Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 191, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1915 — Two-Family Garden [ARTICLE]

Two-Family Garden

With Care It Could Bo Made Both More Beautiful and Moro Profitable The garden spot 1* the most productive fraction of an acre on most farm*, yet on many it la often one of the most neglected in many respects. In the hurry and rush of the spring work it is manured possibly, and plowed and planted, or partly planted, and then the care of it falls to the women and children. If the farmer were to carefully consider the proportion of the family living that comes from the garden, he would realise that it deserves much more careful attention than it receives from him. Not only can the garden be made much more profitable, and help out the family ration by increasing it and also by balancing it somewhat better, but it can be made a means of considerable supplement to the Income received from the principal farm industries. By having a two-family garden—that is, raising garden stuff enough for two families and finding a customer In town or city who would like to have the garden (and other) products direct from the farm at least once a week —more could be realized from the farm, both for the family table and the family purse. Many a town or city housewife would be glad to receive a good-sized market basketful of fresh garden stuff directly from the producer by parcel post, express, or directly delivered by the farmer’s own conveyance—whichever would prove the most satisfactory and economical. While there Is quite a list of vegetables that can be grown In practically any garden, yet very many gardens are limited to a comparatively small number of vegetables, a few others being included rather incidentally. In undertaking to conduct a two-famlly garden one of the first things of Importance Is to secure contract with the town or city consumer to be supplied. This is Important because the city family has probably been using many kinds of vegetables that the farmer has not raised, at least not In any quantity, and the plans for next year’s garden should be begun as early as possible. The kinds of vegetables to be raised should be decided upon after learning the quantitls and kinds used by the city family concerned, good seed secured In plenty of time, and such work done toward the preparation of the garden as the weather will allow. Winter vegetables, as well as those used direct from the garden in summer, should be kept in mind. These Include not only such as dry navy, kidney and lima beans, but also lettuce, kale, spinach, cabbage, celery, carrots, turnips and the like, depending on the particular sections of the country. (For Instructions and details on gardening, see United States Department of Agriculture Farmers’ Bulletins 255 and 460.) As stated above, the town or city consumer will likely desire vegetables that are not now particularly used or cared for by the farm family, but the alm should be to produce that which would be desired by the customer as well as that desired by the farm family if the plan is to succeed. In planning for a two-family garden, not only should the different kinds of vegetables be provided for but partlclar attention should be paid to the desires of the customer with reference to quality. Many city housewives, for instance, may desire stringless beans; when they ask for these they have in mind more a quality than a varietal name, and if they ask for stringless beans and are assured that they can receive them, and then when they come to use them find that they have strings, they will not only be disappointed to a considerable extent but discouraged at the idea of direct marketing as being preferable to securing their vigetables in the ordinary way from the city market or grocery store. While it will not be possible to cater to all the whims of the would-be customer, it must be kept in mind that the farmer’s family usually takes such quality as Is produced without any particular questioning, but when a city consumer orders from a farmer he expects to get produce of a quality which he has In mind, and every endeavor should be made to meet his reasonable requirements so that the business may be established upon a mutually satisfactory working basis. Give a purchaser what he or she wants and is willing to pay for. Not only will this plan provide an outlet for vegetables (and it is practically as easy to raise vegetables for two families as for one), but it will also establish a contact through which various other farm products may be marketed.