Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-16
CUR|OS|T|ES and
GARDEN PRODUCE
AT "0AKLANDS''

When Gardiner people hear of
exhibits from the Gardiner Farm
taking first prizes at fairs all over
the State, they think nothing of 1t,
as this has become rather a matter
of course. But, If any one of them
ever spent an afternoon at the Oak
lands. the 700 acre estate of the
Gardiner family they would soon see
the reason for all these prize win
ming exhibits. Here, may be found
curosities of all sorts, along with The
best, and biggest of garden pro-
duce. Asparagus and vegetables
cover two acres Of land, the lot of
land being bordered by carefully
kept gravel walks, and along the
sides of the lot are small beds of
flowers, the whole riot of color
that would delight the eye of an ar
tist There are all colors of the
rainbow represented, there being,
salpiglossis, large ruffled petunias,
zinnias. and others.
All kinds of beautiful flowers are
blooming in their beds. a good many
of which the average person knows
nothing. Perhaps the prettiest bed
is that one containing asters, pink,
purple, and white with the far famed
Flanders poppy lending relief with
It's bright color. Following along
from this bed are found yellow
coreopsis, or golden wave,~the blue
Batcheldor's buttons, orange mari
COLDS the Scotch marigolds, the
crimson malops, pholx of which
there are six different colors, yellow
and white fever few, and gaillardia
and English plant of different colors,
with single and double blossoms, the
latter especially beautiful. The
sweet peas are still beautiful, dspite
the fact that they are nearly gone
by. The beds are arranged with a
careful eye for color schemes, and
the colors are skilfully blended.
Next in order are some of the un-
usual fruits and vegetables. few far
mers in this vicinity attempt to
raise that southern favorite, the wa
termelon, but at the Gardiner farm
they may be found, not ripe, how
ever, but at the present time
weighing about six pounds. They
will be ready to eat about the mid
die of next September. A lemon
cucumber is the shape and size of
an apple, and is the color of a lem
on. Inside it is a cucuEpber If any
thing tastes better tim one. A
melon peach is about the same size
and shape as the lemon cucum> er,
perhaps slightly smaller. is nearly
purple in color, both of these grow
on vines, the foliage resembling that
of cucumber. Fop corn is also grown
here, four different kinds, including
Tom Thumb pop corn, tiny ears
q hich are fully as good as the lar
ser ones. some red and some black.
There are all kinds of potatoes, in
GLIDING blue ones, that arethat color
both inside and out. Tomatoes are
very much in evidence, ripe on the
vines, there are besides IS varieties
of the common tomato. the yellow
and red cherry, the red and yellow
plum, and the red and yellow peach.
The next point OF interest is the
bee hives. A warning is given by
the loud humming and although a
huge number of the busy insects are
seen, few realize the correct number.
According to official statistics there
are $4,000 beees in one hive, and the
Gardiner farm has Sc hives, this will
give one an idea of the activity about
the hives. Just below these Is