them out
in the garden.
The Spanish flies came and destroyed
them all and | almost thought there
was no use trying again, but decided to
anyway. When / thought they were
beginning to do well the flies came
again. This time / used air Stacked
lime and saved half of my plants.
BY this time had no young plants
to transplant in the place of the old
ones and had to go to my neighbors
and buy some.
After having such hard time to get
a stand, made UP my mind to get all
/ ] could from the patch and worked
them well, when they grew about a
foot high staked and tied them, The
miserable little Spanish flies pestereG
me all summer. but / fought then
down with sprayer.
/ One morning | saw scme ripe to
matoeS and knew that / was paid fol
my trouble. / gathered them ever.
morning, sometimes getting large
tub full. other mornings finding jus
enough to fill basket. The larg'
smooth onesI sorted out for cannin.
and the others were put IN pile fol
catsup.
hada small Gamer that would onl.
hold two dozen No. cans.
carried my tomatoes from the pate
in baskets and after sorting them
scalded and peeled the best ones an
slipped them in the cans by hand, the
the cap was sealed on and they wer
tested for ten minutes, then wer
cooked one hour more to be sure the
J would keep.
/
/ canned lots Of things from papa
! garden, cabbage, pumpkin, corn, okr'
berries, some fruits, anu ! made som
! jelly.
When the cans cooled ! put labels Q
) them and they were ready for markt
: and it was very easy for me to sell all
: had put up, but we kept some to us
B at home.
Z Neighbors brought their crops ov'
: and was kept busy canning them {
2 shares. They gave me half because
3 did the work and furnished the cans.
D Next year will have to get a ne
8 Gamer for several people have ask
9 me to do canning for them on share
3 and am glad to do it for the profit
8 such work is good and will no dou
q pay for my Gamer.
E My father has put up tent in o
q yard for me to carry on this work
8 spite of what weather the weather m
= might send hot sunshine or rain, | G
3 work just the same.