The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-07-15
THE KITCHEN GARDEN
AND HOME ORCHARD
Gardening and Fruit Growing Appeals
to Man-Profit Made From
Small Plot.

as the result of our own efforts is by
no means confined to the man living
in the country, for it appeals to the
man living in the city as well. In a
great many cases il is sad to relate
that the city man, with his small back
yard garden, too often puts his coun-
try brother to shame when it comes
to the matter of home orchard or,
better still, a kitchen garden. The
average man in the country justifies
himself for the lack of a garden be-
cause of the lack of time or more often
because gardening is woman's work.
While it is true that the work neces-
sary for the proper care of the orchard
and garden often conflicts with the
more important farm operations, still
it is not a legitimate excuse, because
the satisfaction and profits derived are
generally greater in proportion than
those derived from other crops.
The profit derived from good kitch-
en- garden, where asparagus, rhubarb,
horseradish and other vegetables are
grown, is almost invaluable from the
standpoint of health as well as wealth.
Who does not relish a meal where one
of these vegetables is served after liv-
ing all winter on the heavy nitro
genous foods that make up the major
portion of the bill of fare during the
cold months?
Fortunately this condition does not
hold true for all the sections of the
state. In the mountains one can not
help being impressed with the number
of small kitchen gardens that are To-
Gated near the house and for the most
part tended by the housewives. In
this garden one will find all sorts of
vegetables that do well during the
summer and early fall before the frost
appears. At the same time one can
not help being impressed by the abb
sence of hardy vegetables that will
keep well during the winter months.
The small fruits, such as the straw
berry, gooseberry and raspberries all
do we'll, as evidenced by the fact that
they are to be found growing wild on
the hillsides, still like the late vege-
tables they are conspicuous by their
absence.
1t is possible that a great deal could
be made in many sections of Eastern
Kentucky by planting out the smaller
fruits and providing means for can
ming them at home if necessary. All
of the mining districts consume great
quantities of canned fruits and these
could be easily put up in many cases
right in the mining districts, for often
times mining operations are stopped
during the summer months when the
small fruit crop is at its height. While
small fruits offer quicker returns, one
should not lose sight of the more sta
BILE fruits like the apple, pear, peach
and plum. The apple especially gives
great promise in Eastern Kentucky.
The peach and plum are more uncer-
tain because of the climate and the
pear is very susceptible to blight.
The many coves located towards
the tops of the mountains offer excel
lent opportunities for the production
of the highest grade of fruit. The two
prime requisites for apple culture,
namely, good air and water drainage
are provided in nearly every section.
The question of marketing will al
ways play a most important part in
successful fruit growing. Kentucky
annually imports a great deal more
fruit than she produces, even in view
OF the fact that the state ranks fifth in
the number OF bearing trees. A large
amount of this imported fruit is ship
ped from the West and from Michigan
where labor and the allied means of
production are very much higher than
they are in Kentucky. An authority
on this subject recently stated that il
costs one dollar and forty-three cents
to produce and market a bushel o.,
western fruit on our eastern markets.
II the western growers can make a
profit after this excessive charge, the
Kentucky growers should be able to
equal ii at least with the market at
his own door.
Disease and insect pests cause a
great deal of loss because no system.
attic effort has been made to keep them
in control, and undoubtedly this &C.
counts for the great damage so often
noted. San Jose scale is especially
bad and ii promises to wipe out many
of the old orchards entirely. Although
1t appears very bad to the casual OBJ
server, it has often been termed a
blessing in disguise where proper
means of control are employed.
A great many farmers feel that they
can not afford to wait long enougn
an orchard to mature. 1t is true that
1t takes long time for an orchard to
come into bearing, but if the plan of
growing small fruits as a side line is
followed while the trees are growing.
a profitable income will thereby be do
rived.
The fruit grown in Eastern Ken.
lucky is equal to that produced in any
other section. The standard varieties
like Rome, Grimes, Jonathan, York I'M
perial, not to mention the Berry Red,
Champion, King David, Black Ben and
many others that are not so commonly
found.
People interested in fruit growing
and gardening throughout Eastern
Kentucky will do well to, visit the hor-
ticultural car that is soon to traverse
the railroads in that section Various
orchard practices, such as planting,
cultivation, pruning and spraying, will
be fully discussed. In addition sam
pies of the various diseases and in
sect pests will be on exhibition and