The Washington times., 1917-03-12
BACKYARD GARDEN
LEADS TO A FARM
Intensive Farming on Lot Opens
Possibilities to a Wash
ington Man.
Continued from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page)
deep. he puts the tomato seeds. These
boxes are then placed in the hotbed,
on top OF the manure, and the glass
tops are then lowered.
In a temperature of 20 degrees the
heat from the manure keeps the inter
ior of the hot beds at a temperature
of 20. By this means Mr.. Tavenor saves
all expenses Of heating his hot beds.
When the plants begin to come up he
thins them out, transplanting about
half Of them INTO other boxes.
"I would advise everybody who Is go
ing to grow a garden this summer to
put their tomato plants In boxes at
once, so that they will be ready TO
plant" he said. 81 already have more
than / can use, and will be able to
make pretty good money in selling the
extra ones which | cannot use. Every
one does not need to use a hot bed
as do. The tomato plants can be put
in boxes, as described in The Times
Saturday. and left in the house in front
of a window"
Even the fences are utilized in Mr..
Tavenor's garden. Along the fences.
about seven feet high. he planted Ken
lucky Wonders" a large bean, very
having all the beans his family could
use during the summer. Mr.. Tavenor
sold more than 81 worth of the vege-
table.
But the most interesting and in
genious gardening scheme used by
Mr.. Tavenor was in growing cucum-
bers. In a plot OF ground about ten
feet square he buried five barrels
containing horse manure. In the GEN.
ter of the barrels he placed a pipe
connecting with a water hydrant. The
head of the pipe was buried some
few inches under ground, After the
cucumbers had been planted Mr..
Tavenor turned the water on in the
pipe for about ten minutes each day.
thus irrigating the plot. As much as
IS worth OF cucumbers was sold Oft
the small ten-foot plot in one day.
"A regular gold mine," Mr.. Tavenor
characterized 1t.
Also Raises Chickens.
In addition to his garden, Mr.. Tav-
enor has been able to make more than
$500 during the last year from forty
two chickens which he keeps in his
backyard. Only a half hour a day
is devoted to the chickens by Mr..
Tavenor.
'I spray them and clean out their
coops once each week" said Mr.
Tavenor, land they are thoroughbred
chickens, so I get the best results"
Keeping only thirty-six chickens
during February, Mr.. Tavenor receiv-
ed $50 eggs. which he sold at an aver
age price OF about so cents a dozen.
He attempts TO do no wholesale busi-
ness with his eggs or vegetables, but
sells to his neighbors and friends over
the city who are glad to buy from
Mr.. Tavenor because everything he
sells is strictly fresh.
"In all the time I've been here, I've
never had an egg come back to me
as bad" said Mr.. Tavenor. e..
Gave Up His PosItisn.S
So successful has Mr.. Tavenor been
during the last several summers with
his little garden that he has given
up his position with the Washington
Railway and Electric Company and
has rented a farm OF five and a half
acres near the edge OF town. He Is
going into the gardening business for
a livelihood this summer.
But what Mr.. Tavenor has been able
to do with the application of only
few hours a day, any one else in
Washington can do. Mr.. Tavenor
worked twelve hours a day at his
position and raised a successful gar
den before and after work. Most Of
Washington's working people are en-
ployed only seven or eight hours a
day. The Department OF Agriculture
stands ready at any time TO give ad-
vice and to answer any questions.