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Show t r THE 1918 WAR GARDEN WHAT ABOUT ITS SIZE? Dr. M. C. MERRILL, Horticulturist, Utah Agricultural College, iu Co operation with tho U. S. Food Administration for Utah. T !S YOUK war garden too largo, too small, or just about right? If you live on a farm, the chances aro that it is larger than it should lie; if in the city, it is perhaps smaller than you wish it were; if in the suburbs, you may be perfectly satisfied with its size. Now, what criterion can wo go hy to determine the best size for our garden? It is this: It docs not depend altogether upon area, but upon production. If your garden has room for weeds, it is too largo; if it cannot can-not produco tho major quantity of what yon and your family need in the way of vegetables, it is too small; if overy foot of it is busily engaged throughout the whole .season In producing vegetable crops (not weeds) in sufficient ,-bmidanco to supply the family comfortably with garden stuff, it is just about right. A survey of ,'H)!) irrigated farms of Utah shows tho avcrago garden to be eight tenths of an "cro in size, which is considerably larger than necessary neces-sary for nu nvorago sicd family. These gardens were laid out in tho early days, when land was cheap. They should bo cut down to nn economical eco-nomical slr,c, now that land Is more valuable Of course, larger garden anas should prevail on tho farm than in tho city, for horse cultivation on the farm Is nocosrary, and that requires larger spuce than whore hand labor Is used. lint, as a result of onr large gardens, tho sidl per unit urea has not been 111 11 il c to produce ns abundantly as it should, and weeds, weeds and still iiiorn words have 1 lourii.hcd excecdin:;ly. What is the condition in your garden? |