Article June 11, 1904 Issue

Gardening

ELMA E. WILLIAMS.

In a small village in the middle west live two retired farmers. Each has his comfortable home, with ample grounds and large garden, and the contrast between their methods of gardening is suggestive.

As soon as the first indications of spring appear, one begins his preparations, selecting his seed, sharpening his tools, etc., and from the time the seed is sown until the vegetables are stored, he is always at work. He works both faithfully and systematically, and as a result reaps abundantly for his labor.

The other works, yes, works hard, but with odds against him, for too often he waits "a more convenient season" to plow and to hoe, to sow and to weed. He often grumbles at the smallness of his crop, and when he has gathered it he leaves the ground covered with the signs of "what has been," offering as an excuse for his slovenliness that "the birds need something for winter." The successful man, on the contrary, clears off his ground and burns up the refuse, thus saving himself extra work later on, and also making his place a more attractive spot, while out of his abundance he scatters from his barn door grain for the birds.

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