The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-03-19
THE HOME GARDEN

Horticulturist of the Bureau of Plant
Industry, United States Department
of Agriculture, in nationally broad
cast radio talk on the farm garden,
stated that in every crisis through
which the agriculture of any section
of the country has passed the home
garden and other sources of home
food supply have saved the day.
When the boil weevel struck the
cotton growing section, Mr.. Beattie
pointed out, one the the first steps
taken was to start campaign for
vegetable gardens, poultry, pigs, and
cows on every farm so that the land
would at least provide a means of
livelihood. Things haven't changed
much and the same principles apply
today, The farmer, however hard
times may be for him, who plants and
cultivates his own garden has form
of insurance against privation that
is denied the city worker. In this
respect he is far better off than the
thousands of unemployed in the cities,
many of whom left the farm at the
time of industrial prosperity and are
now booking wistfully back at the
land.
eff everybody engaged in farming"
Mr.. Beattie said in his address, "will
produce plenty of fruits, vegetables,
milk and butter, poultry and eggs,
home grown and cured pork, also
fresh meats to some extent, they can
at least have a good living at home
and that is more than lot of people
who are out of employment have to-
day. But says the pessimist, that
will only increase the difficulties and
reduce the market for foods that are
grown in a large way for SALE Per-
haps, provided the farmer has the
money with which to buy the food, but
suppose he does not have the money,
what then? AS a matter of fact, it
is good business and economy to pro-
duce most of the living for the farm
family and the hired help right on the
farm"
In all parts of the country there
are farsighted agricultural leaders
who are in agreement with Mr.. Beat
tie in preaching the advantages of
making the farm as much as possible
self-suficient unit; not only in these
times of agricultural and general
economic depression, but as a perma-
nent agricultural policy. In South
Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas and
other states, statewide campaigns to
bring about the planting of farm gar
dens are being actively pushed. In
these campaigns the agricultural col
leges and the states home demonstra-
ton agents are taking leading part.
A we'll planted and cared for half
acre garden will produce more vege-
tables than the average family can
eat, during the period when the crops
are maturing. Carrots, late cabbage,
beets, onions, parsnips, potatoes, and
turnips can be grown and stored for
use during the winter, thus cutting
the winter food bills. One acre gar
den was worth as much as IS acres of
cotton on a farm in Texas last year
whose owner figured that the acre
yielded profit of $400.
1t is not only from the point of
view of cutting the family food bills,
however, that the vegetable garden
deserves a place on every farm. So
much has been said and written about
vitamins during the last few years
that practically everyone knows they
are essential to good health. Fresh,
green vegetables are among the best
sources of these invaluable vitamins,
but entirely too frequently the farm
er, busy with his money crops, feels
that he has no time to bother with a
garden even though his wife and the