"A sower went out to sow and he sowed that which was in hisheart—for what can a man sow else!" From "THE GAME OF LIFE."
Or, as the Vulgate has it,—
"Exitt qui seminat seminare semen suum."
We are not tied to a desk or to a bench; we stay there only becausewe think we are tied.
In Montana I had a horse, which was hobbled every night to keep himfrom wandering; that is, straps joined by a short chain were putaround his forefeet, so that he could only hop. The hobbles weretaken off in the morning, but he would still hop until he saw hismate trotting off.
This book is intended to show how any one can trot off if he will.
It is not a textbook; there are plenty of good textbooks, which arereferred to herein. Intensive cultivation cannot be comprised in anyone book.
It shows what is needed for a city man or woman to support a familyon the proceeds of a little bit of land; it shows how in truth, asthe old Book prophesied, the earth brings forth abundantly after itskind to satisfy the desire of every living thing. It is notnecessary to bury oneself in the country, nor, with the newfacilities of transportation, need we, unless we wish to, pay theextravagant rents and enormous cost of living in the city. A littlebit of land near the town or the city can be rented or bought oneasy terms; and merchandising will bring one to the city oftenenough. Neither is hard labor needed; but it is to work alone thatthe earth yields her increase, and if, although unskilled, we wouldsucceed in gardening, we must attend constantly and intelligently tothe home acres.
Every chapter of this book has been revised by a specialist, and theauthors wish to express their appreciation of the aid given them,particularly by Mr. E. H. Moore, Arboriculturist in the BrooklynDepartment of Parks; Mr. Collingwood of the Rural New Yorker and Mr.George T. Powell; and to thank Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright, and alsoMr. Joseph Morwitz, for many valuable suggestions; also all thosefrom whom we have quoted directly or in substance.
We have endeavored in the text to give full acknowledgment to all,but in some cases it has been impossible to credit to the originatorevery paragraph or thought, since these have been selected andplaced as needed, believing that all true teachers and gardeners aremore anxious to have their message sent than to be seen deliveringit.
In truth, teaching is but another department of gardening.
Practical points and criticisms from practical men and women,especially