The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-04
DEVELOPING THE HOME GAR
DEN.
Clemson College Extension Work.
South Carolina Experiment Station
Press Bulletin No. 1856.

horticultural
The development of the home fruit
ana vegetable garden is one Of the
most important problems in connec-
ton with the upbuilding of the Hor-
ucultural resources OF our State. The
nome garden paves the way, as it
were. for the larger operations Of
iruit and vegetable growing 1t is al
ways the forerunner of commercial
development. From it has evolved
all the gfreat fruit and vegetable in
terests of the country. Small and
unpretentious as it may appear, it has
peen the trial ground and propagating
field where the fitness Of numerous
given sorts have been proven and
where almost all OF our varieties of
nigh quality and commercial merit
have been produced.
In view OF the fact that fruit and
fresh vegetables are appreciated by
all classes OF people, in the city. town
and country, it is surprising how lit
tie attention is given to the growing
OF them by those who have the prop
er facilities and locations at their
command. Both OF these healthful
products Of the garden should have q
regular and permanent place on the
family bill of fare. but in many in
stances their culture has been neglect
Cd To such an extent that they are
considered almost a luxury. Instead
OF seeing. as one travels throughout
our state, orchards containing the
best varieties OF practically all the
different kinds of fruit maintained i'm
u thrifty condition, what do we see
In the majority of cases. we see only
few trees OF the commonest kinds
OF fruit occupying the waste corners
abou; the home grounds or standing
here and there in the cotton and corn
hclds with every evidence OF neglect.
Instead Of seeing we'll kept gardens,
producing IN abundance variety Of
fresh vegetables for the table every
day in the year, what do we see? All
too often we see in the spring only
a few of the hardy vegetables such
as cabbage, onions and turnips. In
the midsummer few Of the frost
tender sorts. as beans, tomatoes and
squashes. and little later in the sea-
son bountiful crop Of weeds.
Most farmers and suburban dwell
ers make some effort to grow fruit
and vegetables for home use. but in
the majority OF cases they do not
grow enough to supply their families,
and that which they do grow Is often
inferior in quality. 1t Is common
sight to observe people on their way
nome from town stop at the corner
grocery for choice head of lettuce
or basket of Strawberries, when on
ground a distance of less than one
hundred yards from their kitchen,
they could have growing. fresh and
juicy. a very much superior product
Not infrequently. there are those who
have every opportunity to grow and
preserve any amount of fruit and veg
etables that purchase q constant sup
ply of canned goods OF this nature.
Think of 1t. In a land like ours.
where these things grow so easily
and cheaply. people ordering canned
fruits and vegetables from the whole
sale houses of our large cities, paying
for the cans. the canning. the freight.
and besides getting an inferior pro-
duct.
The opinion has become all too pre-
valent among the people of this state
that our section is not one where high
class fruit and vegetables can be
grown. We exclaim when we see the
beautiful packages OF fine well-placed
fruit and vegetables "sent in" from
other parts of the country,-"South
Carolina cannot grow such produce"
The fault, however does not lie with
our state. but with ourselves. We
have all the natural requisites for
the production of the very best fruit
and vegetables. II we add to this
full share of energy. coupled with a
better understanding OF the principles
of fruit and vegetable growing the re-
suit would prove u revelation. There
would be no more craving In the
spring time for "A plate of luscious
strawberries. no more longings for Il
rosy-cheeked peach; no more un-
qucnched desires for something
green" i'm winter and above all, there
would be no more orders for canned
goods. Instead. there would be q hap
py contcnted household with n table
loaded with the choicest and most