The Jasper news., 1918-02-21
Make Every Backyard Furnish
Fresh Vegetables for the
Family Table.
SANDY LOAN IS PREFERRED
As Attention Is Usually Given In
Spare Moments, Locate as Near
House at Possible-Dralnape
Of Prime Importance.

From the United States Department of
ment of Agricult1re)
1t is impossible to make an accurate
estimate of the value of the vegetables
which may be grown in home gardens
in the. South, but 1t is safe to say that
well-kept garden will yield return
eight or ten times as great as the re-
turn from an equal area devoted to
cotton or to other general farm crops.
OF even greater Importance than the
money value of the products of the
garden is the satisfaction of having
bountiful supply of vegetables close
mt hand where they can be secured at
moments notice.
Location of Garden.
In selecting the location for home
vegetable garden the question of prox-
unity to the house should be given first
consideration. AS the work of caring
for the garden is usually done in
spare time, the location selected should
he as near the house as possible. The
slope and type of soil should be the
next considerations. A slope to the
south or southeast is usually prefer
able, because here the soil warns up
early in the spring, which permits
early planting and stimulates the early
growth of crops. Practically any type
of soil can be used for the garden, but
sandy loan is to be preferred.
Good drainage is of prime import
aRe. The land should have sufficient
fall TO drain off surplus water during
heavy rains, but the. fall should not
he so great as to wash the soil. If the
land near the house Is level, artificial
drainage should be employed. Open
bitches or tile drains will be satlsfac-
tory. On level land that is not arti-
ticially drained 1t is necessary to plant
on ridges or in beds to prevent drown
ing the crops during wet weather. The
ridges or beds should be as wide and
fiat as conditions will allow, for mar
row, sharp ridges dry out quickly.
Arrangement Of Garden.
The first consideration in planning
the garden Is the kind of cultivation
TO be given. Horse cultivation Is rec
commended whenever possible, and
where the work is to be done mainly
by means of horse tools the garden
should be long and narrow with the
rows running the long way. The gar
den should have no paths across the
rows, but turning spaces should be
left at the ends. For hand cultivation
the rows can be much closer together
and may run across the garden.
Straight lines should be followed, no
matter what method of culture is
used.
The size of the garden depends upon
the number of persons to be supplied.
One-fourth to one-half an acre Is suf-
ficient for an average family and
should produce enough vegetables for
use throughout the year. BY close at.
tention to the rotation of crops, the
succession of crops, and interpanting,
one-fOurth of an acre may be made to
supply a family of six. Where land is
plentiful it is recommended that suf-
ticient area be set aside to allow part
of the garden to be planted to a soil
improving crop each year.
The location of permanent crops,
such as asparagus, rhubarb, and small
fruits, should be carefully considered.
These crops should be placed at one
side, so that they will not be In the
way when the garden is plowed.
Succession of Crops.
In planning the location of crops,