Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-04-23
The Home Garden.

The Home Garden.
(Bliss 8. Brown. Professor of Horticulture)
OF the approximately 10000 farmer
In this State, It 10 said that only abou
one-half have gardens sufficiently larg
to be worthy Of the name. In thes,
days OF high prices, especially in tn,
line OF meats and cereals, it is highl,
important that the home garden shoult
be given considerable attention as II viii
be the one leading factor in solving th,
food problem. The influence of th,
home garden has been felt far and wild,
during the past year and the cominf
season portends even heavier strain up
on the efforts of the individual.
The value of q good garden is not tc
be estimated simply In dollars and cents
but also in the convenience 1t affords Il
the home and family, especially to those
who live at some distance from the
market. A good garden is q good In.
vestment and the returns on q cash basis
are much higher than any other farm
crop.
Location:-It 10 very desira BILE to have
the garden located near the house, fol-
much of the work will be done at odd
times and it will be much easier to
get few vegetables when wanted. A
good mellow sandy loan is best, but al
most any soil may be improved so that
1t will produce good results. It should
be we'll drained and piece of land with
a gentle slope to the south is preferable
In planning the home garden one should
aim to have liberal, uniform and con-
slant supply of vegetables that are pre-
ferred by the members of the family.
And this supply should extend through
az much of the season az possible. What
is left may be dried or canned for use
during the winter months. These
should be Of high quality and of as great
q variety as possible.
In order to grow vegetables OF the
finest quality they must be grown rapid
ly. A slow growth is likely to cause q
bitter flavor IN lettuce, sharp flavor In
onions and pungeut flavor in rsdishes.
Again slow growth is certain to cause
greater development of fiber, making
the vegetables tough and woody. With
rapid growth one gets succulence, crisp
ness and pslatability. They are also
less subject to injury from insects and
diseases than the slow growing ones.
To produce this rapid growth the
garden must be heavily dressed and
we'll cultivated and hoed. The size of
The garden should be reduced to q
ninium that will produce the required
amount of vegetables. II too large to
ARE for properly with the time that can
Or will be devoted to it make 1t still
smaller. The dimensions will depend
argely upon the size of the family, the
preference for different kinds of
season, soil fertility, amount
IF available land and the intensiveness
,f cultural methods. The best size
7aries with the Individual and can only
De determined by trial.
Use Of glass:-There should be some
equipment in the way of hot beds and
,old frames. These should be located
70 q sheltered place such as sunny
'lope on the south side of some building.
The essentials OF hot bed are bot
ON heat, protection on all sides and q
ylass sash as cover. The heat Is usual
y supplied by the fermentation Of horse
manure. A hot bed with two feet OF
treated manure may be ex-
,ected to be good for six weeks.
A cold frame Is usually the same as
lot bed except no bottom heat Is used.
Z may also be of cheaper construction.
The hot bed 10 used to start early
,lants and get them to good size by
he time the garden 10 ready to receive
hem. This lessons the amount OF
pace required in the garden, lengthens
be season from three to five weeks and
makes possible the successful fruiting of
ONE Of the more tender plants that
ould not be adapted to Maine condi.
ions. In the hot bed can be started
abbage plants, cauli6ower, brussels
prouts, celery, lettuce, tomatoes and
'nions, and get them two to four weeks
long before setting In the garden. Such
,lants will develop better root system
where they can be removed from the hot
,ed and hardened of in cold frame.
1t is also possible to grow number
4 plants to maturity in cold frames and
lot beds. This Ii often done with such
rops az radishes, lettuce, cucumbers,
peppers, and egg plants.
The frat two can be matured several
weeks before they could be grown in the
pen thus Furnishing the family with
vegetables in the early spring when they
re most needed.
At the present time there are . large
lumber of varieties Of almost every kind
Il vegetables. One should choose the
Iinds that are hardy and of good quality
sther than for size. Many people
liant only few of the common vege-
ables and do not make successive plant
ngs or make large sowipgs when much
II the crop Is wasted. Radishes, lettuce,
urnips, spinach, cabbage, ETC., should
be sown little at time but at intervals
II week or two so continuous supply
will be available. Many vegetables that
10 well in Maine are but little known.
rhe grower should make it practice OF
recurring several catologs each season
md try to keep posted on the new de-
A few OF the novelties
should be tried each year and II they
ire adapted to the conditions can be in
creased a. desired.
II the garden Is email the practice of
ptercropping can be used to good ad-
Early crops Of spinach, lettuce,
ito, can be removed and followed by
,abbage or beans. Celery or onions may
pe set between the rows of lettuce or
spinach, 90 a. the latter 10 removed the
former will set all the space By
,areful planning and the proper
,ss of two or three sashes for hot bed
md cold frame, 1t 10 surprising what q
quantity of food may be grown In q very
Imall space.
A fair sized garden can be cared for
without very great expense, and nice,
veil kept garden viii 60 long way to-
ward the support Of family during the
hummer and fall months. The surplus
nay often be dried or canned for winter
ase.
BAT p0faf00l.