The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-06-23
Donaldsonville

We, the undersigned, duly appoint
Al ;udges for the garden contest in
he city of Donaldsonville, beg leave
to submit the following report, with a
few comments and suggestions:
4s instructed by your honorable
mavor. we made an effort to visit and
rote minutely every home garden
within the corporate limits of Donald
sonyille. with a view of ascertaining
which best represents the spirit Of the
time and thus ranks first as the best
vegetable garden. A brief resume of
our survey follows:
We visited the home of Mrs. Jas.
Fortier, and there found true war
Garden spirit existing. Having no
hack ward whatever for the growth of
Y nlants Of any kind, this lady busted
herself and secured the use of near
by vacant lot, which judging by the
things removed must have been a
dnmping ground for debris. This
former dumping ground is today con-
verified into a fruitful, productive,
money-saving vegetable garden.
Passing over to Dave Dills, we
found there back yard too small
for much production, but the spirit of
sswar garden" prevailing nevertheless,
for in addition to back yard garden,
he has also front bayou garden.
Even little Miss Dill, just a small
child, has garden of her own, for
tho soldiers at the front must be fed, -
she informed us.
Going over to the home OF u. y.
Leblanc, we found there Confeder-
ate veteran, still burning with the
ssspirit of '65," and though bearing
the marks of that bloody contest, and
showing the wear of years, his garden
gives evidence that he is sparlng no
mains to contribute his bit to this
mighty war.
Henry Landry, not content with a
back yard garden, is making use OF a
vacant lot and the bayou front.
A. v. Templet, having had most OF
his garden in garlic and potatoes, and
having harvested same, is now show
ing his spirit of Americanism by pre-
pairing for fall crops.
Mrs. P. Loumiet's garden shows IN
telligent planning and proper utiliza-
ton of available space. The size OF
her garden being limited, she has re-
sorted to the double cropping system
by the planting Of corn between the
beans, and tomatoes between the rows
.ns heanss Mrs. Loumiet estimates
daily use Of approximately forty vege
tables from her garden.
Courthouse Garden. This was
among the most unusual features Of
our days trip We say unusual, fol
We believe we are conservative in say
ing that Donaldsonville is setting the
pace for her sister towns, in being
among the first to have her courthouse
and iail surrounded with the frag
rance and fruiting of vegetable gar
den. The, promoters of this novelty
are to be commended for their splen
did services to the city and nation
Clarence Gaudin, though possess
ing no back yard for a garden, has
caught pace with the war spirit b1
growing vegetables between orna'
mental plants.
Mrs. Charles Courreges is showing
her public-spiritedness by sparlng nc
efforts to induce vegetables ane
strawberries of some kind to grow II
every available place.
Mrs. G. Melancon, though depend
ent solely upon herself and smal
children in the cultivation of her gar
den, is training her boys in the art OF
soldiery. "My boys are too small tt
no to war, but they can surely helI
those at the front with their garden,
says Mrs. Melancon.
Now then, who says tomatoes can
not be grown successfully in Donald
sonville. See Frank Milano's garden
and you will see the finest and largest
tomatoes you have seen for some
time. We understand he will can
large quantity of these. On this point
we would suggest that his neighbor:
take notice: "A pound of food con
served is pound saved for our boys
in the trenches"
L. J. Echeverria made a late be
ginning with sod lot which is under
cultivation for the first time, but II
spite Of this handicap the general con
.dition Of the soil indicates that 1t was
well prepared previous to planting
and the arrangement of bitches dem
onstrates that the garden is we'll pro
vlded with system of surface drain
age, and that the war spirit is II
vogue.
Mrs. G. D. Bentley having convert
ed her chicken yard into war gar
GnM va Lay. Tvsf TRIALS
and tribulations. She presented tx
the judges quite an interesting little
problem for solution; the potato
plants were as vigorous and healthy
looking as could be, but upon IN
Vestlgation no tubers, or potatoes
were found. The judges attributed
TINS condition to an unbalanced foo(
supply; too much nitrogen with an IN
suflieiency of potash and phosphorus
Ibis may be remedied for the mex
crop BY sufficient application o
wood ashes to the soil prior to plant
lng. Our advice to Mrs. Bentley is
Continue the good work; if at frs
you don't succeed, try, try again"
Mrs. j. D. Hanson, another wa
garden enthusiast, is having her frs
experience with garden, but If w
were to judge by the appearance o
she potatoes, we would not conclude
mat she is acquiring her knowledg'
through the "hard knocks of ex
psfience.' It is very evident tha
WIS. Hanson does not believe it re
cures plantation" for the CROWNS
" tomatoes, for we were favorabl.
impressed with her success in growing
.ae plant in every nook and corner o
the yard. She seems to be Of tn
opinlon that gardens are not neces