Evening star., 1927-03-13
THE CITY HOME GARDEN
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

In the greater part of the United
States the time Is at hand for getting
out the spade, hoe and rake and start
ing a little preliminary work in the
Earden--that is, unless your home is
in a city apartment and your garden
is box on a window ledge, and Sall
the tools you need are all wrapped up
In one little old kitchen knife.
But the gardening season is here
and the gardening urge is upon every
body. The urge may not be translated
into action, but psychologists long age
recognized that at this season of tbs
year normal human beings have an i'm
pulse to plant something and watch
II grow. II seems to be concomitant
with the ascending sap in trees
shrubs and other perennials. To a
certain degree 1t is an economic urge
folks like to think they can grow their
own vegetables and save on the fam
lily budget. In this idea they are sup
ported by Government experts, who
say that fresh vegetables for an aver
age family may be grown upon a back
lot with an area of 80 by go feet.
The use of fresh vegetables adds
variety to the diet and improves the
health Of those who use them. That
goes without saving, even though II
Be enunciated In a ponderous govern
mental tome. 1t Is almost equally OBJ
vious that the production OF vege
tables in the home garden eliminates
TRANSPORTATION and distribution costs
and solves the marketing problem
Also 1t Is to be noted that the city
home gardens utilize idle land and
spare time for food production anc
that thousands of acres OF idle lanc
that may be used for gardens are still
available within the boundaries of oui
large cities, and the residents of those
cities may profitably devote them
selves to urban farming.
The many thousands OF city gar
dens, fully so per cent OF which were
started during the World War wher
the big drive was on to produce anc
to econonaize as much as possible
have played an important part In pro
yiding q substantial increase In thu
food supply of the country. This
sta tenent is on the authority OF thu
experts OF the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, who go on 10 saS
that it Is essential the work so wei
started should continue and that tne
many thousands OF acres Oh uhoccu
Mad land in and around our cities
should he utilized for food production
Experimental Stage Passed.
"The experimental stage OF city gar
dening has been passed" says ouiie
fin. which tells you everything excep'
how to handle your hoe, ana IN tne tne
language Of one Of the state workers
the city garden movement Will no,
have achieved it's full purpose untll al
suitable lands are utilized ana every
family table is fully supplied.
hma eli VARAnE-
ra rdsn provides a supply of vegetables
At home without transportation OF
handling costs. Vegetables from the
home garden are fresher and more
palatable than those brought from
distance. Many persons who work IN
ofices, stores and factories have time
mornings and evenings that may wei
he devoted to the cultivation or gar
den, thus utilizing spare time ana ldie
land for food production. The home
vegetable garden should be a FAMILY
interest, and all members OF the fam
lily who are able to do so should take
part in It's cultivation. Thefe Is nc
better form of outdoor exercise thar
moderate working In the home gar
| den, and few lines of recreational Worf
/ will give greater returns for the time
employed"
City gardens are of three genera
| ltypes-baek-yard gardens, vacant-lo
gardens and community gardens. Th'
| first mentioned Is to be preferred, al
q rule, because 1t is convenient ant
| easily guarded. But just because yot
! have a backyard do not jump to thu
| conclusion that II can be converted
| into good garden. 1t will not bs
worth bothering with II II is not ~
situated as to get the sunshine at leas
| FIVE hours each bright day, IL there II
| rock sbut q few inches below the sur
| face, IL there 10 not suflicient rnois
ture, II it is ground where a I'LL hal
been made with cinders, broken brici
! or rock, or II the original soil has beer
buried with materials upon which
weeds will not grow. Nor should yo,
plant q garden under or near large
| trees that will steal all the moisture
and plant food from the crops.
! II you can have 1t made to order
so to speak, your garden plot shoulc
be level. or gently sioping toward tn,
south or southeast. The drainag.
should be good, but the Land shouit
not be so steep as to wash during
paiNa ThM 10ratiAM ah0aild Ia hiWhM A,