Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-05-06


Our greatest joy in farming is grow
ing bountiful supply of palatable
and nutritious fruits and vege{ ables
for home use. There is nothing that
draws the whole family into a closer
spirit of unity than the hours spent
working among the good things which
a well-kept garden provides for the
family table. For many years we
have used one acre of ground. which
is fenced chicken tight, to grow veget.
ables and small fruits for home use.
During the summer and fall months
more than a comfortable living has
been obtained from this one acre. 1t
has provided everything in the way
of fruits and vegetables except apples
and potatoes, and a surplus OF some
things to exchange for groceries at
the store. This garden adjoins the
home grounds and is protected on the
north by an apple orchard and on the
east by two rows of evergreens. The
portion occupied by peaches, plums,
pears and ounces serves as a runway
for the young chicks. which in turn
benefit the trees by their droppings
and destroying insects.
A supply of peaches for two months
is provided by the Carman, Alexander,
Early Crawford, Champion, Elberta
and Late Crawford, which gave us
about 80 bushels last year. Twelve
pear trees of nearly as many varieties,
including the Bartlett, Bose, Anjou,
Clapp's Favorite. Blemish Beauty Lau-
renee and Seckel, furnish plenty Of
this delicious fruit for eating from
the hand and for canning purposes.
An abundance OF plums has been
furnished by 20 trees OF six varieties,
four Green Gage, two Monarch, two
Shropshire, two Damson, two Red
June. four Satsuma and four Abund-
ance. Eight ounce bushes, four Or
ange. two Champion and two Meechs
Prolific. furnish an abundant supply
of these appetizing fruits for canning,
preserving and jelly making.
The chicken-yard fence is hidden
from the home grounds by the row of
evergreens. The west side Of the gar
den is devoted to grape vines and
bush fruits. Two rows OF grape vines
SxS feet apart and tied up on wire
trellis-work furnish plenty of this
healthful and delicious fruit from the
last week in August until frost comes.
The varieties include the Worden,
Moor's Early Moor's Diamond. Con-
cord, Nlagar Lindley, Agawam and
Catawba Next to the grape rows are
the rows OF bush fruits; one row each
OF currants, black raspberries, red
raspberries and blackberries. Next to
these rows of bush fruits one lone
row is devoted to rhubarb, asparagus,
and various herbs and medicinal
plants
Among the bush fruits our favor
tie varieties for home use are Fay's
Prolific and cherry currants, both
large, vigorous growing bushes, which
produce fruit of excellent quality. OF
red raspberries We grow the Cuth-
bert, Ruby Red and Syracuse Red va
rietles. The Kansas and Cumberland
are the most satisfactory of the black
varieties.
We also have a few bushes OF the
Columbia raspberry; a purple variety
which is strong grower. unexcelled
fer productiveness ana desirable for
canning Our favorite blackberry is
the Eldorado. which is the hardest
and sweetest blackberry we have ever
grown. This variety natures strong.
vigorous wood and has never winter
killed or failed TO produce full crop
OF the finest fruit The berries are
large, jet black, borne in large clus.
ters, and rlpen well together II Is a
very promising berry.
We mulch the vines and bush fruits
in the summer as soon as the cdltiva-
ton ceases and remove this mulch
early enough in the spring to pillow II