Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-25
Gardenine-and Gardening.

Gardeninq-and Gardening.
Editor, Kennebec Journal:
The first part of the enclosed article,
from a Sunday paper, struck me as
practical.
The present outlook Is that lot of
lis rank ammychures will go into this
thing, with good intentions and rotten
results, wasting more in seeds and
fertilizer than we shall get out in Vege-
| tables.
Why doesn't the X. J. lead move
ment here to organize the garden work?
What we need chiefly is expert advice
not articles in the paper but some real,
live man, on a telephone. who can
answer questions.
Why couldn't the city government
employ for the city some intelligent,
practical gardener, whose advice would
then be free to Augusta gardeners? 1t
need not cost much and it would save a
lot of money.
Later on, why not a campaign for
home canning, with another expert to
give advice and, if necessary, lessons
on home canning?
In other words why not have our
garden work here in Augusta organized
and supervised IN a way that will as
sure the production and preservation Of
food? AS it looks now, the chief crop
with lot of US will be lame backs and
blasted hopes, with maybe a liberal
harvest of weeds.
PERCY H. WHITING.
Augusta. Me, April %.
The article referred to by Mr. Whit
ing. to our mind, has much In it that Is
practical. Indeed the fear of practical
formers has been that a large percent
age Of the back yard movement would
be more prolific Of shortage in, and
high prices for, the things that expert
enced farmers and gardeners could use
with FAR better results. But criticism
OF the campaign fer agricultural en-
thusiasm promised misundersta ndings
and danger to a timely and well-ueant
cause.
Most of us who have lived in cities
nave seen the annual seed catalogue
fever in its growth and wane. We
Know now spring INSPIRED gardeners
get tired as the warm days come. the
cut worms and other unprincipled in
sects increase, and the weeds way
luXuriant. We have seen the effect of
the fine mornings and evenings, with
lots OF places for amateur gardeners To
CO. and then the bid Of the pleasure re-
sorts-and bugs and weeds fri
umphant
Inc most alluring thing in the world
IN early spring, is the beautifully il
lustrated seed catalogue. 1t costs the
average family in the small city or
town, dollars every year in garden
tools. fertilizer and seeds. Mans hipb
agricultural purpose. as the snow 10
leaving, furnishes a splendid addition
10 the revenue of the seedsmen, the
hardware business. and the fertilizer
makers. 1t furnishes food for birds
ana crawling, creeping things, and
furnishes succulence and dark green
tints for multiple grasses that not even
the insects can use for food
1T would be interesting to know the
number of starters in the race for gar
den sass, and then the number who do
not finish, who do not even pass the
hrst quarter. the stage where aching
backs and so.led trouser knees abound.
With this common knowledge in
mind. the suggestion of Mr.. Whiting f.
next to all-important in the Raise
and Conserve" crusade. The garden
fever. taken at its height. and advised
and stimulated by practical and ex-
perienced agriculturists would bring
forth large part Of the hope evinced
by the federal agricultural depart-
ments and hundred and ono other
garden farming organizations and en-.
| thusiasts.
A Farmingdale man offers free use
OF so-acre field; will it be utilized for
practical returns to scores OF needy
citizens in that vicinity7 The article
referred to by Mr.. whiting contains
| this:
1.-THE best plan that has been worked
out calls for the use Of q plot Of sew
eral acres in q central location, which
can be divided up into small gardens
averaging 50x100 for mechanics and
| other men without any land Of their
own. When this plan is followed the
land can be plowed. fortified and har-
rowed in a short time, and at mini
mum of expense. \
Moreover. much more direct and
careful supervision can be given than
| when the land is scattered all over
town. OF course. people who have