Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-07
r,.r. =. at least one arm Of GU,

There is at least one arm Of our
National defense that is open for en-
sNstment to every man. woman ana
child, and particularly the boys. TINS
10 the department Of Home Gar
dens," There is perhaps no single
activity that will add more to the
strength of our country in oportl
to the effort and cost than for every
family to plant, care for, and properly
utilise a good garden.
The benefits to be derived from a
good garden can hardly be
!: atsd. The first would perhaps be a
direct saving in the cost Of living, be-
cause we do not have to buy the
things we grow in the garden. TINS
value will vary greatly. would
count fifty dollars per veal as a con-
~servattve estimate Of the actual cash
value Of my garden during the four
years I have lived in Grand Forks.
There are at least "a, 1000, 900 families
in the United States. If each FAMILY
grew only ten dollars worth of vege-
tables a year or ten dollars worth
more this year it would mean the
adding of $500, 600. 900 to our wealth.
A second reason for a good garden
IL that we need the garden to supply
fresh vegetables-to give us exercise
in the open. Many say they can buy
garden stuff for less han 1t costs to
grow 1t. They can't If they do 1t
themselves. One can have a good
garden and do just as much-and
perhaps do it better If one does the
gardening "on the side" With many
families if they do not grow a garden
they do without many things, because
they cannot afford to buy them.
Help Keep n Million Dollars Of Wheat
Money mt Home in Each County
in the Northwest.
While exact figures are not availa-
Bile, it is probable that approximately
q million dollars is sent away from
each county in the northwest every
year for things that could be grown
and produced at home. A good gar
den. including berries. plums and
some hardy crabs and apples, and the
proper utilization Of such products
preserving and canning is the first
step in stopping the drain. A good
flock Of poultry for eggs and meat,
some good hogs from which the meat
and lard supply for the year can be
obtained for one-half what it costs
when bought at the stores, a few good
cows to furnish all the butter and
the winter enough to sell to pay the
grocery bills. are other steps that
may be taken on every farm.
These four small, INC in man,
cases despised. farm enterprises. are
moro essential to the success Of any
farmer, than eve those who give
them careful consideration are able
to realize. They are enterprises that
cost little or nothing to make the
start with-a little patch of ground
and a few handfuls of seed; a setting
hen and q dozen Of eggs (both Of
which may be borrowed from good
neighbors), a SOW pig. and heifer calf
and a spirit of "despise not the day
Of small things" are the essentials.
For the average farm these small
things are Indispensable. II a full
They may be had In addition to all
the mal grain. etc. and the farmer
who gives then their proper consid-
Grafton cannot be denied success.
They e that there is something
10 so0 every wee in the year. in
seead OF only at threshing time.
The Home Garden.
It would be hard to find two good
gardens, just alike. There Is more
similarity in poor gardens than in
good ones. Hence. in discussing the
garden the fact is appreciated that
only general terms should be used.
and the minor details left to individu-
81 taste. However, n canrot avoid
injecting his personal preference and
opinions into such matters.
Location Of Garden.
In Arkansas. where some men say
Ghey cannot hav a good garden he
their wives are too lazy to tend
them, they locate the garden at the
back door Of the house, so they will
be h9> d. for the women. The first
const1 Grafton in location should be
good soil. and If possible we'll pro-
tected from the northwest and south.
The nearer the house the better. for
most of the hand work in the garden
can be done by the men at odd times
and evenings after supper. The wom-
On OF the house may gather green
vegetables and even help tend the
garden II they have time, but this is
the men's n children's work.
stze Of Garden.
In this region Of big farms there
IL no reason for stinting on the gar
den. If the farmstead We're properly
laid out, and it is lamentable tina
there has been SO little attention paid
should be allowed for small fruits and
vegetables. For a half section farm,
the farmstead should comprise at
least 10 acres, and be we'll protected
with shelter belts and snow traps.
The past winter demonstrates the
value OF protection, and this spring
should see many shelter belts plant
ed: One needed to drive only a few
miles last winter to see unprotected
houses and barns buried in snow
drifts, while buildings protected by
shelter belts n snow traps were not
bothered in the least.
The farmstead and shelter belt on
the average half section farm should
provide room enough for an acre and
a half or two acres to b. devoted to
garden n orchard. This should be
on rood soil and If possible, we'll pro-
tected and fenced. An acre is not too
much to be devoted to an ordinary
vegetable garden. especially if the po-
Statoes are to be raised in this garden.
Il the potatoes are not grown in the
garden. but in regular field rotation,
30 much land fs not needed for other
vegetables. A good sized garden
would be about $50 feet wide and