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\ N > q; contents Introductitm - - "*"" Treface to Second Edition - ^ Preface to Third Edition ^i Chapter I. The Men Fitted for the Business of Gardening 13 Chapter II. The Amount of Capital Required and Working' Force per Acre . . . . 17 Chapter III. Profits of Market Gardening 20 Chapter IV. Location, Situation and Laying Out. - 23 Chapter V. Soil, Drainage and Preparation 25 Chapter VI. Manures. - - - - ' ^^ Chapter VII. The Use and Management of Cold Frames - 44 Chapter VIII. Formation and Managemerxt of Hot-Beds. 56 Chapter IX. Forcing-Pits for Greenhouses - - 63 Chapter X. Wide Greenhouses for Forcing Vegetable Crops 73 Chapter XI. Seeds and Seed Raising — - 89 (in) IV COKTEJ^TS. Chapter XII. The Use of the Feet in Sowing and Planting 90 Chapter XIII. How, When and "Where to Sow Seeds 103 Chapter XIV. Transplanting 1 j4 Chapter XV. Vegetables — Their Varieties and Cultivation 117 Chapter XVI. When to Sow and Plant in the Southern States 311 Chapter XVII. Packing Vegetables for Shipping oiq Chapter XVIII. Presei-vation of Vegetables in Winter 317 Chapter XIX. Insects 3-1 g Chapter XX. Culture of Small Fruits 325 Chapter XXI. Implements 344 Monthly Calendar 359 ILLUSTRATIONS. Asparagus Beetle 128 Asparagus, Manner of Planting 123 Drains, Board- - --- 31 Flat Stone -- 30 Rubble 30 Tile, Horseshoe 29 Forcing-pits, Heated by Flue. 71 Forcing-pits, Heated by Water Pipes 64 Greenhouse Heated by Flue . . 86 End Section 87 Greenhouse for Forcing Vege- tables.-- 73 Cross Section . - - - 74 Glazing, Improved Method of 75 IMPLEMENTS. Asparagus Buncher 355 Asparagus Knife 355 Dibber- 356 DriU, Wheel-hoe, Cultivator and Plow Combined 354 Fork, Digging 346 Garden Line Reel 355 Harrow, Acme - - 348 Disc 349 Garden 346 Triangular A djustable 347 Hoe and Cultivator, Horse, Planet Jr - 357 Double- wheel 354 Prong -.-- 350 Scuffle 350 Horseradish Grater 356 Marker, Double 352 Rapp's Adjustable 352 Plow, Miner's Subsoil 345 Roland Chilled 344 Skeleton 347 Slip Share for 345 V Rake, Steel 350 Roller, Garden 351 Spade, Ames First Quality 346 Pump, Force, Douglas 66 Straw-mat, Making a - - - - 61 SMALL FRUITS. Blackberry, Kittatinny 335 Wilson - - 335 Gooseberry, Houghton's Seed- ling 340 Grape, Niagara 341 Raspberry, Cuthbert 337 Gregg 338 Hansen 338 Strav/berry, Jersey Red 331 Sharpless --- 332 The Jewel 333 The Henderson 329 VEGETABLES, VARIETIES OF: Artichoke, Green Globe 129 Jerusalem 130 Bean, Earliest Red Valentine . 133 Golden Wax 135 Lima, Jersey Extra Early. 137 Beet, Egyptian Turnip 140 Beet 140 Eclipse 140 Long Smooth Blood 141 Borecole, German Greens 143 Brussels Sprouts - - - 146 Cabbage, American Drumhead Savoy - 167 Early Jersey Wakefield--- 162 Henderson's Early Sum- mer --- 164 Late Flat Dutch - . 166 Carrot, Danver's - 172 Long Red Stump-rooted-. 172 Orange Improved 172 VI ILLUSTRATIONS. Cauliflower,neiiderson's Early Snowball 168 Celery after Handling 177 Earthed up 178 Stored for Winter. - 181 Henderson's Golden Dwarf 185 Henderson's Half Dwarf. . 188 White Plume 186 Celeriac 188 Dwarf Apple-shaped 190 Corn, Sweet, Marblehead 198 Minnesota 198 Stowell's Evergreen 198 Cucumber, Early Russian 202 GherMn 202 Improved White Spine . . . 202 Egg Plant, Black Peliin 205 New Yorls Improved 205 Endive, Green Curled 207 Horseradish. 211 Set 2C9 Kohlrabi-- 212 Leek, Musselburg .-. 214 Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson 220 Early Curled Simpson 219 New York 222 Paris White Cos - 222 Salamander 221 Melon, iVIusk, Baltimore 229 Golden Netted Gem 228 Hackensack 228 Montreal Market 229 Melon, Water, Icing 232 Scaly Bark 232 Striped Gypsy 231 Mushrooms 235 Onionj Extra Early Flat Bed 1831 Onion, Giant Rocca 253 Large Red Wethersfleld . . 251 Southport Large Yellow Globe - 252 White Portugal . . . . 253 White Tripoli .... 254 Yellow Globe Danvers 252 Parsley, Emerald 256 Pea, American Wonder 262 First of All ..... 260 Stratagem 263 Potato, Clark's No. 1 269 Empire State 268 Perfect Peachblow 270 Radish, Beckert's Chartier 276 Early Round Dark Red... 277 French Breakfast 277 Long Scarlet Short-top . . - 275 White-topped Turnip 277 Yellow Summer Turnip . . 277 Rhubarb, St. Martin's 281 Salsify 282 Sea Kale 284 Spinach, Long Standing 289 Norfolk Savoy-leaved 288 Thick-leaved 289 Squash, Essex Hybrid 293 Hubbard 294 White Bush Scalloped-..- 293 Tomato, Mikado 302 Perfection 303 Turnip, Extra Early IMilan . . - 305 Purple-top White Globe.. 306 Ruta Baga, Improved American Purple-top -. . 307 White Egg. 305 Wagon, Market 353 INTrtODUCTIOX. I hope it is no egotism to state that in both the Floral and Vegetable departments of Horticulture, in which I have been engaged for the past eighteen years, I have been entirely successful. Now, we know that success only is the test of good generalship, and it follows that, having been successful, I have thus earned my title to merit. From this stanapoint, I claim che right to at- tempt the instruction of the student of horticulture in the tactics of that field. We have very few works, either agricultural or horti- cultural, by American authors, whose writers are prac- tical men, and fewer still of these who are men that have '* risen from the ranks." The majority of such authors being ex-editors, lawyers, merchants, etc., men of means and education, who, engaging in the business as a pas- time, in a year or two generously conclude to give the public the benefit of their experience. The practical farmer or gardener readily detects the ring of this spurious metal, and excusably looks upon all such instructors with contempt. To this cause, per- haps more than any other, may be attributed the wide- spread prejudice against book-farming and book-garden- ing, by which thousands shut themselves off from infor- mation, the possession of which might save years of useless toil and privation. (VII) VllI GAKDEXIXG l-OK PROFIT. I have some pride, under present circumstances in say- ing that I liave had a worhing experience in all depart- ments of gardening, from my earliest boyhood, and even to-day am far more at home in its manual operations than its literature, and have only been induced to write the following pages at the repeated solicitations of friends and correspondents, to whose inquiries, relative to com- mercial gardening, my time will no longer allow me to reply individually. I have endeavored, in this work, to be as concise and clear as possible, avoiding all abstruse or theoretical questions, which too often serve only to confuse and dishearten the man who seeks only for the instruction that shall enable him to practice. Although the directions given are mainly for the mar- ket garden, or for operations on a large scale, yet the amateur or private gardener will find no difficulty in modifying them to suit the smallest requirements. The commercial gardener, from the keen competition ever going on in the vicinity of large cities, is, in his opera- tions, taxed to his utmost ingenuity to get at the most expeditious and economical methods to produce the finest crops— methods that we believe to be superior to those in general use in private gardens, and which may, with profit, be followed. Our estimates of labor, I trust, will not be overlooked ; for I know it is no uncommon thing for gentlemen to expect their gardeners to do impossibilities in this way. The private garden cannot be properly cropped and cared for with less labor than can our market gardens, and these, we know, require nearly the labor of one man to an acre, and that, too, with every labor-saving arrange- TXTiiODl CTIOX. IX ment in practice. When the care of greenhouses, or graperies, is in addition to this, extra labor must be given accordingly, or something must suffer. The greatest difficulty that has presented itself to me in giving the directions for operations, has been the dates ; in a country having such an area and diversity of temper- ature as ours, directions could not well be given for the extremes, so as the best thing to be done under the cir- cumstances, T have taken the latitude of New York as a basis, and my readers must modify my instructions to suit their locality. The number of varieties of each veg- etable described here is very small in comparison with those that are known, or the seeds of which are offered for sale. I have given only such as I have found most serviceable. Those who wish for a more extended list are referred to the seed catalogues. Jersey City Heights, N, J., December 1st, lts66. PKEFACE TO SECOXD EDITIOX. It is now seven years siuee I wrote '* (uirdening for Protit." and. altliongli it has met with a reception that has been exceedingly flattering, I have ever since felt that it was too hurriedly done, and far from complete. The suggestions and queries made to me by some of the many thousands of its readers, have been the means of develop- ing many new ideas and plans for better cultivation, which I have the pleasure to embody in this edition, A new edition of a work of this kind bee nnes necessary every few years, to enable it to keep pace with the improvement in varieties, as well as in modes of culture. In the pres- ent edition, the part of the work treating of varieties has been carefully revised, and we believe tlie kinds described to be. as a whole, the best in their respective classes this day in use, either for private or commercial purposes. It is gratifying to know, by letters from every section of the country, that the publication of this work has been the means of helping to success thousands of inexperienced cultivators of the soil, of both classes — those '''Gardening for Pleasure," as well as those '* Gardening for Profit.'' It is true that some that have been induced to engage in the business by reading my book have failed. Such must ever be the case^less or more — in every business ; but I have good reason to believe that the percentage of fail- ures ^:l gardening is less than that in almost any other business. Peter Hexdeksox. Jersey City Heights. X. J., January, 1874' PREFACE ^10 THIRD EDITION. It is twenty years since *• Gardening for Profit "was first written, and twelve years since the second edition was issued. The lapse of a dozen years is too long between editions of a work of this character, for new methods of culture, new and improved varieties of vegetables and fruits are yearly coming into use, but my life has been more than an ordinarily busy one, and I have never been able, until now, to find sutficient time to get out another edition as full* and complete as the necessities of the widely extending nature of the business demands. The present edition, it will ho seen, lias a much wider scope than either of the former editions, embracing as it does not only tlie forcing under glass of some important fruits and vegetables not before touched upon, but also detail- ing the methods of culture of the leading small fruits, which properly come under the head of " Gardening for Profit." At the present writing, the business of gardening in such large cities as New York, Philadelphia, Boston or Chicago, is by no means so profitable as formerly, mainly owing to the vast competition from the Southern States, but that it is yet far more profitable than farm operations for the capital and labor employed — in almost every sec- tion of the country — cannot be doubted. There are thousands of farmers adjacent to the smaller towns, vil- lages, hotels, watering places, and summer boarding- houses, Avhere the want at the table of fresh vegetables and fruits is most conspicuous. In many such places it is unquestionable that if the farmer would devote a few (XI) XII ({AUnHNlNt; 1X)U PROFIT. iicres to the cultivation of fruits or vegetiibles, or both, the chiiuees arc more than equal that he would (ind it to be more profitable than ten times the auu)unt of land cultivated in the ordinary farm crops. I have had letters from thousands of men, avIio, following the instructions of the former editions of '* Gardening for Profit," have thanked me for inducing them to start in tliis safe and profitable business. Peter IIenderson. Jei'sey City Heights, N. J., December ir>th, 1SS6, GARDENING FOR PROFIT. CHAPTER I . THE MEN FITTED FOR THE BUSINESS OF GARDENING. Although we sliall licro sliow the business of gar- dening to be a ])rolital)le one, let no nuxn deceive liimself by supposing that these profits are attainable without steady personal application. Having been long known as extensively engaged in the busines.^, I am applied to by scores Qwcvy season, asking how they can make their lands available for garden purposes. Tlie niiijoriiy of these nre city mer- chants who, for investment or in anlJcipation of a ru- ral retreat in the autumn of their days, have pur- chased a country place, and in the meantime tliey wish to make it pay. They have read or heard that market gardening is profitable, and tliey think it an easy matter to hire a gardener to work the place while they attend their own mercantile duties as be- fore. They ai-e usually gentlemen of horticultural tendencies, read all the magazines and books en the subject, and from the knowledge thus obtained, plume themselves with the conceit that they are able to guide the machine. (13) 14 ^ GARDEXING FOR PROFIT. Many hundreds from our large cities delude them- selves in this way every season in different depart- ments of horticulture — perhaps more in the culture of fruits than of vegetables. I have no doubt that thou- sands of acres are annually planted, that in three years afterwards are abandoned, and the golden dreams of these sanguine gentlemen forever dissipated. Although the workers of the soil will not, as a class, compare in intelligence with the mercantile men of the cities, it is a mistake to suppose that tliis want of education or intelliofeuce is much of a drawback when it comes to cultivating strawberries or cabbages. True, the un- tutored mind does not so readily compreheud theo- retical or scientific knowledge, but for that very rea- son it becomes more thoroughly practical, and I must say that, as far as my experience has gone (without being thought for a moment to derogate agaiust the utility of a true scientific kuowledge in all matters pertaining to the soil), that any common laborer with ordinary sagacity and twelve months' working in a garden would have a far better chance of success, other things being equal, than another without the practice, even if he had all the writings, from Lie- big's down, at his fingers' ends. Xot that a life-long practice is absolutely necessary to success, for I can see from where I write the homes of at least half a dozen men, all now well to do in the world, not one of whom had any knowledge of gardening, either prac- tical or theoretical, v>dien they started the business, but they were all active worhing men, ^'^ actual set- tlers/' and depended alone on their own heads and hands for success, and not on the doubtful judgment and industry of a hired gardener, who had no further interest in the work than his montlily salary. ^'D. H." writes me thus: ^^I am a book-keeper with a salary from which I can save b'lt little ; but MEN FITTED FOR THE BUSIiN'ESS. 15 by rigid economy during ii series of years, I have scraped togetliej' 12,000. My health is only ordinary. With that capital can I succeed as a market gardener by hiring an experienced gardener ? '^ This inquiry is a type of hundreds I now receive annually, and to which may be given this general reply : From the nature of the question, no very definite answer can be given, thougli I would say that the chances are two to one against success. It is a well-known fact that the chances of success in mercantile business are even far less than this. ^^D. H." may be a capi- tal book-keeper, yet it is doubtful if he has the neces- sary endurance to stand the wear on the constitution that market gardening involves. If he concludes to start at gardening, he is more likely than not to se- lect a soil entirely unsuited to the purpose. In most sections of the country there are fewer soils suitable for the cultivation of vegetables than there are those that are unsuitable. Again, he is an educated man, and this very fact would be rather against him than oth- erwise, as it would naturally incline him to refined society and associations, in which, I am sorry to say, the beginner in market gardening cannot afford to indulge. The hiring of an '^experienced gardener"' would take all the cream off of the profits^ Experi- enced market gardeners are exceedingly scarce. Our laborers in the market gardens are generally an ig- norant class witli very little ambition, and not one in a hundred of them is fit to manage. Though em- ploying seventy hands myself, I have often been sadly at a loss to select from them a suitable man as fore- man, though many of them had been with me for years. AVhen one shows the necessary ability, his ser- vices are much sought after, and he readily com- mands ^500 or 1600 a year and board. Clerks, book- keepers, and city-bred men generally are not the ones 16 (3-AEDEKlNG FOR PROFIT. likely to be successful as workers of the soil. Few of them have any conception of the labor required to be done to insure success. I started business in Jersey City, at the age of twenty-three, with a cap- ital of $500, which it had taken me three years to make as a Avorking gardener. For the first five years that I was in business, I can safely say that we worked, on an average, sixteen hours a day, winter and sum- mer, with scarcely a day for recreation. Now, the majority of clerks, l)ook-keepers or salesmen do not work much more than half that time, and few of them could endure this lengthened strain in a sum- mer's sun, and without this endurance success is out of the question ; for all beginners to-day must do as I did, until they get their heads above water, or else, such is the competition, they must go to the jvall in the business. I therefore caution all such who are not in robust health to avoid either farming or gar- dening if their necesnties require them to malce a liv- ing thereby. That the work of the gardener is con- ducive to health, when that has not been impaired, there is no question ; but the long hours of labor and the exposure necessary to success, must tell against a feeble constitution. The business of market gardening, though pleasant, healthful, and profitable, is a laborious one, from which any one not a-jcustomed to manual labor would quickly shrink. The labor is not what may be termed heavy, but the hours are long — not less than an average of twelve hours a day, winter and summer. No one should begin it after passing the meridian of life ; neither is it fitted for men of weak or feeble physi- cal organization, for it is emphatically a business in which one has to rough it.' In summer planting, when it is of the utmost importance to get the plants in while it rains, we repeatedly work for hours i^ AMOUNT OF CAPITAL. — WORKING FOECE. 17 drenching rains, and woe be to the ^'boss" or fore- man who would superintend the operation under the protection of an umbrella. He must take his chances with the rank and file, or his prestige as a com- mander is gone. CHAPTER II. THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL REQUIRED AND WORKING FORCE PER ACRE. The small amount of capital required to begin farming operations, creates great misconception of what is neces- sary for commercial gardening ; for, judging from the small number of acres wanted for commencing a garden, many suppose that a few hundred dollars is all sufficient for a market gardener. For want of information on this subject, hundreds have failed, after years of toil and pri- vation. At present prices (1886), no one would be safe to start the business of vegetable market gardening, in the manner it is carried on in the neighborhood of New York, with a capital of less than 1300 per acre, for any- thing less than ten acres ; if on a larger scale, it might not require quite so much. The first season rarely pays more than current expenses, and the capital of $300 per acre U all absorbed in horses, wagons, glass, manures, etc. If the capital be insufficient to procure these prop- erly, the chance of success is correspondingly diminished. I can call to mind at least a dozen cases that have oc- curred in my immediate neighborhood within the last ten years, where steady, industrious men have utterly failed, and lost every dollar they possessed, merely by attempt- mg tlie business with insufficient capital. A few years ^o a man called upon me and stated that he was about 18 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. to become my neighbor ; that he had leased a place of twenty acres alongside of mine for ten years, for $600 per year, for the purpose of growing vegetables, and asked me what I thought of his bargain. I replied that the place was cheap enough, only I was afraid he had got too much land for that purpose if he attempted the working of it all. 1 further asked him what amount of capital he had, and he told me that he had about 11,000. I said that I was sorry to discourage him, but that it was better for him to know that the amount was entirely inadequate to_ begin with, and that there was not one cliance in fifty that he would succeed, and that it would be better, even then, to relinquish the attempt ; but he had paid $150 for a quarter's rent in advance, and could not be persuaded from making the attempt. The result was as I expected ; he began operations in March, his little capital was almost swallowed up in the first two months, and the few crops he had put in were so inferior that they were hardly worth sending to market. Without money to pay for hel}), his place got enveloped in weeds, and by Septem- ber of the same year he abandoned the undertaking. Had the same amount of capital and the same energy been expended on three or four acres, there is hardly a doubt that success would have followed. Tiiose wiio wish to live by gardening, cannot be too often told the danger of spreading over too large an area, more ])articularly in starting. With a small capital, two or three acres may be profitably worked ; while if ten or twelve w^re at- tempted with the same amount, it would most likely re- sult in failure. Many would suppose that if three acres could be leased for $100 per year, that twenty acres would be cheaper at $500 ; nothing can be more erroneous, un- less the enterprise be backed up v/ith the necessary capi- tal — $300 per acre. For be it known, that the rental or interest on the ground used for gardening operations is usually only about ten per cent, of the woiking expenses, AMOUNT OF CAPITAL. — WORKING FORCE. 19 SO that an apparently cheap rent, or cheap purchase, does not very materially affect the result. It is very different from farming operations, where often the rent or interest on purchase money amounts to nearly half the expenses. The number of men emplo3^ed throughout the year on a market garden of ten acres, within three miles of mar- ket, planted in close crop, averages seven ; this number is varied in proportion, somewhat, according to the quantity of glass in use. I have generally employed more than that — f nlly a man to an acre — but that was in consequence of having m use more than the ordinary proportion of sashes. This may seem to many an unnecessary force for such a small area, but all our experience proves that any attempt to work with less will be unprofitable. What with the large quantity of manure indispensable, seventy- five tons per acre ; the close planting of the crops, so that every foot will tell ; the immense handling prepara- tory for market, to be done on a double crop each season, one marketed in mid-summer, another in fail and winter, a large and continued amount of labor is required. On lands within a short distance of market — say two miles — two horses are sufficient ; but when double that distance, three are necessary. When three animals are required it is most profitable to use a team of mules to do the plow- ing and heavy hauling of manure, etc., and do the mar- keting by a strong, active horse. Every operation in cultivating the ground is done by horse labor whenever practicable to do so ; but it must be remembered that the crops of a garden are very different from those of a farm ; the land is m most cases (particularly for the fiist crops) planted so close that nothing will do to work with but the hoe or hand cultivator (See Implements). 20 GARDENING FOR ^ROFII. CHAPTER III. PROFITS OF MARKET GARDENING. This is rather a difficult if not a delicate matter to touch, as the protits are so large in some instances as almost to exceed belief, and so trifling under other conditions as to be" hardly worth naming. These lat- ter conditions, however, are generally where men have started on unsuitable soils, too far from market, or without money enough to have ever got thoroughly under way. But as the object of this work is to en- deavor to sliow how the business can be made a profit- able one, I will endeavor to approximate to our av- erage profits per acre. As a rule it may be premised that for every additi3nal acre over ten, the profits per acre will to some extent diminish, from the fact that a laro-er area cannot be so thoroui2:hlv Avorked as a smaller one ; besides, there Avill often be a loss in price by having to crowd larger quantities of pro- duce into market and to leave it in the hands of in- experienced salesmen. The majority of our products are quickly perishable and must be sold when ready. The average profits for the past ten years on all well cultivated market gardens in this vicinity have only been about $200 per acre. For the five years from ISGl to 18CG they were perhaps twice that amount ; but those were years of ^^waT prices," such as we will be well con- tent never to see again. These profits are for the products of the open gardens only, not of the frames or forcing-pits, Avhich are alluded to elsewhere. These amounts are for the neighborhood of New York, and, I think, from the vast competition in business, are now a low average for the majority of towns and cities throuo'hout the countrv. Certain it is that from our PROFITS OF MARKET GARDEN^I^^Tt. ^1 lands, even at a value of from ^1,000 to 85,000 per acre, we can (and do) profitably grow and supply the majority of towns within fifty miles around New York with fresh vegetables. In these cases, no doubt, the consumer pays full double the price that the raiser receives, for they generally pass through the hands of two classes of '^middlemen" before tliey reach the consumer, besides which, tliere are extra charges for packing, shipping and freight. Thus the consumer in a country town, where land often is not as much in value per acre as it is here per lot, pays twice the value for his partially stale vegetables or fruit's, which he receives rarely sooner than twentj^-four hours after they are gathered. In most of such towns market gardening, carried on after our manner, would unquestionably be highly remunerative ; for if these articles were offered to the consumer fresh from the gardens, he would certainly be willing to pay more for his home-grown products than for the bruised and battered ones that are freighted from the metropolis. Take, for example, the article of Celery, which pays us very well at two cents per root. There is hardly a city or town in the coun- try, except New Ycrk, but where it sells for twice, and in some cases six times, that price per root ; yet the great bulk of tliis article sold in Philadelphia is sent from New York, for which the consumer must pay at least double the price paid here, for it is a bulky and expensive article to pack and ship, and must of a necessity pay a profit both to the agent here and in Philadelphia, which of course comes out of tlie pocket of the consumer. This is only one of many such articles of which the culture is imper- fectly understood^ and which the great market of New York is looked to for a supply. The folloAving will show the rate of receipts and 3^ GAKDEXING FOR FHOFIT. expenditures for one iiero of a few of the leading arti- cles we cultivate, taking the average of the past ten years, from the grounds that have been brouglit up to the proper standard of fertility necessary to the market garden : EXPENDITURES FOR ONE ACRE. Labor ... $480 Horse-labor 50 3Ianure, 75 tons 100 Eent 50 Seeds 10 Wear and Tear of Tools, etc 10 Cost of Carriafre to Market and Selling 100 $800 RECEIPTS FOR ONE ACRE. 13,000 Early Cabbages, at 4 cents' per head $480 14,000 Li^tuce, at 1 cent per head 140 30, 000 Celery, at 2 cents per head 600 $1,220 800 $420 The rotation crops of Early Beets or Onions, fol- lowed by Horseradish or Sweet Herbs as a second crop, give nearly the same results. LOrATION", SITUATION AXD LAYING OTT. 23 CHAPTER IV. LOCATION, SITUATION AND LAYING OUT. Location. — Before deciding on the spot for a gar- den, too much caution cannot be used in selecting the locality. Mistakes in this matter are often the solo cause of want of success, even when all other conditions are favorable. It is always better to pay a rent or interest of 150, or even $100, per acre on» land one or two miles from market than to take the same quality of land six or seven miles distant for noth- ing ; for the extra expense of teaming, procuring ma- nure, and often greater difficulty of obtaining labor, far more than counterbalance the difference in the rental of the land. Another great object in being near the market is that one can thereby take advan- tage of the condition of prices, which often in per- ishable commodities like garden produce is very va- riable. It not infrequently happens that, from scar- city or an unusual demand, there will be a differ- ence of 115 or 120 per load, even in one day ; hence, if near a market, larger quantities can be thrown in than if at a distance, and the advantage of higher rates be taken. This disadvantage in distance only holds good for perishable articles that are bulky. The lighter and valuable crops, such as Tomatoes, Cucumibers, Let- tuce, Radishes, etc., from more southern and earlier localities are grown often hundreds of miles distant and freighted to market at a handsome profit. So with the less perishable articles, such as dry roots of Carrots, Beets, Parsnips, Horseradish, etc. But the necessity for nearness to market for the bulky and perishable crops, such as Cabbage, Lettuce and Cel- ery, is of importance. 24 GARDEJflNG FOR PROFIT. Situation and Laying-out. — It is not always that choice can be made in the situation of or aspect of the ground ; but whenever it can be made, a level spot shoald be selected, but if there be any slope, let it be to the south. Shelter is of great impor- tance in producing early crops, and if a position can be found where the wind is broken off by woods or hills to the north or northwest, such a situation would be very desirable. In the absence of this we find it necessary to protect, at least, our forcing and fram- ing grounds, with high board fences, or, better yet, belts of Norway spruce. The most convenient shape of the garden is a square or oblong form ; if square, a road twelve feet wide should be made through the center, intersected by another road of similar width ; but if oblong, one road of the same width running through the center in a plot of ten acres will be suf- ficient. Vegetable House, Wells, Etc. — Connected with every market garden is a vegetable house, usually about twenty-five feet square, having a frost-proof cellar, over which is the vegetable or washing house. In the second story is a loft for seeds, storage, etc. Immediately outside the vegetable house is the well, from which the water is pumped to a tub in one cor- ner of the building, on each side of which are erected benches of convenient height, on which the workmen tie and wash the vegetables preparatory to sending them to market. SOIL, DKAIXAOE AXD PKEPAHATIUX. 25 C H AFTER V. SOIL, DRAINAGE AND PREPARATION. In the course of an experience of nearly forty years as a market gardener, in tlie neighborhood of New York, I have had, in the prosecution of the business, the oppor- tunity of reclaiming large tracts of very different varities of soil. Some of these, almost the first season, yielded a handsome profit, while with others, the labor of years, and the expenditure of large sums in extra manuring and draining, have never been able to bring these uncongenial soils up to the proper standard of productiveness. On many occasions I have referred to the great imjDor- tance of selecting a proper quality of soil for all garden- ing and farming operations, and the fact cannot be too often nor too forcibly imjoressed that success hinges more directly upon this than on anything else. Thousands are every year ruined by a bad selection of soil. I have scores come to me in the course of every season for advice in this matter of soils, but in most instances the advice is asked too late ; the majority of the applicants having been unfortunate enough to buy or rent land that they had b^een led to believe was excellent, but only ^^run down." In my opinion this widespread notion of "ex- hausted lands " is, to a great extent, a fallacy, and that most of the lands said to be so exhausted never were good, and nothing short of spreading a good soil over them a foot thick would ever make them available. The practical test of the importance of a good soil for market garden operations is clearly shown in a score of cases in my vicinity. Wherever a man of ordinary indus- try and intelligence has been fortunate enough to locate on land that is naturally good, his success has been cer- tain, while others that have not been able to procure such land have had to struggle far harder for less returns ; in ;3G GAKDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. some few instances entire failure has been tlie case, for the reason that the soil started on was untitted for the purpose. The variety of soil tliat we value above all others is an alluvial saline deposit, rarely found over more than a mile inland from the tide mark. It is of dark heavy loam, containing throughout a large mixture of decomposing oyster and other shells ; it averages from ten to thirty inches deep, overlaying a subsoil of yellow sandy loam. The next test variety is somewhat lighter soil, botli in color and specific gravity, from eight to fifteen inches deep, having a similar subsoil to the above. Then we have a still lighter soil, in both senses of the term, in w4iich the sand predominates over the loam, and laying on a subsoil of pure sand ; this variety of soil is well adapted for Melons, Cucumbers, Sweet Potatoes, Rad- ishes and Tomatoes, but is almost useless for growing crops of Onions, Cabbages or Celery. We have still another kind of soil, which I place last, as being of the least value for the purpose of growing vegetables ; this variety, singularly enough, is found on the highest points only, its color being somewhat lighter than that of the variety first mentioned ; it is what is termed a clayey loam, averaging ten inches in depth, under which is a thick stratum of stiff bluish clay. With a subsoil of this nature it is almost useless to attempt to grow early vegetables for market purposes. I have just such a soil as the last mentioned, thoroughly drained three feet deep, the drains only eighteen feet apart, and yet in another garden that I work, having the two £rst named soils and only one mile distant, manured and cultivated the same in all respects, fruits and vege- tables are ready from five to ten days earlier. But for the succession, or second crops, such as Celery, etc., this stiff, cold soil is just what is wanted ; earliness with these is not the object, and its '^ coldness" is congenial to the SOIL, DRAIXAGE AXD PREPARATION. 27 roots of the Ir.te crop. But if selection can be made for general purposes, choose a rather dark-colored loamy soil, neither "^^ sandy " nor ^' clayey," as deep as can be found, but not less than twelve inches. If it overlay a sandy loam of yellowish color, through which water will pass freely, you have struck the right si^ot, and abundant crops can be raised under proper management. When selecting land, do not be deceived by any one who tells you that if not naturally good, the soil may be made so by cultivation and manure.^ These will help, certainly, but only as education improves the shallow mind. Lux- uriant crops can no more be expected from a thin and poor soil — no matter how much it is cultivated — than fertile ideas from a shallow brain, educate it as you will. The best guide in the selection of land for garden pur- poses is to closely examine and compare the crops on lands adjacent ; if, under ordinary culture, you see these lands producing good crops of Ooi'n, Wheat, or Potatoes, or where the meadows give two or three tons of Hay to the acre, it is reasonable to expect that land on the same level as that in question will be of similar quality. But should the land to be selected for garden purposes be in a region where there is nothing but timber or the natural grasses to guide, then the best thing to do is to carefully dig in different parts of the land to ascertain the depth and quality of the top soil, and above all the texture of the subsoil, which, if it be of stiff, adhesive clay, such as bricks could be made from, turn back at once and let that soil alone, if desired for garden work. To the en- tirely inexperienced person, who is about to lease or pur- chase land for garden work, I w^ould advise him to get, if possible, an entirely disinterested practical farmer or gardener to examine the soil and general surroundings of the locality before entering on the undertaking; for, as before said, the quality of the soil is all important to success. 28 GARDEI^IXG FOR PROFIT. Drainage. — Every operator in the soil concedes tlie importunce of drainage, yet it is really astonishing to observe how men will work wet lands, year after year, wasting annually, by loss of crops, twice the amount re- quired to thoroughly drain. A most industrious German, in this yicinity, cultivated about eight acres for three years, barely making a living ; his soil was an excellent loam, but two-thirds of it was so " spongy " that he could never get it plowed until all his neighbors had their crops planted. Driving past one (^y I hailed him, asking him whv he was so late in getting in his crop, when he ex- plained that if he had begun sooner his horses would have '"bogged" so he might never have got them out again. I suggested draining, but he replied that would never pay on a leased place ; he had started on a ten years' lease, which had only seven years more to run, and that he would only be improving it for his landlord, who would allow him nothing for such improvement. After some further conversation I asked him to jump into my wagon, and in ten minutes we alighted at a market gar- den that had, six years before, been just such a swamp hole as his own, but now (the middle of May) was luxu- riant with vegetation. I explained to him what its former condition had been, and that the investing of $500 in drain tiles would, in twelve months, put his in the same condition. He, being a shrewd man, acted on the advice, and at the termination of his lease purchased and paid for his eight acres $13,000, the saving of six years on his drained garden. This was in war times, when prices for all products were double what they are now. J honestly believe that had he gone on without draining he would not have made $1,200 in twelve years, far less $12,000 in six years. My friend attributes his wiiole success in life to our accidental meeting and conversation that May mornmg, and consequently I have no stauncher friend on earth than he. SOIL, DRAINAGE AND PREPARATION. 29 The modes of draining must be guided to a great extent by circumstances. AVlierever stones are abund- ant on land, the most economical way to dispose of them is to use them for drainage. I have also used with great success in a wet, sandy subsoil, where dig- ging was easily done, brush from adjacent woods, cut olf and trodden Srmly two feet deep in the bottom of drains five feet deep, overlaying the brush with straw or meadow hay before covering in. Drains so made have answered well for nearly a dozen years, and in sit- uations where no other material offers, they will at least answer a temporary purpose. But unquestion- ably, when at all attainable at anything like reason- able cost, the cheapest and most thorougli draming is by tile. We use here the ordinary horseshoe or #■ Fisr. 1. — HORSESHOE TILE round tile — three-inch size for the laterals, and from five to six inch for the mains. On stiff, clayey soils we make our lateral drains three feet deep and from fifteen to eighteen feet apart ; on soils with less compact sub- soils, twenty to twenty-five' feet distant. We find it cheaper to use the horseshoe than the sole tile. In lieu of the sole we cut common hemlock boards in four pieces — that is, cut them through the middle — and split these again, making a board thus cut run about fifty feet. These are placed in. the bottom of the drains and prevent the cagging of the tiles in any particular s^wt that might be soft (figure 1). We are particularly careful to place, after setting, a piece of sod, grass down, over the joinings of the tiles to prevent the soil from getting in and stopping up the drain?.o;e. The manner of constructing stone drains is gov- 30 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. erned by the character of the stone on hand ; if round, they are best made as rubble drams (figure 2), but if flat, which is much the best, they are made as represented by figure 3 ; but in either case the same care must be exercised in covering over the top thor- oughly with sod, shavings, straw or some similar ma- terial, in quantity sufficient to prevent the soil from washing in and filling up the cavity. Cheap drains of hemlock boards are found to be very useful for wet lands and can often be obtained when the regular tiles cannot. They are nsually less costly and are more quickly laid. Such drains are usu- ^^^'iS^ r^'w^^^=^^^^ IP ^ riff. 2.— KUBBLE DRAIN. Fiof. 3.— FLAT STONE DRAIN. ally made triangular, with three boards three or four inches wide, nailed edge to edge, or the better way is to put the cover on the top of the drain crosswise (fig. 4). This gives more openings through which the water may enter the drain, and also makes them stronger. Where roads cross a drain of this kind, it is safer to make them in this way and also to lay a plank upon the drain to distribute the pressure. Every precaution should be taken to have the work of draining thor- oughly done. It is costly work, and if one little blunder is made, everything may be spoiled, for a drain SOIL, DRAINAGE AND PREPARATION. 31 is like a chain, and if an obstruction occurs it is like a link broken — the drain is rendered useless, like the chain. Preparation of the Ground. — Assuming that the ground on which the garden is to be formed is in sod, the best time to begin operations is in Septem- ber, October, or November. If draining is necessary, that should be first completed. Before the sod is plowed, it would greatly assist its rotting, if horse manure can be obtained, to spread it over tlie sur- face to the depth of two or tliree inches. In plow- ing the sod under, care should be taken to have it laid as flat as possible. This can be best done by plowing shallow ; and at this time there is no par- ticular necessity Eor deep plowing. After plowing we Fig. 4.— BOAKD DRAIN. find it advantageous to flatten down the furrows by running over with the hach of the common harrow, or, better yet, with the shortened blades of the Acme harrovf (see implements). This mellows the soil, so that it fills up the crevices left between the fur- rows, and hastens the decomposition of the sod. If the plowing has been done early enough in the fall, so that the sod has had time to rot the same sea- son, it will facilitate the operations of next spring to cross plow and thoroughly harrow ; but if too late, this had better be deferred until spring. After the ground has been well broken up by this second plow- ing and harrowing, ic should again be manured over the whole surface with rough stable manure, as much as can well be procured — there is rarely danger of 32 GARDEi^IIsrG FOR PROFIT. getting too iriuch — and the third plowing takes place, followed this time by the subsoil plow if time will permit. I have always found it best in breaking in new ground, to crop with Potatoes, Corn, or late Cab- bages the first season, unless by prej)aration in early fall it has acquired the proper mellow state necessary for crops of garden vegetables or small fruits ; but it rarely liappens that any amount of labor or manur- ing can so prepare the ground the first season as to bring it to that high degree of tilth necessary for growing garden vegetables as they should be grown, and any attempt to do so will result in a meagre crop, which will not pay — at least m such districts as New York, where there is always abundance of products of the first quality. It must not be expected that the crops of Potatoes, etc., will give much profit for this unusual outlay in preparation and manure, for they certainly will not, and the beginner must be content to wait for his profits until tlie second sea- son. These are certain to be realized if these prep- arations have been properly made. Hence will be seen the necessity for capital in this business, for the re- turns, though highly remunerative, are not always quick. majn ltres. 33 CHAPTER VI. MANURES. The quantity, quality, and proper application of ma- nures is of the utmost importance in all gardening opera- tions, and few have any conception of the immense quan- tity necessary to produce the heavy crops seen in our market gardens. Of stable or barn-yard manure, from fifty to one hundred tons per acre is used, and prepared, for at least six months jireviously, by thoroughly turning and breaking up to prevent its heating unduly. The usual method is to have the manure yard formed in a low part of the garden, but if there is no natural depres- sion, one may be made by digging. out an area fifty by one hundred feet and from eighteen to twenty-four inches deep, and enclosing it by a fence about six feet in height. The wagons are driven alongside, and the green manure thrown into the enclosure, care being taken to have it spread regularly ; hogs are usually kept upon the manure in numbers sufficient to break it up, they being fed in part by the refuse vegetables and weeds of the garden. The manure of horses is most valued, as we consider it, weight for weight, worth about one-fourth more than that of cows or hogs ; on stiff soils it is of much more benefit as a pulverizer. There are many articles — the refuse of manufactures — that are still wasted, that have great value as manures. Among others, and of first im- portance, is the refuse hops from the breweries. It is twenty years ago since they first began to be used in our gardens about New York ; at first they were to be had at almost every brewery without cost, but the demand has so increased that the price to-day ranges even higher than that of the best stable manure. Aside from its hio-h fertilizing properties, it is excellent for breaking up and pulverizing the soil, and as a top-dressing or mulchino-, 34 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. either to protect from the sun in summer, or from the frost in winter, it has no equal. From mv experience with this fertilizer, I consider it to be of nearly double the Yahie of that of stable manure. It requires to be composted in the same manner as other manures ; it heats rapidly, and must be either spread regularly over the hog yard, or else turned once in two weeks to prevent ''lire- fang'' from violent heating. Another valuable refuse from our manufactories is the shavings and scnipings from horn or whalebone manu- factories. The best way to render these most available is to compost them thoroughly with hot manure, in the proportion of one ton of shavings to fifteen of manure ; the heated manure extracts the oil from the shavings, which is intermino'led with the whole. I have on several occasions seen the mixture of five tons of whalebone shavings with onr ordinary stable manure make $400 per acre difference in the value of the crop ; but of course such manufactories are not common, and it is only in certain localities that this fertilizer can be had. Another valuable fertilizer from manufactories is ^' sugar house scum," which is composed largely of blood, charcoal, and saccharine refuse ; as it heats violently, instead of being thrown in heaps by itself, it should be composted with equal quantities of soil or muck, and turned frequently, so that the whole is thoroughly mixed ; when thus composted, it makes an excellent ma- nure at twent}' tons per acre ; it is best applied by lightly plowing, or deeply harrowing-in. Of concentrated manures, perhaps the best for general purposes is pure Peruvian guano : this for general crops, when used without the addition of stable manures, is put on at the rate of from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds per acre ; it is first pounded to powder, so that it can be regularly sown over the surface after plowing ; it is then thoroughly harrowed in, and the crop is sown or planted at once. In /< ^ MANURES. 35 my exjoerience, the next best concentrated fertilizer is bone dust, or ilour of bone ; in careful experiments with our crops of cauliflower and cabbage, we applied it in the same manner as guano, but at the rate of nearly 2,000 pounds per acre, and it gave most satisfactory results, surpassing those of guano, where that had been used at the rate of 1,200 pounds per acre. In applying manures to the soil, v»'e have long ago discovered the great impor- tance of an alternation of difcerent kinds. When I first began business a3 a market gardener I had opportunities of getting large quantities of night soil from the scaven- gers of Jersey City ; this was mixed with stable manure, charcoal, sawdust, or any other absorbent most conveni- ent, and applied, so mixed, at the rate of about thirty tons per acre. The crops raised with this manure were enormous, for two or three years, but it gradually began to lose effect, and in live years from the time we began to use it, it required nearly double the weight of this compost to produce even an average crop. I then aban- doned the use of night soil • and applied refuse hops instead, at the rate of about sixty tons per acr?, witli marked improvement ; but this was for the first and second years only, the third year showing a falling off. About this time our prejudices against the use of con- centrated manures for market gardening began to give way, and at first we applied guano together with manure at the rate of 300 pounds per acre, which we found to pay ; and the next season guano was used at the rate of 1,200 pounds per acre with very satisfactory results. Smce then our practice has been a systematic alternation of manures, which I am convinced is of quite as much importance to the production of uniform crops of first quality, as is the alternation of varieties of the different kinds of vegetables. It is a grave blunder to attempt to grow vegetable crops without the use of manures of the various kinds in 60 GAKDENIXG FOR PROFIT. about the proportions I have named. I never yet saw soil of an}^ kind that had borne a crop of yegetables that would produce as good a crop the next season without the use of manure, no matter how '* rich" the soil may be thought to be. An illustration of this came nnder my observation a few years ago. One of my neighbors, a market gardener of nearly twenty jTars' experience, and whose grounds had always been a perfect model of productiveness, had it in prospect to run a sixty -foot street through his grounds. Thinking his land suf- liciently rich to carry through a crop of Cabl)ages with- out manure, he thouo-ht it useless to waste money bvnsiuij guano on that portion on which the street was to be, but on each side, sowed guano at the rate of 1,200 pounds per acre, and planted the whole with Early Cabbages. The effect was the most marked I ever saw. That por- tion on which the guano had been used sold off readily at 81 V per hundred, or about $1,400 per acre, both price and crop being more than an average — this was the era of high prices — but the portion from which the guano had been witliheld, hardly averaged 83 per hundred. The street occupied fully an acre of ground, so that my friend actually lost over 81,000 in crop by withholding 860 for manure. Anoth.er neighbor, whose lease had only one year to run. and who also unwisely concluded that it would be foolish to waste manure on his last crop, j^lanted and sowed all without it. The result was, as his experience should have taught him, a crop of inferior quality in every' article grown and loss on his eight acres of prob- ably 8'-\.000 for that season. The comparative value of manures must be regulated by the cost. If rotted stable manure, whether from horses or cows, can be delivered on the ground at 83 per ton, it is about as valuable for fertilizing purposes as Peruvian guano at 865 per ton, or pure bone dust at 81:0 per ton. It is better than either of these or anv other concentrated fertilizer, from the MANURES. 37 fact of its mechanical action on tlie land — that ic, its olfect, from its light, porous nature, in aerating and pul- verizing the soil. Guano, bone dust, or other fine com- mercial fertilizers act only as such, without in any way assisting to improve what may bo called the mechanical condition of the soil. All experienced cnltivators know that the first year that land is broken np from sod, if proper culture has been given by thorough plowing and harrowing (pro- vided the land is drained artificially or naturally, so as to be free from water and relieve it from ^^sourncss"), the land is in better condition for any crop than land that has been continuously cropped without a rest. The market gardeners in tlie vicinity of New York are now so well convinced of this that when twenty acres are under cultivation at least five acres are continually kept in grain, clover, or grass, to be broken uj) successively every second or third year, so as to bring tlie land into the condition that nothing else but rotted, i)ulverized sod v/ill accomplish. This is done in cases where land is as valuable as 1500 per acre, experience having proved that with one-quarter of the land ^^ resting under grass" more protit can be made than if the whole were under culture. AVhen the rotation by placing a portion of the land under grass cannot be done, then it is absolutely neces- sary to use stable manure, at least to some extent, if the best results are desired, for continuous crop- ping of the soil. Wliere concentrated fertilizers only are used, they will not continue to give satisfactory re- sults after the grass roots or other organic matter has passed from the soil, all of which will usually be entirely gone by the third or fourth year after breaking up. I have long held the opinion that the idea of lands having been permanently exhausted by tobacco or other croj)s is a fallacy. What give? rise to this belief, I think, is the 38 GARDEXIXG FOK TROFIT. fact that wliea lands are first broken np from the forest or meadow lands, for three or four years the organic matter in the soil — the roots of grasses, leaves, etc. — not only serves to feed the crops, bnt it keeps the soil in a better state of i^iilverization, or what might be called aerated condition, than when in the conrse of cropping for a few years it has passed away. Stable manure best supplies this want ; but on farm lands away from towns, it is not often that enough can be obtained to have any appreciable effect on the soil, and hence artificial fertiliz- cr3 are resorted to, which often fail, not from any fault in themselves, but from the fact that, exerting little me- chanical intiuence on the land, it becomes compacted or soddeu, the air cannot get to the roots, and hence failure or partial failure of crop. Thus we see that to have the best results from commercial fertilizers it is of great im- portance to have the land rested by a crop of grain or grass every three or four years. The best known fertilizers of commerce are Peruvian guano and bone dust, though there are numbers of oth- ers, such as fish guano> dry blood fertilizer, blood and bone fertilizer, with the various brands of suj^erphos- phates, all of more or less value for fertilizing purposes. It is useless to go over the list, and we will confine our- selves to the relative merits of pure Peruvian guano and pure bone dust. Guano at $05 per ton we consider rela- tively equal in value to bone dust at 140 per ton, for in the lower priced article we find that we have to increase the quantity to produce the same result. Whatever kind of concentrated fertilizer is used, we find it well repays the labor to prepare it in the following manner before it is used on the land : To every bushel of guano or bone dust add three bush- els of either leaf mold from the woods, well pulverized dry muck, sweepings from a paved street, stable manure so rotted as to be like pulverized muck, or, if neither of MANURES. 39 these can be obtained, any loamy soil will do ; but in every case the material to mix tlie fertilizers with must he fairly dry and never in a condition of mud, tlie mean- ing of the operation being that the material used is to act as a temporary absorbent for the fertilizer. The com- post must be thoroughly mixed, and if guano is used, it being sometimes lumpy, it must be broken up to dust before being mixed with the absorbent. The main object of this operation is for the better sep- aration and division of the fertilizer, so that when ap- plied to the soil it can be more readily distributed. Our experiments have repeatedly shown that this method of using concentrated fertilizers materially increases their value — probably twenty per cent. The mixing should be done a few months previous to spring, and it should, after being mixed, be pricked away in barrels and kept in some dry shed or cellar until wanted for use. Thus mixed, it is particularly beneficial on lawns or other grass lands. The quantity of concentrated fertilizer to bo used is often perplexing to beginners. We give the following as the best rules we know, all derived from our own practice in growing fruits, flowers and vegetables : Taking guano as a basis, we would recommend for all vegetable and fruit crops, if earliness and good quality are desired, the use of not less than 1,200 joounds per acre (an acre contains 4,840 square yards), mixed with two tons of either of the materials before recommended. Of bone dust about one ton per acre should be used, mixed with three tons of soil or of the other materials named. For market garden vegetable crops in the vicinity of New York, this quantity of guano or bone dust is har- rowed in, after twenty-five or thirty tons of stable manure have first been plowed in, so that the actual cost of manuring each acre is not less than 1100, and often $150. When fertilizers are used alone, without being mixed with the absorbent^ they should be sown on the soil, after 4:0 GAUDEXING l-Oll TKoirr. plowing or spading, about tliiek ciiougli to just color the surface, or about as thick as sand or sawdust is strewn on a lioor. This quantity is iv:el broadcast by sowing on the ground after plowing and deeply and thoroughly har- rowing it in ; when applied in hills or drills, from 100 to 300 pounds should be used to the acre, according to the distance of tliese apart, mixing well Avith the soil. A\'lien well-rotted stable manure is procurable at a cost not to exceed $3 per ton, delivered on the ground, whetlier from horses or cows, it is preferable to any con- centrated fertilizer. Rotted stable manure, to produce full crops, should be spread on the ground not less than three inches thick (our market gardeners use from fifty to seventy-five tons of well-rotted stable manure per acre, when no concentrated fertilizer is used), and should be thoroughly mixed with the soil by plowing. The manure from the chicken or pigeon house is vei'y valuable, and when composted as directed for bone dust and guano, has at least one-third their value. Castor-oil jiomace is also valuable in about the same proportion. PouDRETTEisthe name given to a commercial fertilizer, the composition of which is night soil, and dried swamp muck or charcoal dust as an absorbent. It is sold at about 8l'-3 to ^15 per ton, and at that price may be eqnal in value, if too much of the absorbing material is not used, to bone dust at ^40 per ton. Salt has little or no value as a fertilizer, except as a medium of absorbing moisture ; for experience shows that soils impregnated by saline matter are no more fer- tile than those inland out of the reach of such an atmos- phere. Muck is the name given to a deposit usually largely composed of vegetable matter, found in swamps or in hollows in forest lands. Of itself it has usually but little of fertilizing property^ but. from its porous nature, when MAXL'EES. 41 dry, it is one of the best materials to use to mix with other manures as an absorbent. It can be used to great advantage if dug out in winter and piled up in narrow ridges, so that it can be partly dried and *^ sweetened" in summer. Thus dried, if mixed with stable manure, or, better yet, thrown in layers of three or four inches thick in the cattle or hog yard, where it can be trodden down and incorporated with the manure, the value of the manure thus treated will be nearly doubled. In reply to questions that I receive by the hundred each season, asking whether or not it is worth while to use the so-called special fertilizers claimed to be suited to the wants of jiarticular plants, such as the '^Potato Fer- tilizer," '^Cabbage Fertilizer," '^Strawberry Fertilizer," '^ Rose Fertilizer," etc., I can only give this general an- swer, that while these manures may suit the plants they ,a"e claimed to be '' special " for, I have little doubt that either one would suit equally well for the others, or if all were mixed together, the mixture would be found to an- swer the purpose for each kind of crop just as well as if kept separate and aj)pliedtothe crop it was named for. These hair-splitting distinctions are not recognized to be of any value by one practical farmer or gardener in a hun- dred; for a little experience soon shows that pure bone dust or well-rotted stable manure answers for all crops nearly alike, no matter what they are. These special fertilizers for special crops are gradually increasing in number, so that some dealers now offer fifty kinds, different brands being offered for plants belonging to the same family. There is an ignorant assumption in this, and any culti- vator of ordinary intelligence cannot fail to see that the motive in so doing is to strike as broad a swath as possi- ble, so that a larger number of customers may be reached and a higher price obtained. One of my neighbors called the other day and informed me that his Lettuce cron, in his s^reenhoLise, v/as failiE.v, 42 GARDENING FOll PROFIT. and asked me what I tlionglit of the '' Lettuce Fertilizer" that was offered in a circular that contained some fifty other ** specials." An inquiry developed the fact that he had been keeping his Lettuce crop at a night temperature of sixty-five degrees in January — ten to fifteen degrees too high for the welfare of the crop — so that there was just about as much chance of the special '* Lettuce Fertilizer " helping the crop as there would be of giving health to a man in the last stages of consumption by feeding him beef-steak. I merely mention this incident to show how, and in what manner, the sellers of these special ferti- lizers obtain customers, even among practical gardeners. Lime or Marl. — I have always held that lime and marl have no direct fertilizing properties in themselves, except so far as they act to correct the acidity of the soil, or to lighten heavy soils, or to give adhesiveness to soils that are too light. In fact, I believe they are valuable for their mechanical effects on almost every soil, unless such as lie along the sea coast, and in some cases a con- siderable distance inland ; on such soils there is no bene- fit to be derived from the application of lime. In apply- ing lime dust — whether from limestone or oyster shells — it should be put on after plowing, at the rate of not less than 100 bushels per acre, and then well harrowed in, so as to thoroughly mix it with the soil for four or five inches below the surface. Gas Lime is often very liberally offered by the gas companies ; it is a dangerous material imd had better never be. touched by the market gardener. I well re- member applying it to a piece of ground, which was so poisoned by the noxious gases that it did not regain its fertility for three years. Cotton-Seed Meal, mixed with one-third of any high grade of phosphate, is almost exclusively used by the market gardeners of Charleston and Savannah, where MAXURES. 43 tlie mixture costs about 130 per ton. Ploweil in broad- cast, at the rate of from two to three tons per acre, it is believed to be, for that section, the best and cheapest fertilizer of an}^ kind. Plastee is one of those fertilizers which have a re- markable effect upon some soils, while in other places it^ has no effect at all. Where the soils are benefited by it, it is of course advisable to use it. Its greatest effect is upon clover, and where clover is used as a means of im- proving land, plaster is indispensable. It is one of the cheaj^est of all fertilizers and should by all means be used where it is beneficial. Wood Ashes are largely used by farmers as a top- dressing for meadows, spread on at the rate of fifty bushels per acre. The leached ashes that are brought to New York by the boat load; are sold at from fifteen to twenty cents per bushel, and, of late years, some of our gardeners have been using them instead of bone dust or guano as an addition to stable manure, harrowing them in after plowing at the rate of from 150 to 200 bushels per acre ; a lesser quantity (say one half) of unleached ashes would answer the same purpose. Geeew MAiq'URiiy'G. — The practice of growing crops for the purpose of plowing them under to fertilize the soil is often turned to very great advantage. To procure an adequate supply of manure is often a very costly pro- cess. But a crop that may be easily grown in a few weeks, and then turned under, may furnish to the soil as much fertilizing matter as eight or ten tons of ma- nure ; and the process may often be repeated two or three times in one year. For instance, if land is plowed in October and sown to rye, the rye may be turned under in May or June, and corn may be planted. This will be in full growth early in August, when it may also be turneJ under, furnishing ten or twelve tons more of 44 (^VUDKNIXii rOU PROFIT. valuable iiial tor. Tu turning* under so tall a crop as corn or rve rhe j)low should be run across the rows, and a heavy chain looped from the plow beam, just ahead of the standard, to the land side end o( the inner whiffle- tree. This loop dra^s in the furroAv. so as to catch the fallina" corn or rye, and pulls it down and into the fur- 'row so that the soil covers it. It should then be smoothed down with the back of the ordinary harrow or by the shortened blades of the Acme Harrow, so as io till up the crevices, and thus quickly iiuliice the rotting of the green cro]). II A PT E K V I I. THE USE AND MANAGEMENT C^F COLD FRAMES. We use coui frames for preserving Cauliflower, Cab- bage and Lettuce plants during the winter, and the for- warding of Lettuce and Cucumbers in spring and summer. To make the matter as clear as possible, we will sup- pose that the market gardener, having live or six acres of land, has ]n'ovided himself with 100 of three by six foot sashes. The Caulitlower, Cabbage, or Lettuce plants, wliich they are intended to cover in winter, should be sown in the open garden from the loth to the '^iOtli of September in the latitude of Kew York ; farther north, earlier: farther south, later. This matter of time of sowing is of vital importance ; for if too early, many of them will run to seed and of course are useless : again, if sowing is doiu^ too late, cold weather sets in and the plants have not time to get strong enotigh to stand the winter. The Early Jersey AVaketield is the variety used ahnost exclusively for raising cold franu^ plants. Our famous *• Earlv Summer Cabbage** i-^ never so safe to USK AND MANAGKMENT OF COIJ) FKAMKS. 45 carry over in cold fi'amos, unless, indce(i, it is sown very late; for example, wIk ii we sow tlie Wakefield licre on the 15th of September, the Early Summer is not sown until ten or fifteen days later. Millions of tliis favorite variety i'oi- the Soulli have been lost by running to seed from having been sown too early. On this subject 1 will give my views at length in anotfier portion of tliis chapter. When the young Cabbage plants are of sullicient size, which they will be in about a month from the time of sowing, they must be repianted in the boxes or frames, to be covered by the sashes as winter advances. T'he boxes or frames we use are simply two boards, running parallel, and nailed to posts to secure them in line. The one for the back is ten or twelve inches wide, and that foi- the front fi(j\on or eight inches, to give the sashes, when phiced upon them, pitch enough to carry off rain, niid 1o better catch the sun's rays. Tlie length of the frame or box may be regulated })y the position in Avhich it is placed ; a convenient length is fifty or sixty feet, requiring eighteen or twenty sashes. Shelter from the northwest is of great importance, and if the ground is not sheltered naturally, a Ijoard fence six feet in height is almost indispensable, 'l.'he sashes should face south or southeast. Each three by six foot sash will hold five hundred plants of Cabbage or Cauliflower, and about eight hundred of Lettuce. These numbers will determine the proper distance apart for those who have not luid experience. It should never be lost sight of that these plants are almost hardy, and consequently will stand severe freezing without injury, but to insure this condition they must be treated as their nature demands ; that is, after planting the Cabbage, Lettuce or Cauli- flower — which will be about the middle or end of Octo- ber — the sashes need not be j)ut on for a month or six weeks after, unless a very (-old spell comes for a 46 CtAEPexix(; for profit. dav or two, which sometimes happens ; but if they have to be thus temporarily protected, be careful to strip off the sashes again, so as to harden the plants for cold weather. In cold weather, even on clear winter days, when the thermometer marks fifteen or twenty degrees in the shade, they must be abundantly aired, either by tilting up the sash at tlie back, or, better still, when the day is mild, by stripping the sash off en- tirely. With this hardening process there is no necessity for anv other covering but the sash. In our locality we occasionally have the thermometer from five to ten de- grees below zero for a day or two together, yet in all our time we have never used mr.ts, shutters, or any covering except the glass, and I do not tliink we lose more than two per cent., although in sections where the thermom- eter falls to twenty or thirty degrees below zero, mats or shutters will be necessary. They rarely pass through a winter, however, without having the stems split by the frost, even with us, but that does no injury, provided when plautins: out in the open field they are so set that the split part is in the ground. Cauliflower is more ten- der than Cabbage or Lettuce, and the sashes must be covered with mats. Some may think that the raising of plants in this manner must involve considerable trouble, but when they are informed that the Cabbage and Let- tuce plants so raised and planted out in March or April, not infrequently bring 8600 per a?re before the middle of July, giving us time to follow up with Celery for a second crop, it will be seen that the practice is not unprofitable. But we have not yet done with the use ol the sashes ; to make them still available, spare boxes or frames are made, in all respects similar to those in use for the Cab- bage plants. These frames should be covered up during winter with sferaw or leaves in depth sufficient to keep the ground from freezmg, so that they may be got at and be m condition to be planted Avith Lettuce by the end of USE AND MANAGEMENT OF COLD FRAMES. 47 February or the first of March. By this time the weather is always mild enough to allow the sashes to be taken ofl from the Cabbage and Lettuce plants (if they liave been proiicrly hardened), and they are now transferred to the spare frames to cover and forward the Lettuce. Under eacli sash we plant fifty Lettuce plants, having the ground first Avell enriched by digging in about three inches of well-rotted manure. The management of the Lettuce for heading is in all respects similar to that used in pre- serving the i:>lants in winter ; the only thing to be at- tended to being to give abundance of air, and on the occasion of rain to remove the sashes entirely, so that the ground may receive a good soaking, which will tend to promote a more rapid and luxuriant growth. The crop of Lettuce is fit for market in about six weeks from time of planting, which is always two or three weeks sooner than that from the open ground. The average price for all planted is about ^$4 per hundred at wdiole- sale, so that again, v/ith little trouble, our crop gives us 82 per sash in six weeks. I believe this second use of the sash is not much prac- ticed outside of this district, most gardeners having the opinion that the winter plants of Cabbage or Lettuce would be injured by their complete exposure to the weather at as early a dat(5 as the first of March. In fact, here we have still a few old fogies among us, whose timidity or obstinacy in this matter prevents them from making this double use of their sashes, which there- by causes them an annual loss of $2 per sash, and as some of them have over a thousand sashes the loss is of some magnitude. In my own 2:)racticc I have made my sashes do double duty in this way for fifteen years ; the number when I first started being fifty, increasing until at one time I had 3,000 sashes in use. Yet m all that time I have only once had my plants so exposed injured, and then 48 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. only a limited number, Avhieli I had neglected to suf- ficiently harden by airing. We have still another use of the sashes to detail. Our Lettuce being cut out by middle of May, we then plant tive or six seeds of the Improved White Spine Cucum- ber in the center of each sash. At that season they come up at once, protected by the covering at night. The sashes are left on until the middle of June, when the crop begins to be sold. The management of tlie Cu- cumber crop as regards airing is hardly dilTcrcnt from tliat of the Lettuce, except in its early stage of growth it requires to be kept warmer. Being a tropical plant, it is very impatient of being chilled, but in warm days airing should never b? neglected, as the concentration of the sun's rays on the glass wonld raise the temperature to an extent to injure, if not entirely destroy, the crop. This third use of the sashes I have never yet made so protit- able as the second, because the crop has to compete ao-ainst Southern £i:rown Cucumbers, althou2fh ir has al- ways been sufficient to make it well worth the labor. There are a few men here who make a pro ti table busi- ness from the use of sashes only, having r.o ground except that occupied by the frames. In this way the winter crop of Cauliflower or Cabbage plants is sold at an average of $3 per sash in March or April ; the Lettuce at 8'2 per sash iu May, and the Cucumbers at 81 per sash in June, making an average of 86 per sash for the season ; and it must be remembered that these are wholesale prices, and that, too, in the market of New York, where there is great competition. There is no doubt that in hundreds of cities and towns of the Union the same use of sashes would double or treble these results. Cold frames are also used for sowing the seeds of Cab- bage, Cauliflower and Lettuce, instead of hot-beds. If the frames are closely shut up and covered at night by mats, the plants will be but little later than those from USE AN^D MANAGEMENT OF COLD FRAMES. 49 the hot-beds, and are raised with far less trouble. The time of sov/ing is about February 1st. In sections of the country where these plants cannot be set out before May it is useless to raise them in hot-beds. On the other band, in the Southern States, where in the montbs of February and March there are no frosts, by adopting the same care in covering up at night, the seeds of Tomatoes, Peppers and Egg-plants, and the sprouts from Sweet Potatoes, can be forwarded with much less trouble in the cold frames than in the hot-bed. I am sometimes asked the question, how much freez- ing and thawing plants of Lettuce, Cabbages, etc., will stand without being destroyed. I have always taken the ground that the freezing and thawing, instead of being injurious, is a necessity for their safety. In doing so I know I run in direct opposition to a large majority of my brethren, but the experience of over a quarter of a century, yearly increasing in extent, assures me that I am correct, and I am further confirmed in my opinion by knowing that there is not a market gardener in this vicinity but whose practice in the management of cold frames is the same as my own ; tliough if tlie question was asked some of them if thawing and freezing did not injure plants, the answer might be in the affirmative, so universally has the dogma been acepted. Again : '* How long can frozen plants be kept from the light when covered up with snow?" Much would depend on atmospheric conditions. If the plants were hard frozen when the snow covered up the sashes, then they might safely remain three or four weeks thus cov- ered, without light ; but if the ground was not frozen when the snow fell, then the snow must be removed from the sashes in three or four days, unless the fall has been so slight that light can get through to the plants. 50 GARDEXIXG FOE PROFIT. PROTECTING CLOTH IN LIEU OF SASHES. In many sections of the country it is difficult to get sashes, and with many, too, their cost is such as to make them unattainable. To such the use of this new protect- ing cloth will be a great boon, particularly in the South- ern States, where only a slight protection is needed to ward off frost for a few nights. In the winter of 1886 millions of Cabbage and Cauli (lower plants were lost in Georgia, South Carolina and riorid;jf that might have been saved by the use of this cloth for protection. In our experiments with it the past winter, we found that while the thermometer stood at twenty-tive degrees above zero, under this covering the temperature was thirty degrees above zero, while under the protection of sashes it was thirty-two degrees, or but two degrees more. All experienced cultivators know that the difference of five degrees in temperature in most oases would save nearly all the plants exposed in the open air from the danger of injury by frost. Could the orange trees of Florida the past winter have been enveloped in protect- inof cloth. I doubt if a bud would have been iniured. Of course, in that case, it would have been impractic- able to do so ; but it is easily practicable to protect low- growing plants, such as Cabbage plants or fruiting Straw- berry crops. A gentleman from Florida told me last winter that he has repeatedly saved his crop of Straw- berries — covering an acre while in bloom — from early frost, by the use of ordinary cotton cloth, thereby vastly increasing the value of his crop. This protecting cloth, while being no cheaper than ordinary grades of cotton cloth, has the advantage in being so prepared that it is mildew-proof, and with ordinary care will last for five years. It is made in yard widths and can be shaped for use according to circumstances. Probably the sim- plest plan is to tack it to a light frame three by six USE AND MANAGEMEI^T OF COLD FRAMES. 51 feet and use it just as saslies are used. Such *^ sashes," made of protecting cloth, would cost not more than twenty cents each, while glass sashes cost (to say noth- ing of expense in freighting) $2 each. Besides, in the hands of inexperienced cultivators, the protecting cloth is safest, for if this covering is left on in the day-time when the sun is shining, there is comparatively little rise of temperature underneath it, w^hilc it is well knov>-n that if ventilation of fiames covered by glass sashes is not carefully attended to, the crop beneath may be quickly ruined by the sun's rays acting on the glass and raising the temperature. The past spring (beginning about middle of March), we covered a lot of Cabbage plants with the protecting cloth for three wrecks — never once taking it off night or day — and the plants w^ere nearly as good as those covered by sashes, where daily attention had been given to ventilation. Not only will this cloth be found most useful in the Avinter in the Southern States, to guard against sudden snaps of frost, but to such as raise spring plants of Cabbages, Lettuce, Cauliflowers or Tomatoes, requiring protection in spring at the North, it will be found an excellent substitute for sashes. I do not rec- ommend the use of the protecting cloth in lieu of sashes in the winter months ; it w^ould not answer in heavy snow. But for all spring work, from March to June, it will in most cases answer every purpose. SPRING RAFSING OF CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER AND LETTUCE. The question is put to me many hundreds of times every season as to what is the best method to produce plants of Cabbage, Cauliflow^er and Lettuce for early spring planting. Although we still grow several hun- dred thousands- of fall sown plants annually (which are wintered over in cold frames), yet increased experience 52 GARDEN'IKG FOR PROFIT. appears to show that plants grown in the manner below described, which we have practiced for the past five years, can be done cheaper, and, at the same time, will produce nearly as good plants as by the old method of wintorino- over in cold frames. For our latitude, we make onr first sowing on February 1st in our greenhouses, where the temperature will aver- age about seventy degrees ; that is, about sixty degrees at night, and about eighty degrees during the day. Where there is not the convenience of a greenhouse, a hot-bed will answer the same purpose. A hot-bed, made with manure, about two feet deep, in a proper manner, pro- duces just about the same temperature and general con- ditions as will a well-appointed greenhouse. We find it more convenient to sow the seed in shallow boxes, which are made by cutting the ordinary soap boxes into three pieces, which gives us a depth of about two inches for soil in each box. We use any light, rich soil for the pur- pose, sowing enough seed in each box to produce 1,000 or 1,500 plants, or, if grown in the hot-bed without the box, each three by six foot sash should grow about 5,000 ]ilants ; but we find it more convenient to use the boxes than to sow in the soil put direct on the bench of the greenhouse, or on the manure of the hot-bed. The plants sown on February 1 st, in a temperature averaging seventy degrees, will give plants fit to transplant in about three or four weeks. We then use the same shallow boxes, putting in the bottom of each about one inch of well- rotted stable manure. Over that we place an inch of any ordinary light, rich soil, smoothing it so as to have it as level as possible. In these boxes, which are fourteen by twenty inches, we put an average of about 150 plants. The boxes are then taken direct to the ordinary cold frames, which, however, have been protected with ma- nure, as it Avould not do to put the boxes of tender plants on a frozen surface. It is very easy to keep the frost USE AND MANAGEMENT OF COLD FRAMES. 53 out of tliese cold frames by putting on tliree or four inches of dry leaves or manure before the soil freezes up, and placing the sash on the frames two or three weeks before they are to be used. In this way they will keep perfectly free from frost, and can be used at any time during the winter. The boxes should be placed as close to each other in the cold frames as they will stand ; about eight boxes fills a sash, thus holding about 1,200 plants. If the sun is bright, it is well to shade them for a few days until they take root ; but the most important point of all is to cover the sashes with straw mats at night so securely that no frost will reach them in the cold frames. For the past three years we have each sea- son grown about half a million of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce plants in this way, and have liad no trouble to keep them from freezing by carefully matting up, even when the thermometer has reached zero. Plants sown on the 1st of February are transplanted into the ])oxes abor.t the 1st of March, and are at once placed in the cold frames, and will be fine to transplant to the open ground any time after the 1st of April if they have been carefully attended to by watering, airing and protection from frost. As I have before said, these dates refer particularly to the vicinity of New York City, where we can usually plant out in the open ground all kinds of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce plants about April Jst. If in districts where they cannot be planted out sooner than the middle of April, then the sowing should not be made before the loth of February, and the process of transplanting, etc., gone through as before stated, so that the plants will be in condition to set in the open ground by the 15th of April. If in sections where Cabbages cannot be planted in the open ground before the 1st of May, then the sowing should be delayed until nearly the Ist of March, and the process of trans- planting in the frames the same. There are some sec- 5-i GARDENING FOR PROFIT. tioiis in the Southern States, of course, where these di- rections \yould not iipply, where the sowing woukl need to be done as early, perhaps, as tlie 1st of December ; and as it takes about two months from the time of sowing until they are fit to plant in the field, plants sown the 1st of December in Southern States would be fit to set out by February 1st. It will be understood that there would be no necessity for sowing in hot- bed or green- house in such a climate as Florida. The protection of glass in an ordinary cold frame would giye about the same average of temperature there in the winter months as we would have in the north by artificial heat. In most of the Southern States, in my o])inion, the protect- ing cloth before alluded to would answer all the pur- poses of glass sashes — aud even in the North, when mats aroused, "sashes" made of protecting cloth might be used instead of glass. There is another and simpler process of raising Cabbage plants ; that is, by sowing the seed in the cold frames direct. This is done here usually about the 15th of February or 1st of March, in as warm and sheltered a place as can be found for the frames. I saw^ one of my neighbors have a fine lot grown in that way last year. He had taken a crop of Head Lettuce out of his frames about the 15th of February, dug and raked the ground and sov/ed his Cabbage seeds in row^s about five inches apart, sowing enough to give about 1,500 plants under each three by six sash. He matted up carefully, giving ventilation to the sashes whenever the weather would permit, and about the 1st of April he had fine plants, fit to go into the open ground right from where they were sown ; not quite so good, of course, as if they had been transplanted, but still much better than the ordinary hot-bed plants, which are generally too much drawn and too tender to stand cold w^eather until quite late in the season. If care is used to so cover up these cold frames when the plants USE AND MANAGEMENT OF COLD EKAMES. 55 ha^ve been transplciiited in the boxes, or sown as described above, there is hardly a chance but that excellent plants will be produced, as there is far less risk in the handling of them than those from the hot-bed. A very important point to always observe is, to cover them so that the frost will not get to tliem. Ill come sections it might be necessary to use a light slin.tter placed over the sash, and then throw over them the heavy straw mats, at the same time covering up the alleys between the frames to the top of the board with dry leaves or ordinary stable manure, so as to prevent the frost striking through the boards into the plants. It is difficult to explain these operations as clearly by writing as we would like, and if any of our customers would take the time to come and see our opera- tions when we are at work, during the months of Febru- ary or March, they can get a better knowledge by see- ing them done on the spot. Our greenhouses and grounds are within forty minutes' time of our store, at Nos. 35 and 37 Cortlandt Street, New York, and if any one wish- ing to see our operations will call there, they will be given a card giving directions how to reach the place, which is located on the Jersey City Heights, two miles from the Jersey City Ferry, 56 (JAUDENINO KOK PROFIT.. CHAPTER VII T. FORMxVTION AND MANAGEMENT OF HOT-BEDS. Although v;o do not oonsidor hot-beds so coiwoiiicnt or ovoii o^'oiioniictil in tlio long run as the lorcing-housos, elsewhere described, yet, as beginners in the business ure usually not over-supplied ^vitll means, and as hot-beds are to be had at much less lirst cost than the forcing-houses, we give a description of their I'orniation and management. Tiie most convenient sash for the hot-bed is the three ])y six foot sash, made oii( of one ini'h and a half pine, cost- ing here, at present prices, wiien painted and glazed, from $'^ to 83 each, according to (]uality. The frame for tlie hot-bed is usually mad.^ movable, in lengths which three sashes will cover, making, m hen com])lete, a box-like structure, nine feet long (the widlli of three saslies, three feet wide), and six feet wide (the length of the saslu^s) ; at the bottom or lower part the plank should be lifteen or eighteen inches high ; the back or to[), twenty-four Indies ; so that when the sashes are placed on, it will give them the necessary angle to receive the sun's rays and throw off the rain. The sashes should be male as tight litting as they will easily work, and the plank forming the sides of the box should be high enough to cover the thickness of the sash, in order to pre- vent the cold air from penetrating. The hot-bed (formed on the surface) on which the frame and sashes are jdaced should not be less than four feet in depth of hot manure, and should project beyond the frame-work at least twelve inches on all sides ; that is, if the three sash-frame work measures six feet by nine, the hot-bed on which it is to be placed should be nuide eight feet by eleven. This is one style of hot-bed frame, and the one most commonly used in private gardens : but in our market gardens, where a large surface is used, our necessities compel us formation: and management of iiot-ijeds. 57 to a(l()i)t ix fjir moro ccoiioniiciil mode, l)ot!i in the cost of tlie fnime-work and heatiii<>' materia]. This is done somewhat after the manner ado})ted for cold frames. J^arallel excavations are made, usually in len^^ths of sixty feet, two and a half feet deep, and six feet wide ; the sides of those pits are boarded up with any rough board- ing, nailed to posts, and raised above the surface eighteen inches at the back and twelve inches at front. Strl{)s are stretched across, on which the sashes rest, wide enough to receive the edges of the two sashes where they meet, and allow of a piece of about an inch in width between them, so that the sash can be shoved backward and for- ward and be kept in place in giving air, etc. The heating material to form the hot-bed should be horse dung, fresh from the stables, adding to which, when accessible, about one-half its bulk of leaves iTom the woods. The manure and leaves should be well mixed and trodden down in successive layers, forming a conical hen[), large enough to generate fermentation in severe winter weather. Care must be taken that the material is not allowed to lie scattered and got frozen, else great delay will ensue before heat can be generated. A few days after the pile has been thrown together, aud a lively fermentation has taken place, which will be indicated by the escape of steam from the heap, it should be again turned over and carefully shaken out, formed again into a pile, and left until the second fermentation occurs, Avliioh will be usually in two or throe days. It may now \:i\ ])laced in the pit, or on the surface for the hot-bod already alluded to, being regularly beaten down by the back of the fork, and trodden so that it is uniformly of the same solidity, and to the required depth, two and a half feet. The sashes are now placed on the frames and kept close until the heat rises ; at this time a thermom- eter, plunged in the heating material, should indicate about 100 degrees but this is too hot for almo^ifc any veg- 58 GARDENING FOU PROFIT. etable growtl], and besides the rank steam given out by the fermentation should be allowed to escape before operations of sowing or planting begin. Beginners are very apt to be impatient in the matter of hot-beds, and often lose the first crop by planting or soNving before the violent heat has subsided, which it generally will do in about three days, if the heating material has been sufli- ciently prepared. As soon as the thermometer in the frame recedes to ninety degrees, soil should be placed on to the depth of five or six inches. This soil must be previously prepared, of one-third Avell-rotted manure (or, if procurable, rotted refuse hops from breweries), and two-thirds good loam, spread regularly over the surface of the manure in the hot-bed. We use hot-beds for various purposes. One of the most important uses is the forcing of Lettuce ; this is planted in the hot-beds (from plants grown in tlic cold frames), fifty under each sash, the first crop by second week in January ; it is covered at night by straw mats, and is usually marketable by the first of March. At that season Lettuce is always scarce, and will average," if properly grown, $G per hundred, or $3 per sash. The crop is cut out by the first week in March, giving plenty of time to plant the same bed again with Lettuce ; but now it is no longer a hot-bed, for by this time the heat from the dung is exhausted, and it is treated exactly as described in the chapter on Cold Frames. Another use for the hot-bed is the raising of Tomato, and Egg, and Pepper plants. The bed should be pre- pared for these not sooner than the second week in March, with the temperature about tlie same as before described. In sowing, it is well to cover the seed, not more than a quarter of an inch, with some very light mold ; nothing is better than leaf mold and saucl, patting it gently with the back of the spade. From the time the seed is sown, attention to airing, during the hot part of FORMATION" AND MANAGEMENT Oi" HOT-BEDS. 59 the da}', and covering up at night, is essential, and also that the soil bo never allowed to get dry. Water, how- ever, must be applied with judgment, as there is just as much danger from soaking the soil too much. Water should be applied with a fine rose w\atering pot, and if the water is lieated to a temperature of eighty or ninety degrees, all the better. The temperature at night may range from fifty-five to sixty-five degrees, and during the day from seventy to eighty degrees.. As soon as the secdHng plants are an inch or two high, which will be in four or five weeks, they must be taken up and re-planted in a more extensive hot-bed, for they now require room. Tomatoes should be phmted of a width to give seventy- five or 100 in each sash. Pepper and Egg Plants do Ijetter if planted in small flower pots (three-inch), as they are more difficult to transplant ; they may now also be kept a little closer in the hot-bed tlian the Tomatoes, as they require more heat. After transplanting, great care is necessary that they always be immediately watered, and shaded from the sun until they have struck root, which will be in two or three days after transplanting. The hot-bed is also the medium for procuring us Cab- bage, Cauliflower and Lettuce plants for early outside planting, when not convenient to winter them ever as described in the uses of cold frames. The seeds of these are sown about the last week in February, arc treated in all respects as regards covering up at night as the Toma- toes, etc., but, being plants of greater hardiness, require more air during the day. They will be fit to plant in the open garden by the middle of April. The beds they are taken from are usually employed for re-planting Tomatoes, which it is not safe to plant in the open ground here before tlie middle of May. A more detailed ac- count of how to raise Cauliflower and Lettuce plants will be found in the Chapter under that head. 00 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. Sweet Potato pliuits are almost universally raised in hot-beds : but. as this is a plant that laxuri:ues in a high temperature, the hot-bed should not be formed to start them until the middle of April. The soil should be a niixtuiv of sand and leaf mold, laid on of the usual thiekness ou the hot-bod, six inehes. The roots are plaeed close together, and tlie same sandr compost sifted over them to the depth of two inehes. Seme split the large ones lengthwise and place them flat side down. They should not be wateivd uniil they start to grow. They are tit to plant out about six weeks after starting. Two most essential points in Avorkiug hot-beds are in covering up at night and in giving air during the day. It often happens that a few mild nights in March or April delude us into the belief that all the coKl weather is over, and the covering up is in consequence either cai*e- lessly performed or abandoned. Every sciison shows ns scores of victims to this mistake, who by one cold night lose the whole labors of the season. It is always safest to cover np tender plants, such as Tomatoes, Sweet Po- tatoes, etc., until the 10th of May in this latitude, and the moiv hanly plants, such as Cabbage, to the 1st of April, when raised in hot-beds. Even if there is no dan- ger from freezing, it will give a more uniform tempera- ture, and consequently conduce to a more healthy gro\\'th. The want of close attention in airing is equally danger- ous. Often an hour's delay in laising the sashes will result in the scorching up of the whole contents of the hot-bed. and irregularity of airing will always produce "drawn" and spindling plants, even when they tvre not entirely killed. The thermometer is the only safe guide, and should be i*egnlarly consulted, and whenever it indi- cates seventy-five degrees, it is safe to admit more or less of the outer air, proportioned of course to the condition of the atmosphere. If there be bright sunshine and cold wind, very little will suffice : if calm, mild, and sunnv. FORMATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HOT-BEDS. Gl admit larf^er quantities. If the days are warm, say sixty in the sliade, in Mareli or April, the sashes covering Cabbage, Cauliflower or Lettuce plants may be stripped entirely off, and also from Tomatoes in April and May when the thermometer is at seventy degrees in the shade, covering up at night, of course. Coverings for Protection Against Frost. — To cover up hot-bed sashes we use either light pine shutters or straw mats. The shutters are made the exact size of the sash. There is no necessity of their being more than Fb^. 5. — MAKING A STRAW-MAT. half an inch in thickness, as that is quite as effective in keeping out the cold as two inches would be, and they are much cheaper and more convenient to handle. Straw mats are, however, by far the warmest covering, and in hot-bed culture are almost indispensable. They are al- ways made at home, during wet days or in stormy weather in winter. The manner of making them is very simple, and will readily be learned at the fn'st attempt. The 62 GARDEN'IXG FOR PROFIT. '* uprights" or warps are formed of five strands of a tarred string known as '^marline." These are tightly strained ten inches apart by being attached to live strong nails at bottom of a wall, corresponding with the same number seven feet from the bottom. Against these strings (beginning at tlie bottom) are laid small hand- f uls of rye straw, the butt ends out, as long and straight as can be procured. This is secured to the uprights by a lighter kind of tarred string by taking a single turn around the upright and tlie straw, and so continued un- til the mat is finished. Some use a frame to which the strino-s forming" the warp are attached, as shown in fio-ure 5. This allows the operator to have his work upright or horizontal, as may be most convenient. Two work- men will make about five mats in a day. When fin- ished, the mats should be seven feet in length and four and a half feet in width, two being sufficient to cover three sashes. The reason for having them made one foot longer than the sash is that there may be six inches to overlap at top and bottom, which are the most necessary points to secure from frost. In making these mats they may be constructed of sedge from the marshes or salt meadow hay when rye straw cannot be procured. It is important, however, that they may be made as light as possible, one inch in thickness being quite suf- ficient. By care in handling them, these mats will last for six or eight years. FORCING-PITS OR GREENHOUSES. 63 CHAPTER IX. FORCING-PITS OR GREENHOUSES. In another chapter it will be found tliat we now rec- ommend using wider greenhouses with fixed roofs for growing vegetables, but as niatiy have loose sashes that they may wish to utilize in constructing greenhouses, we will still retain the descri23tion given in the earlier edi- tions of this Avork. Forcing-pits and greenhouses of the style about to be described, whenever the greater expense in their erection is not a consideration, are, in our experience, far supe- rior, and in the course of five or six years more economi- cal for all purposes of forcing or forwarding vegetables than the hot-bed or cold frame. Figure 6 rejoreseAts the end section and ground plan of the style we have in use, and which may be adapted to any plant that requires artificial heat and protection of glass. The j^its repre- sented by this plan are 100 feet in length, and each eleven feet wide inside. The heating is accomplished by one of Hitching's patent boilers, C, heating about 1,200 feet of four-inch pipe. The glass roof, E, is formed of portable sashes, six by three feet. Each alternate sash is screwed down, the others being movable, so as to give adundance of air. The movable sash is elevated, to ad- mit air, by a flat iron bar fifteen inches long, attached to the sash by a staple. Into this bar is punched three holes, so as to regulate the admission of the air as re- quired. When the sash is shut down the bar is hooked on to a pin w^hich secures it in place, so that the sash can- not be moved by wind. I am thus particular in describ- ing what may seem a simple matter, but this system of airing is not common, and we made some stupid blunders before we hit on our present plan, which is cheap,, sim2:>le G4 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. Fi^:;. (3.- -ENP SECTION' AIsD GROUND PLAN OF FOKCIMG-PITS m:ATED BY WATER PIPES, FORCING-PITS OK GKEp]NHOL'SES. 65 and very effective. Tlie movable susli is not hinged tit the bottom, but is held in place by two small plates of iron screwed on the gutter plate. The ridge-poles arc cut out of the shape shown at J, and the sashes lie on the shoulder. The interior arrangement of the pits will be easily understood by the end section. G shows the bench or table as it is completed, which is filled with five or six inches of soil, in which the Lettuce, etc., are to be grown. This shows the boxing-in of the pipes, D, to give "bottom heat" to the cuttings, seeds or plants that are placed on the bench ; but on the sides of the bench, along the walk, one plank is hinged throughout the house, so that it may be let down when required and permit the escape of heat into the greenhouse. The walks through the house, K, are two feet wide. A brick shed. A, covers the boiler-pit, F, and is at- tached to the north end of the pits. Besides breaking the wind at this vulnerable point, we find this shed a mosc excellent place for many purposes, as it is kept from freezing by the heat that escapes from the boiler- pit, which would otherwise be lost. This heat may be turned to a very profitable account in forcing Mush- rooms or Rhubarb, if desired for that purpose. The system of attaching three pits together is now almost universally adopted by commercial gardeners in all houses erected during the past twenty-five years in the neighborhood of New York ; it has great advantages over the detached system, being less expensive in heating, more saving of space, and, above all, far more economical in cost of consti-uction. I prefer having only three to- gether, for the reason that when avc have the snow to clear away it is quickly done by being shoveled from the two valleys or furrows over the ridges ; although we have one grower in this neighborhood who has twelve con- nected houses, and finds but little trouble with snow. Our snows being mostly from the north, the shed breaks 60 gakdenikct for profit. them off ill a great measure, and wliat blows over blows mostly off tliroiigli the Talley between the saslies. The water from the gut- ter is led into a cistern, at the south end of the gTeenhouses, of a capacity of not less than 3,000 cubic feet — if 5,000, all the better ; to this is connected a Douglas Force Pump, figure T, with 150 feet of one and a half inch hose, and to the end of the hose is attached a heavy sprinkler. One man pumps, and another reg- ulates the water and sprinkles it over the plants. My establishment in 18GG contained over an acre of glass, and yet, by this labor-saving arrange- ment, all the plants were thoroughly drenched with water by two men in four hours. Before adopting this method of watering, at least four of the hands were employed the whole day during the spring months in watering, and then the work was not done half so well. There is nothing that I have ever done, connected with horticultural operations, that has been so entirely satisfactory as this Fig-. 7. DOUGLAS FORCE PUMP. FORCING-PITS OH GREENHOUSES. 67 method of watering. Now, 188G, we are fortunate enough to hsLYQ the city water, and can drench four acres of plants grown under ghiss in ten liours. In these pits may be propagated and grown Roses and all kinds of greenhouse and bedding plants of every de- scription, in the best possible manner. But as our pres- ent purpose is only with vegetables, I will endeavor to describe our mode of operations with some of these. Lettuce, from the great quantities consumed in all large cities, is now, and will be likely to be, one of the most profitable vegetables to force, for the reason that from its soft and bulky character it cannot be so safely or cheaply shipped from tlie South as many other kinds of vege- tables. AVe begin, for our first crop, by sowing the seed about the 20th of August, in the open ground, of the Boston Market, Black-Seeded Butter and Onrled Simpson sorts, using by far the greatest proportion of the first named, as it forms a solid head quicker and can be planted closer. These are planted on the benches of the forcing-liouse in five or six weeks after, at about six or eight inches apart each way, on v/ell enriched soil, placed on the benches to the depth of five or six inches. At this season no *' forcing" is required, and the sashes should be kept raised to admit air, night and day, until frosts begin, to be severe ; then they should be shut up at night, but no fire heat should be applied until the weather has been severe enough to indicate thirty-eight or forty degrees inside the pits, and even then very slightly, for if they can be brought to maturity at this season without the temperature exceeding fifty degrees at night (by fire heat), the crop will be all the better. The great thing in forcing all plants of this hardy nature being to avoid a high temperature, the temperature when steady firing is begun in the winter months, should average fifty degrees as near as possible. Of late years, Lettuce plants, when grown under glass, OS GAEDENIXG FOR PROFIT. havo oeeasioiuiUy boeonie affoctod by a species of inikiew or nisr. ^vhieh, beiiinniiio- in the eenter of the phnit, quiekly spreads over the wliole and destroys it. I am not oorraiii of the cause and can offer no cure — except to advise that great care should be taken to have the phmts grown freely and wirhoiir any sudden cheek by chilling or by the extremes of drouth and moisture, ^^'e tind in the culture of plants under glass that some species are particularly sensitive to such checks — some varieties of the Eose, for instance, if, when in a particular condition of growth, the temperature for a few hours is reduced from sixty-hve to forty degrees at night, or if a frosty southeast wind is allowed to play on the leaves for even ten minutes, or if allowed to dry so that the plant wilts, mildew will to a certainty be developed in twenty-four hours. The Verbena, Heliotrope and Petunia, when subjected to ill usage, become badly rusted. Therefore, I am inclined to think that the Lettuce disease is also caused by sITS OK (J RKEX IIOFSES. 09 slightly manured, dug u]), and again planted (from i)lants sown in cold frames, or in boxes in the same pit) about September 20th. This second, or winter crop, requires more attention in growing, both in firing, watering, and airing, as it matures about Jannary 1st, and consecpiently has had to be cared for during a cold part of the year. The third crop, treated exactly as the second, is planted as soon as the other is cut oft', and matures about April 1st. We now vary the use of the ])it, by planting at distances of about three feet apart along the center of the bench, jdants of the White Spine Cucumber, from seed sown about April 1st, in a corner of the pit that has been kept closer and warmer than that for the Lettuce ; these are planted in pots about three inches in diameter, and by the time the benches are cleared in May are fine strong plants, that give a full crop during the month of June — fully a month sooner than from the open ground. The combined value of these four crops will average about $400, for a structure 100 feet in length by eleven feet in width. The estimated expense of cultivation is : Interest on $700, cost of constraction, at 10 per cent. $ 70.00 Coal,fivetons .. 30.00 Labor, Mamire, etc 100.00 $200.00 Receipts 400.00 Net Profit . .._ 1200.00 These forcing-pits are likewise used for starting seeds of Tomato, Egg, Pepper, Cal)l)age, and Cauliflower, and sprouting Sweet Potatoes, wiiich is done with far less risk and in a much better manner than can be accomplished by the hot-bed. One great advantage is, that by being able to walk inside of them, these pits are accessible in all weathers, while wit'h the hot-bed or frames wo. are in winter often debarred from examination for whole days together. 70 GARDEXIXG FOR PKOFIT. At present prices, in tliis locality, these pits cost about $7 per lineal foot, everything comi)letc, put np in the way indicated by the plan in a plain substantial manner. But those "whose circumstances do not admit of the expense of heating by hot water (which is nearly half the cost of the whole), may put np structures of exactly the same character, and heat them by tlie common smoke flue at an expense of from ^1 to 85 per lineal foot, in the man- ner shown by the plan, figure 8. It will be seen by this sketch that two Hues only are used for the three pits, each passing fii'st up under the bench on the outside honses, is carried along the end and returned throngh the middle houses ; this equalizes the temperature in all three, for the outside houses get only one run of the flue, but it being directly from the fire gives about the same heat to the outside houses as two runs in the middle house, which, being a greater distance from the fire, are much colder. Three attached houses, heated thus, should not be over fifty feet long in this latitude. South- ward they may be sixty feet and northward forty feet. Peculiarities of locality have mucli to do with the heat- ing ; in positions particularly sheltered from the north- west, the same amount of flue will heat sixty feet quite as easily as in exposed places it will heat forty. The l^roper way of constructing the furnace and flue is of im- portance enough to require a descripticm, Avliich is given at length on page 87. As far as possible, let the instruc- tions there given be followed to the letter, as they are such as long and very extensive experience m the use of flues for greenhouse heating has shown to be such as rarely fail to 2-ive the very best results. Twentv-five years a^o nearly all the greenhouses used for commercial purposes w^ere heated by flues. In my own practice I used no other mode of heating until 18G0, and grew plants quite as well there as we do to-day. One of the largest rose- growins: firms in this countrv still uses flues only, with FORCING-PITS OR GREENHOUSES. ix ftV Pi^r. 8.— END-SECTION AND GROUND PLAN OF FORCING-PITS HEATED liV FLUE. 72 GAUDKXTXa FOK PKOriT. results that lia\o been sucli as to make tluMr business a complete success. Still, Avlienever it Ciiii be afi'ordeil, there is no question that hot water or steam is the best method of heating greenhouses. In the plan and section on the preceding page, A is the shed enclosing the fur- naces, C 0, from which pass the Hues, D, in the direc- tion shown by the arrows to the chimneys. L. The benches are not shown here, but they are arranged as in ligure 0. GIlEENnOUSES FOR FORCIl'TG VEGETABLES. :3 C li A P^r K R X. WIDE GREENHOUSES FOR FORCING VEGETABLE CROPS. Since "'^ Garden in i^- for Profit " was first written, larger experi- ence lias sliown tliat greenlioase structures for forcing vegetables cannot only be erected cheaper when made twenty or twenty- two feet wide, instead of ten or eleven feet as tlien in use, but from the larger volume of air they contain, Avliich when once heated better resists the cold outer air, less artificial heat is necessary. So well convinced were we of the advantages of the wider structure, that six years ago we remo\ed all our old eleven foot houses (covering nearly an acre in glass) and re- placed them with greenhouses averaging twenty feet wide by 100 feet in length. John Hud- son, of Jersey City, New Jersey, one of the most successful of all our market gardeners in the vicinity of New York, con- structed, the past season, six greenhouses, each* 150 feet long by twenty-two feet wide, plans of which are given in figures 9 and 10. The cost of tliese greenhouses complete, with ven- tilating apparatus, heating, benches, etc., was about $10,000, ^^ % WM -Wi :!/// •74 GARDEjq"IKG FOR PROFIT. or {iboul ^?10 per running foot. The stnictnro is very simple. The Avails front iind rear are constructed of cedar posts, about live to six inches in diameter, phiced four feet apart and sunk three feet in the ground. On the outside of these are nailed rough hemlock boards, against which a layer of asphalt or tarred paper is tacked, over Avhich is nailed the ordinary weather boarding. Such a wall will resist cold better than an eight-inch brick wall, and will last twenty-five years if kept painted. A very common error is to build che wooden wall of a green- house hollow and fill the space with sawdust. This should never be done, as it is move expensive, and is by no means so good as the plan here given. It will be Fig. 10.— CROSS-SECTION OF FORCING-HOUSE. seen by the engraving, figure 10, that these greenhouses of Air. Hudson's are heated with hot water, the six O's in (he engraving representing six runs of four-inch pipe, which is sufficient to give a night temperature of forty- live or fifty degrees when the thermometer is ten below zero, which is a sufiicient night temperature in the win- ter months for growing such crops as Lettuce and Rad- ishes. Of course in the day-time, when the sun shines, the temperature of such a house will run fifteen or twenty degrees higher ; and ventilation should not be given until the temperature reaches seventy degrees. The great point to be considered in forcing crops of Lettuce or Eadishcs in greenhouses is, if possible, not to let the night tempera- ture exceed fifty degrees. Of course this cannot be helped GREEJ^nuUSES FOR FORCING VEGETABLES. 75 in the fall months, wlien the temperature outside is often mueh liigher than fifty at night ; hut in sucli cases, dur- ing the months of October and November, tlie ventihiting sashes should be left up so as to keep the temperature at night as low as practicable. Often the entire first crops of Lettuce are lost for want of this precaution. Further experience has also taught us the necessity of using glass of a larger size. The size most used is twelve by sixteen, put in the twelve inch way. The object of the larger glass is to obtain the greatest amount of light. In glaz- Fi^atiox IX Seeds. — There are very few seeds that will not germinate as freely the second year as the first, if properly kept in a cool place, and not exposed to either a too drying or too damp an atmosphere. With the exception of Parsnips, Onions and Leeks, I would just as confidently sow seed two SEEDS AND SEED-RAISING. 93 years old as wlien fresh gathered ; but there is a limit to the vitality of seeds, varying much in the different families. Among those only safe for two years are : Beans and Peas of all kinds, Peppers, Cari'ot, Corn, Egg Plant, Okra, Salsify, Thyme, Sage, and Rhubarb. Those safe for three years : Asparagus, Endive, Let- tuce, Parsley, Spinach, and Radish. Those safe for five years : Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cab- bage, Celery, and Turnip. Those possessing the greatest vitality are : Beet, Cu- cumber, Melon, Pumpkin, Squash, and Tomato ; the time ranging from six to ten years. Market gardeners find this knowledge very valuable ; for example, in procuring the stock of a seed known to be good, of a variety that does not seed the season it is marketable, such as Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, or Celery, avc procure enough to last at least two seasons. The first season only a little is sown, to test the merit of the variety, for we are never incautious enough to risk a full crop with one experiment. If it proves valuable, we have enough in reserve to sow for a full crop, know- ing that it is sure to germinate. This w^as particularly the case with our New Dwarf Celery. On the recommen- dation of a friend I imported ten pounds of the seed, but, doubtful of how it would suit our market, only as much w^as sown as would furnish a few hundred 2:)lants. These show^ed so much superiority, in all respects, to the tall varieties that w^e had been growing, that the following season I put in half my crojD wdtli the dwarf seed. The thing Avas entii'ely new in our market, and so much superior that it sold for prices that w^ould seem incredible. My ten pound bag was not half exhausted, and the next season I planted my whole crop, fourteen acres, containing nearly half a million roots, and made 94 GARDENING FOR PEOFIT. one of the best hits 1 ever made in gardening. Bat by this time mv neighbors began to take an unusual interest in mv Celerv erop, and I eouhl monopolize the variety no longer. The originator of our Xew White Plume Celerv, wliieh will be deseribed elsewhere, made au equally good hit before his neighbors waked tip to the importance of its merits. A frequent source of complaint is the fact of seeds failing to germinate during long continued dry weather, and it is very important that the gardener should always applv common-sense to liis work, and not simply follow routine, for wliat will suit for one condition of soil or atmosphere would be unnecessary, or even wrong, for another. I will give a case to illustrate. About the fifth of May of ISU, I sowed a large patch of open ground with Celery seed, and another with Cabbage seed. The soil was in tine order, and the beds, after sowing, were raked — the Celery with a tine steel rake, the Cabbage with a large wooden rake, which covered the seed of each to the regular depth. The weather was drv. with indications of its continuing so. and after sow- ing I liad both the Cabbage and Celery beds rolled heavilv, leaving, however, a strip of each unrolled, so that I could clearly show to some of my young men what the result of this omission would be if dry weather con- tinued. Had a heavy rain fallen within a day or two after sowing, it would have compacted the soil and pro- duced the etfect of rolling it. But we had no rain for three or four weeks, and a burning-hot atmosphere, pass- ing through the shallow, loose covering of the seeds, shriveled and dried them up so that it was impossible thev could ever germin(ite. This little experiment re- sulted exactly as any one having experience in seed-sow- ing knew it must ; our crop of Celery and Cabbage plants were as line as need be on the rolled bed, while not one seed in a thousand of the Celerv. and not one in SEEDS AXU SEED RAISING. 95 a hundred of the Cabbage started in tlic strips where the soil was left loose. In the sowing of Cauliflower, Cabbage, or Lettuce in September, the same precaution had better be used. But in small beds, such as are usually taken for these, if a roller is not at liand, after raking the beds the soil should be firmly patted with the back of the spade ; this not only produces quicker and more certain germination, but it leaves the surface of the bed smooth, so that the plants come up straighter than if the beds w^re left rough. We consider the practice of soaking seeds worse than useless. For fuller instructions on this, one of the most important of all garden operations, see Chapter on the *^Usa of the Feet in Sowing and Planting." The greater part of this chapter has been already pub- lished in my book, entitled '^How the Farm Pays," as well as portions of it in some of our .seed catalogues. Believing it is of vital importance, I think it cannot be too often repeated. I have been writing on Horti- culture for nearly forty years, but I consider that T have benefited the farmers and gardeners of the United States more by the instructions given in the '^Use of the Feet in Sowing and Planting," than by any other article I have ever written. 9o GARDENING FOR PROFIT. CHAPTER XII. THE USE OF THE FEET IN SOWING AND PLANTING. [Read before the Niitionnl Association of Nurserymen, held at Clcvclaiul, O., by Peter Ilendersou.] It may be useless to throw out any suggestions in rela- tion to horticultural operations to such a body of prac- tical men as is now before me. Yet I candidly admit that, although I have been extensively engaged in gar- dening operations for over a quarter of a century, I did not fully realize, until a few years ago, the full impor- tance of how indisjiensable it was to use the feet in the operations of sowing and planting. For some years jjast I have, in writing on gardening matters, insisted upon the great importance of •'' firming " the soil over the seeds after sowing, especially when the soil is dry, or likely to become so. I know of no oper- ation of more importance in either the farm or garden, and I trust that what I am about to say will be read and remembered by every one not yet aware of the vast im- portance of the practice. I say ^'^vast importance," for the loss to the agricultural and horticultural community from the habit of loosely sowing seeds or setting out plants in hot and dry soils, is of a magnitude which few will believe until they have witnessed it; and it is a loss all the more to be regretted, Avhen we know that by " firming " the soil around the seed or plant, there is, in most cases, a certain preventive. Particularly in the sowing of seeds, I consider the matter of such great importance that it cannot be too often or too strongly told ; for the loss to the agricultural and horticultural community by the neglect of the simple operation of firming the soil around the seed USE OF THE FEET IN SOWING AND PLANTING. 9? must amount to many millions annually. For the mis- chief done is not confined only to the less important garden operations, but even Corn, Cotton, Wheat, Tur- nips and other important crops of the farm often fail, in hot and dry soils, by being sown without being firmed sufficiently to i)reyent the dry air shriveling or drying the seeds. Of course, the use of the feet is impractic- able in firming seeds on the farm, but a heavy roller, applied after sowing, is an absolute necessity under cer- tain conditions of the soil, to insure perfect germination. From the middle of April to nearly the end of May of this year, in many sections of the country, there was little or no rain. Such was particularly the case in the vicinity of New York City, v/here we have hundreds of market gardeners, who cultivate thousands of acres of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Celery, but the ^^ dry spring'' has played sad havoc with their seed-beds. Celery is not one-fourth of a crop, and Cabbage and Cauliflower hardly half, and this failure is due to no other cause than that they persist in sowing their seeds without even tak- ing the precaution to Arm the soil by rolHng. We sow annually about four acres of Celery, Cabbage and Cauliflower plants, which produce probably five millions in number, and which we never fail to sell mostly in our immediate neighborhood to the market gardeners, who have, many of them, even better facil- ities than we have for raising these plants, if they Avould only do as we do, firm the seed after sowing, which is done thus : After plowing, harrowing and leveling the land smoothly, lines are drawn by the " marker," which makes furrows about two inches deep and a foot apart ; after the man who sows the seed follows another, who, with the ball of the right foot, presses down his full weight on every inch of soil in the drill where the seed has been sown ; the rows are then lightly leveled longi- 98 GARDENING FOK PROFIT. tndinaliy with the rake, a light roller is passed over them, and the operation is done. By this method our crop has neyer once failed, and what is true of Celery and Cabbage seed is nearly as true of all other seeds requiring to be sown during the late spring or summer months. On July 2d of 1874, as an experiment, I sowed twelve rows of Sweet Corn and twelve rows of Beets, treading in, after sowing, every alternate row of each. In both cases, those trodden in came up in four days, while those unfirmed remained twelve days before starting, and would not then have germinated had not rain fallen, for the soil was as dry as dust when the seed was sown. The result was that the seeds that had been trodden in grew freely from tlie start, and matured their crops to a marketable condition by fall ; while the rows un- firmed did not mature, as they were not only eight days later in germinating, but the plants were also, to some extent, enfeebled by being partially dried in the loose, dry soil. Tliis experiment was a most useful one, for it proved that a corn crop, sown in the vicinity of Xew York as late as July 2d, could be made to produce ^*^ roasting ears" in October, when they never fail to sell freely at high rates, but the crop would not mature unless the seed germinated at once, and which. would never be cer- tain at that dry and hot season, unless by this method. The same season, in August, I treated seeds of Tur- nips and Spinach in the same way. Those trodden in ger- minated at once and made an excellent crop, while those unfirmed germinated feebly, and were eventually nearly all burned out by a continuance of dry, hot air penetrat- ing through the loose soil to the tender rootlets. I beg to caution the inexperienced, however, by no means to tread or roll in seed if the ground is not dry. The soil may often be in a suitable condition to sow, USE OF THE FEET I^ SOWING AND PLANTIlTa. C'J and yet may be too damp to be trodden upon or rolled. In such cases these operations may not be necessary at all. lor if rainy weather ensue, the seeds will germinate of course ; but if there is any likelihood of a continued drouth, the treading or rolling may be done a week or more after the seed has been sown, if there is any reason to believe that it may suffer from the dry, hot air. An- other very important advantage gained by treading in the seed is, that when we have crops of Beets, Celery, Turnips, Spinach, or anything else that is sown in rows, the seeds to form the crop come up at once ; while the seeds of the weeds, that are just as liable to perish by the heat as are those of the crop, arc retarded. Such of the weed seeds as lie in the space between the rows where the soil is loose will not germinate as quickly as those of the crop sown; and hence we can cultivate between the rows before the weeds germinate at all. Of course, this rule of treading in or firming seeds after sowing, must not be blindly followed. Very early in spring or late in fall, when the soil is damp and there is no danger from heated, dry air, there is no necessity for doing so. Now, if firming the soil around seed, to protect it from the influence of a dry and hot atmosphere, is a necessity, it is obvious that it is more so in the case of plants whose rootlets are even more sensitive to such in- fluence than the dormant seed. Experienced professional horticulturists, however, are less likely to neglect tli'is than to neglect in the case of seeds, for the damage from such neglect is easier to be seen, and hence better understood, by the practical nurseryman ; but with the inexperienced amateur the case is different. When he receives his package of trees or plants from the nurseryman, lie handles them as if they were glass, every broken twig or root culls fortn a complaint, and he proceeds to plant them, gingerly 100 GAPvPENIXG FOR PllOPIT. straifrliteuino: out each root and siftins: the soil around them, but he would no more stamp down that soil than he would stamp on the soil of his mother's grave. So the plant, in nine cases out of ten, is left loose and wabbling ; the dry air penetrates through the 'soil to its roots : the winds shake it ; it shrivels up and fails to grow ; and then come the anathemas on the head of the unfortunate nurseryman, v/ho is charged with selling him dead trees or plants. About a month ago I sent a package of a dozen roses by mail to a lady in Savannah. She wrote me a woful story last week, saying that, though the roses had arrived seemingly all right, they had all died but one, and what was very singular, she said, the one that lived was the one that Mr. Jones had stepped on. and which she had thought sure was crushed to death, for Mr. Jones weighs '-300 pounds. Now, though I do not advise any gentleman of 200 pounds putting his brogan on the top of a tender rose plant, as a practice conducive to its healtli, yet, if Mrs. Jones could have allowed her weighty lord to press the soil against the root of each of her dozen roses, I much doubt if she would now have to mourn their loss. It has often been a wonder to many of us, who have been workers in the soil for a generation, how some of the simplest methods of culture have not been practiced until we were nearly done with life's work. There are few of us but have had such experience ; personally, I must say that 1 never pass through a year but I am confounded to find that some operation cannot only be done quicker, but done better, than we have been in the habit of doing it. These improvements loom up from various causes, but mainly from suggestions thrown out by our employees in charge of special departments, a system which we do all in our power to encourage. USE OK THE FEET IX S()\VrK(} AND PLANTING. 101 As a proof of the vuUio of such improvements wliicli have led to simplifying our operations, I will state the fact that though my area of greenhouse surface is now more than double tliat which it was in 1870, and the land used in our florist's business is one-third more, the number of hands employed is less now tlian in 1870, and yet, at the same time, the quahty of our stock is vastly better now than then. Whether it is the higher price of labor in this country that forces us into labor-saving expedients, or the inter- change of opinions from the greater number of nation- alities centering here, that gives us broader views of cul- ture, I am not prepared to state ; but that America is now selling nearly all the products of the greenhouse, garden, nursery and farm lower than is done in Euro])e, admits of no question ; and if my homely suggestions in this matter of firming the soil around newly planted seeds or plants will in any degree assist us in still holding to the front, I shall be gratified. In the summer of 1886 I had a visit from one of the market gardeners of Norfolk, Va., who told me that he annually grows fifty acres of Spinach, but that often by dry weather in autumn, only a partial crop was obtained, owing to the failure of the seed to germinate. I asked him if he trod in the seed with the feet ; he said no, that it would be quite a big job to tread in rows at one foot apart on an area of fift}^ acres. A little calculation showed that it could be done for less than 150, and when it is known that a good crop of Spinach grown in Nor- folk will sell in the markets of New York for at least $300 an acre, it will readily be seen that it would hardly be worth while to withhold $1 per acre extra labor, if it would, as it undoubtedly would in many cases, secure a crop. Seedsmen have more complaint of Spinach seed failing to germinate than perha^^s anything else, as it has usually to be sown in hot, dry weather, but failure w^ould 102 GAKDKXIXC, FOK PKOFIT. rarely occur it after sowiuu* the seed the soil was carefully pressed down -with the feet. It was rather an anmsiui:- iueidout that tlrst broui^iit to the alteution o." a track faruier of C'harU\^ton, S, C\, the importance of tiruiin^i' the soil. It seems that a aen- tlemau of color, havino- the consiitutioual weakness for chickens peculiar to some of his race, got into a hen roost and helpCvl hiniSv^lf bountifully. In evading the liigh.road, he struck a bee-Hne thronah a newly-sown Turnip held, where he left tracks that led to liis detec- tion. But these tracks did more. They showed to Squire Buncombe, whose chickens iuul sutTcred, that wherever the foot of the colored citizc'i had fallen, there he had a *' stand'' oi Turnips and nowhere else (for they liad been loosely sown and the weather was dry). The lesson shot home and has been v.orth tens of thous>.>nds of dollars to the farmers of South Carolina, who, it seems, were never before sutHciently alive to the im}>iu-- tance of lirming the soil until the unfortunate negro showed them the way. The world has often raised mon- uments to men who have done far less to benetit their fellov.s than this ikhu" negro unconsciously did for the farmers of Xorth Carolina. HOW, WHEN AND WHEllK TO SOW SEEDS. lOo CHAPTER XIII. HOW, WHEN AND WHERE TO SOW SEEDS. As seed sowing is the starting point of cropping, a tliorongli knowledge of the conditions necessary for the germination of tlie different varieties will go far towards letting the tyro in gardening well on the way to success. The very general want of knowledge in this matter is too often the cause of much undeserved censure upon the seedsman, for in nine cases out of ten the failure is not with the seeds, but results from the time or manner of sowing. When the owner of a gardcjn sends his order for seeds to the seedsman, it is generally a complete list of all he wants for the season. They are received, and the interesting operation of sowing is begun : first in a liot bed, if he has one, often as early as the first week in February (which in the latitude of New York is a month too soon), and' in go indiscriminately, at the same date and under the same sash, his seeds of Cai)bage, Cauli- flower, Lettuce, and Egg Plant, Peppers and Tomatoes. Yet even in tlie waning heat of this early hot-bed, where a thermometer would possibly not indicate more than fifty degrees, he finds in a week or so his Cabbage, Let- tuce, and Cauliflower '^coming through" nicely, but as yet no Egg Plants, Peppers, or Tomatoes. lie impatiently waits another week, makes an examination, and discovers that instead of his Tomatoes and Egg Plants beginning to vegetate, they are commencing to rot. It is now plain to him that he has been cheated ; he has been sold old seed, and if he docs nothing worse, he forever after looks u})on the seedsman he hv.s patronized as a venal wretch, destitute of principle and honesty. But he must have 104 GARDENING FOll PROFIT. Tomatoes, Peppers, {iiid Egg Plants, and he buys again, but this time from another seedsman, warranted honest. He rencAVs his liot-bed — it is now a month later, and a bright March sun, with milder nights, give him the proper temperature in his hot-bed (seventy or eighty de- grees) — and his eyes are at last gladdened by the sprout- ing of the troublesome seed. April comes with warm sunshine, inviting him to begin to ''make garden" out- side. He has yet the balance of the original lot of seeds that he bougiit in February. But as he is still entirely befoooed about the cause of his failure in the first hot- bed, he begins his open ground operations with little confidence in his seeds, but as he has got them, they may as well be tried. And again he sows, on the same day, his Peas and Lima Beans, Radishes and Pumpkins, Onions and Sweet Corn. Hardy and tender get the same treat- ment. The result must oi' necessity be the same as it was in the hot-bed ; the hardy seeds duly vegetate, while the tender are of course rotted. This time he is not sur- prised, f(U' he is already convinced that seedsman No. 1 is a rascal, and only wonders how any of his seeds grew at all, so he a'^nin orders from seedsman No. 2 for the articles that have failed. Here circumstances continue to favor the latter, for by this time the season has ad- vanced in its temperature, and the seeds duly vegetate. Every experienced fnrnun- knows that in this latitude he can sow Oats or AVheat in Mareli or April, but if he sows his Oorn or Pumpkins at the same time they Avill perish ; this he knows, but he may not knov/ that what is true of the crops of the farm, is equally true of the garden. Hence the importance of a knowledge of the season when to sow vegetable seeds or set out plants. A most important case in point occurs just as I write (May 15th, PSSG). A Avould-be farmer to Avhom avc sold fifty bushels of Sweet Corn complains that not a seed of the corn whieli he had planted has grown. He had now, WHEN AND WHERE TO SOW SEEDS. 105 sowed it about Miiy 1st, in JNortbern Indiana, and three weeks too early for that section ; what made matters even worse, we have had a cold, wet May ; the average temperature at night for the fortnight would probably not exceed forty-five degrees. Under such circumstances the seed corn could no more have germinated than if it had been thrown into the fire. That the seed was good was certain beyond question, as our trials showed that ninety per cent. grew. A decision was not long ago rendered in one of the Philadelphia courts against the claim for damages made by a market gardener, who brought suit against a well- known seedsman of that city for having sold him seed of Early York Cabbage that had "run to seed." The ventilation of such a matter is exceedingly in- structive to those engaged in gardening operations, as was shown by the facts elicited on the trial, the gist of which was, that the prosecutor had sown the Cabbage seed on the 5th of Sei)tember instead of the 15th, and that error, combined with an unusually mild and grow- ing fall, practically lengthened the season, so that the Cabbage plants became "annuals" — running to seed within the year of sowing — rather than forming heads and acting as " biennials," as was expected of them. Now, just here an excellent lesson comes in with another vegetable. Many of our so-called scientific gardeners are English, Scotch, Irish, or Germans ; they come here, most of them, with a thorough contempt for our rougher style of doing things (a practical style born of our neces- sities in the higher cost of labor) ; and it is next to im- possible to convince one in a dozen of them that there is anything in horticultural matters here that they need to be informed of. Accordingly, if he wishes to raise Celery, he starts his seed in a hot-bed in February, just as he would have done m England, and is astonished to find in July that instead of forming a thick and solid lOG GARDEXING FOR PROFIT. stalk, as it would have done there, it spindles and runs to seed. If liis knovv^ledge of the art had been based on common-sense, instead of the blind routine practice ac- quired in a colder climate, he would have known that our season — from April 1st to July 1st — would sum up nearly the same mean of temperature here as it would there, from February 1st to July 1st ; and hence it was not only unnecessary here, but dangerous to the welfare of the crop, to sow such biennial plants as Celery in any other place than in the open ground, and that not before April. It was just such an error that the market gar- dener made who sued the seedsman above alluded to. He had been following, likely, the English or German method, and paid the penalty not only of losing his crop, but losing his law-suit, by not adapting his practice to our conditions of temperature. As the matter of sowing the seeds of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce to make plants to winter over in cold-frames, is one in which there is a wide-sproad interest, I may state that the time of sowing in fall, in a country having such an area and difference of latitude as ours, is somewhat difficult to fix upon ; but taking the latitude of New York as a basis, the safest time we have found to sow is about the 15th of September. Of late years we have even sown some kinds as late as September 30th, with excellent success, in warm, well-sheltered positions, in a rich, well-pre- pared soil. Each kind of seed has certain limits of temperature, below or above which it cannot well germinate. Below the minimum heat it remains dormant ; above its maxi- mum limit, its vitality is destroyed ; between these two points is found the temperature most favorable to rapid p-ermination. Practicallv it suffices to divide our s^arden seeds into two classes : natives of temperate and natives of subtropical countries. The temperature best fitted for the germination of HOW, WHEX AND WHERE TO SOW SEEDS. 107 seeds of the leading kinds, will be best understood by the tabuhir form given below : Vegetable seeds that may be sown, in this latitude, from the middle of March to the end of April. Ther- mometer in the shade averaging 45 degrees. Beet. Lettuce. Carrot. Ouions. Cress. Parsnip. Celery. Parsley. Cabbage. Peas. Cauliflower. Radish. Endive. Turnip. Kale. Spinach. Vegetable seeds that may be sown in the open ground, in this latitude, from the middle of May to the raid- die of June. Thermometer in the shade averaging 60 degrees. Beans, Bush. Melon, Musk. Beans, Cranberry. Melon, Water. Beans, Lima. Nasturtium. Beans, Pole. Okra. Beans, Scarlet Pumpkin. Runner. Squash. Corn, Sweet. Tomato. Cucumber. It will be understood that these dates refer only to the latitude of New York ; farther South operations should be beg'un earlier ; farther North, later. So much for the time of sovv^ing. I will now refer to suitable soil and the manner of sowing. The Choice of Soil wherein seeds are sown, when choice can be made, is of importance, the best being a light soil, composed of leaf mold, sand, and loam ; the best substitute for leaf mold being well-decayed stable manure, or, better yet, decayed refuse hops from the breweries — in short, anything of this nature that will tend to lighten the soil, the point to be avoided being a weight of soil, either from the nature or quantity of it. The nature of the soil is not of so much importance for the germinating of large vigorous seeds, as Peas, Beets, Beans, Corn, etc.; but with the delicate, slow sprouting sorts, as Celery, Parsnip, Egg Plant, or Peppers, it is cf much importance. Seeds of nearly every garden vege- table should be sown in rows ; the distance apart ac- cording to the variety, and the depth proportioned to the size of the seed. No better information can be given in this matter than the old rule of covering the seed with 108 GARDENIXG FOR PROFIT. about twice or thrice its thickness of soil, but this should always be followed up by haviug the soil pressed closely down. lu our market gardens here we invariably tread or have fhe ground rolled ; or in frames or hot-beds, where the roller cannot be used, we pat the soil down evenly with a spade after sowing. This may not be of so much con- sequence in early spring, when the atmosphere is moist, but as the season advances, it is of great im23ortance. Another advantage in rolling after seed sowing is, that it leaves the surface smooth and level, thereby greatly lessening the labor of hoeing. Instead of adopting the questionable practice of soaking seeds, preparatory to sowing in dry, hot weather, we prefer first, if very dry, to thorouohlv saturate the bed with water, and after it has dried enougli, so that it can be raked without clog- ging, sow the seed. It is much berter to do this than to water the soil after the seed has been sown, as it has a tendency in most soils to cause the surface to bake. Although directions for sowing in hot-becls have been already fully given in the Chapter on '"Formation and Management of Hot-becls," and also under the head of "Spring-raising of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce," yet at the risk of some repetition I again refer to it here. Sowing ii^ Hot-beds. — After the hot-bed has been formed — say the first week in March — let soil of the kind recommended be placed on it six inches deep, into which plunge a thermometer three or four inches, and when the temperature recedes to seventy-five or eighty degrees, you mav then sow, giving air in mild weather as soon as the seeds begin to vegetate, covering up warmly at night with straw mats. But many that may read this never saw a hot-bed, and are perhaps never likely to have one ; to such I would say that there is an excellent substitute on hand in most dwellings, in the kitchen or basement win- dows, facing South or East, inside of which is a temper- ature usually not far from that required for the vegeta- HOW, WHEJ^ AND WHERE TO SOW SEEDS. 109 tion of seeds^ and where plants from seeds of the early vegetables, or tender plants for the flower border, may be raised nearly as well, and with far less attention, than in a hot-bed. Instead of hot-beds, we use our green- houses for the purpose, using shallow boxes in which we sow the seed ; these are made from the common soap box, cut into three pieces, the top and bottom forming two, and the middle piece, bottomed, making the third ; these form cheap, convenient boxes. Fill these nearly full with the soil recommended, and, after sowing, press nicely down level and make the surface soil moderately firm ; keep moist in a temperature in the window of from sixty to seventy degrees, and your little trouble will soon be rewarded. In this w^ay seeds should be sown thickly, and after they have mado the first rough leaf, should be again planted out into the same kind of box, from one to three inches apart, according to the kind, and placed in the window to receive similar treatment as the seeds ; but as the season advances, in mild days the boxes should be set out of doors, care being taken that they are brought in before night, and that the soil in the boxes is never allow^ed to get dry. I knoAv what is usually the first thing the novice in gardening does if he gets any choice seed or favorite cut- ting ; he has somehow got the belief that there is some hidden virtue in a flower pot, and he accordingly sows his seed or plants his cutting in a pot, but in nine cases out of ten they are destroyed, or partially so, by the con- tinued drying of the soil in the porous flower pot. If early in the season, let delicate seeds be sown in the kitchen or sitting-room window, in the boxes as recom- mended, or if late, in the open border ; but seeds should never be sown in pots, as even in experienced hands they are much more troublesome and uncertain than boxes. RoTATTOX OF Crops. — Cultivators of the most limited 110 GARDENIJ^G FOR PROFIT. experience soon discover tliat the same kind of crop can- not be grown on the same ground for many years in suc- cession without deterioration. A great many theories have been advanced assigning causes for this, but they are as yet far from satisfactory, and as this is not a book of theory but of practice, I will not further allude to them. The following general rules will be found useful as a guide : 1st. Plants of the same family should not be planted to succeed each other. 2d. Plants which occupy the ground for a number of years, such as Rhubarb and Asparagus, should be suc- ceeded by annual plants. 3d. Crops grown for heads, such as Cauliflower, Cab- bage, etc., should be succeeded by crops grown for their bulbs or roots. It is hardly practicable to vary crops according to any set rule, the demand in different localities for certain articles being greater than in otliers. Generally variety euough is demanded to allow of sufficient rotation. Our system of heavy manuring, deep culture, and taking two crops from the ground each season, seems to do away in a great measure witli the necessity for s^^stematic rota- tion, which would often be found to be very inconvenient. The crops of all others that we find most benefited by chano-e are tiie CabbaG:e tribe, together with the allied Turnip, Radish, etc., while, on the otlier liand, we have grown Onions successively on the same ground for ten years — the last crop just as good as the first ; but, as a rule of safety, vary whenever you can. The best of all rotation for crops is to '^ rest " the land whenever practicable from its continued manuring and cultivating, by sowing down to grass for one, two or three years ; this gives a renewed vigor and vitality that nothing else will impart. The farmers and market gar- deners of Long Island, who grow truck to supply the now, WHEN AND WHERE TO SOW SEEDS. ill great market of New York, are now excelling oiir Hud- son County, New Jersey, market gardeners, whose limited areas and high-priced lands do not permit them to use this system of ^^ resting" their lands by a rotation of grass or clover. I have been so much impressed with the value of tliis plan, that, as soon as our cold frames have been emptied of Cabbage and Lettuce plants in May, the ground is sown at once with Clover, Millet or Oats — it makes little difference which ; this crop is cut off twice or thrice and by September it forms a good sod, which is turned down. It is rotted in thirty days and the land is in the very best possible friable condition for the reception of the cold frame Cabbage, Cauliflower or Lettuce plants, which we begin to plant about the middle of October. Even when only a few weeks can be spared, we find it pays to sow the land with some green crop to be plowed in, riither than it should remain bare. Quantity or Seeds per Acre. — The quantities given below are somewhat higher in some kinds than the usual estimates, our experience showing us that in weak vege- tating seeds, such as Parsnips, Carrots, etc., it requires numbers, particularly on stiff soils, to force through plants enough to form a crop. More seed is required when sown during the dry, hot m3nths of summer than if sown in the cooler and moist seasons of spring and fall, hence quantities are regulated accordingly: QUANTITY Oy SEED REQUIRED TO SOW AX ACRE. Asparajyus 4 to 5 pounds. Beans, Dwarf in drills 2 bushels. Beans, Pole. in hills 10 to 12 quarts. Beet in drills 5 to 6 pounds. Cabbage in beds to transplant '/a pound. Carrot in drills 3 to 4 pounds. Coi-n - - - in hills 8 to 10 quarts. Corn (for soiling) .3 bushels. Cucumber in hills 2 to 3 pounds. Cress, Water _ . in drills 2 to 3 pounds. 112 GARDENIKG FOR PROFIT. Cress, Upland . - -in drills 2 to 3 pounds. Kale, or Sprouts 3 to 4 pounds. Mustard - -broadcast - V2 bushel. Melon (Musk) - - - -in hills 2 to 3 pounds. Melon (Water) in hills 4 to 5 pounds. Onion in drills 5 to 6 pounds. Onion, (for sets) in drills 30 pounds. Onion, (sets) in drills- 6 to 12 bushels. Parsnip in diills --- 4 to 6 pounds. Peas - in drills 2 bushels. Peas - .broadcast- - 3 bushels. Potato, (cut tubers) 10 to 12 bushels. Pumpkin in hills 4 to 6 pounds. Radish in chills- 8 to 10 pounds. Sage in diills - - 8 to 10 pounds. Salsify in drills 8 to 10 pounds. Spinach in drills 10 to 12 pounds. Squash, (bush varieties) - - - in hUls- 4 to 6 pounds. Squash, (running varieties) in hills 3 to 4 pounds. Tomato to transplant ^,U pound. Turnip .in drills 1 to 2 pounds. Turnip broadcast 3 to 4 pounds. Barley broadcast 2 to o bushels. Broom Corn in hills. 8 to 10 quarts. Clover (Red) alone- 15 to 20 pounds. Clover (White) alone ..- ...12 to 15 pounds. Clover ( Alsike) alone 8 to 10 pounds. Clover (Lucern) alone 20 pounds. Grass (Mixed Lawn) 4 to 5 bushels. Oats broadcast 2 to 3 bushels. Rye broadcast I'/o to 2 bushels. Vetches broadcast 2 to 3 bushels. Wheat--- -.broadcast IV2 to 2 bushels. Timothy, alone - V2 bushel. Orchard Grass, mixture -4 to 5 bushels. Millet 1/2 to 1 bushel. MIXTURE FOE SEEDING MOWING LANDS. Clover, ) together ( ...10 pounds Clover. Timothy, [ "^f or ■{ 1/2 bushel Timothy. Red-Top. ) one acre ( .1 bushel Red-Top. When di-ills are referred to, the seed should be sown with a seed drill. now, WHEX AND WHERE TO SOW SEEDS. 113 QUANTITY OF SEEDS REQUIRED FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF PLANTS, NUM- BER OF niLLS, OR LENGTH OF DRILL. Asparagus, 1 oz 60 ft. of drill. Beet, 1 02 50 ft. of drill. Beans, Dwarf, 1 qt. 100 ft. of diill. Beans, Pole, 1 qt 150 hills. Carrot, 1 02-- -150 ft. of drill. Cucumber, 1 oz 50 hills. Corn, 1 qt 200 hills. Dandelion, 1 oz.... 200 ft. of drill. Endive, 1 oz 150 ft. of drill. Leek, 1 oz 100 ft. of drill. Melon, Water, 1 oz 30 hills. Melon, Musk, 1 oz 60 hills. Okra, 1 oz 40 ft. of drill. Onion, 1 oz. 100 ft. of drill. Onion, Sets, 1 qt.... 40 ft. of drill. Parsley, 1 oz .150 ft. of drill. Parsnip, 1 oz 200 ft. of drill. Peas, 1 qt 100 ft. of drill. Pumpkin, 1 oz 40 hills. Radish, 1 oz 100 ft. of di-ill. Salsify, 1 oz .70 ft. of drill. Spinach, 1 oz 100 ft. of drill. Squash, Early, 1 oz 50 hiils. Squash, Marrow, 1 oz 16 hills. Turnip, 1 oz 150 ft. of drill. Asparagus, 1 oz 500 plants. Cabbage, 1 oz 2,000 plants. CauUnower, 1 oz 2,000 plants. Celery, 1 oz 3,000 plants. Egg Plant, 1 oz 1,000 plants. Lettuce, 1 oz 3,000 plants. Popper, 1 oz 1,000 plants. Rhubarb, 1 oz 500 plants. Tomato, 1 oz 1,500 plants. Thyme, 1 oz 3,000 plants. Sage, 1 oz 1,000 plants. THE NUMBER OF PLANT3, T3EEG, ETC., REQUIRED TO SET AN ACRE. Distance. Number. 1ft. by 1ft - ...43,560 I'/a ft. by IV2 ft - .19,360 2 ft. by 2 ft 10,890 2' 2 ft. by 2'/2 ft - - - -6,970 3ft. by 1ft ..14,520 3 ft. by 2 ft 7,260 3 ft. by 3 ft .-4,840 4 ft. by 4 ft .2,722 5 ft. by 5 ft 1,742 Distanc;. Nnmher. Oft. by 6 ft .1,200 9ft. by 9ft 537 12 ft. by 12 ft. 303 15ft. by 15ft..-. 194 18ft. by 18ft. 134 20 ft. by 20 ft 103 25 ft, by 25 ft-... 70 30 ft. by 30 ft-- --.. 40 40 ft. by 40 ft 27 114 gardenixct for profit. CHAPTER XIV. TRANSPLANTING. Transplanting is an operation of great importance ; the condition of the plant, the state of the soil, and of the atmosphere, have much to do with its success, independ- ently of the simple mechanical operation. It is not very easy to instruct the uninitiated as to what the proper condition of the plant should be ; experience in this being, as in everything else, the best teacher. Attention to keeping the seed-bed clear of w^eeds, the "topping" of plants when they get too tall, and careful digging up of them so as to ])reserve the root fibres, will all greatly assist. We cannot always get the soil in the proper con- dition of moisture to receive plants at the ti^ne trans- planting should be performed, but to make up for the v/ant of moisture, planting should be delayed always until late in the afternoon, unless in cloudy weather. It is also of great importance that the ground be freshly plowed ; the moist soil thus brought to the surface will induce the formation of root fibres in one night in warm weather, after which the plants are comparatively safe ; but if they be allowed to wilt before the new roots begin to be emitted, and continued dry weather ensues, then nothing will save them but having recourse to Avatering, which, however, should only be done in case of dire necessity. In planting, such plants as Cabbage, Lettuce nnd Celery, each man is provided with a boy, who car- ries the plants in a basket, and whose duty is to drop the plant on the line at the proper distance before the planter. In planting, a hole is made b}^ the dibber about the depth of the root ; the plant being inserted, the soil is then pressed close to the root ; the hole thus made by the displacement of the soil is again filled up by one stroke of the dibber. In dry weather v;e still further TRANSPLANTING. 115 firm the plant by eacli i)laiiter returning on his row and treading- the soil around plants firmly witli the feet. I am thus particular in describing a simple matter, know- ing well that millions of plants are annually lost by inattention to tliis firming of the soil. The same rule is applicable to transplanting of all kinds, trees, shrubs, or vegetables. Instead of "puddling" the roots in mud, we prefer to keep the plants dripping wet during the whole time of planting, so that each plant, as it is in\t in the soil, puddles itself by the particles of soil adhei'ing to the wet root. Besides, the leaves of the plant, being- wet, will for some time resist the action of the dry air. Planting of Vegetable Plants. — A year or two ago, about the middle of April, the snow, after its long acquaintance with us during the past winter, intruded itself again in the spring and covered our newly-planted gardens to the depth of several inches. Veteran tillers of the soil could smile at this assault, knowing it to be harmless. But correspondents, still young in the busi- ness, wrote to me fearing their planted crops were ruined. A snow, after planting in spring, I have never known to injure plants of any kind, unless, indeed, it was heavy enough to break them. The fear of snow, and of the slight late frosts, often prevents the setting of such plants as Cabbage, Lettuce, and even Asparagus, among vegeta- bles, and of Strawberries and other small fruits, until the s3ason is so far advanced that hot v/eather comes on, starting the tops before the roots have h:id time to get a foothold. There is rarely danger (when the ground is sufficiently dry to work, and it never should be worked until it is so), that such hardy or half-hardy plants as we plant in spring will be injured by any frost that may come after they are put out. This opening up for spring- work usually begins here by the end of March, and I have never yet seen plants injured by frost after that time. 116 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. To give an idea what amount of coIlI Cabbage and Lettuce plants will stand without injuiy, I will relate an experience I had in my early days of market gardening. A particularly mild spell in the latter part of February had led us to believe that spring had come. Out went the teams, and the ground was manured, plowed, and planted with Cabbage and Lettuce to the extent of two acres, which was all finished up by the 26tli of February. It was my second year in the business. I was yet an in- experienced hand, and my neighbors predicted that my venture was a foolliardy one, and would result in total loss, no one having ever before planted such crops in this section at such an early season. But fortune favored me ; the weather continued mild long enough to allow the plants to ''strike root," and though the thermometer after wai'd marked as low as fifteen degrees above zero, and the ground was frozen for full ten days, so that it could not be again dug or plowed, yet the wild venture proved a success, and I had the satisfaction of having the first Cabbages from that February planting that were sold in market, I never after had an opportunity of planting so early, and would not do so if I had, for it was simply favorable conditions that saved the crop. If the cold snap had set in immediately after planting, there is but little doubt the plants would have suffered injury. But the experience was valuable in showing what severity of frost such plants would star.d without injury. Much depends on the condition of the plants ; if taken from the hot-bed or frame without being previously exposed, they might be in condition to be as easily injured as a Tomato plant. The past season I had the sashes taken off my entire crop of Cabbage and Lettuce plants on March 1st (they being hardened beforehand by ventilating), and never covered them again. They were twice covered up with snow, and the mercury several times marked only twenty VEGETABLES — VARIETIES AND CULTIVATION. 117 degrees above zero. Yet we harJly ever before had finer plants. The sashes so taken off — nearly 1,000 in number — were used for our flower business, but, had we desired it, they might have been used on temporary frames, and grown a crop of Lettuce which in five weeks from date of plant- ing, March 1st, would have easily given $2 per sash. I mention these facts to give confidence to the hundreds now engaged in market gardening, who, from dread of exposing their plants in spring, not only do them an in- jury, but lose the j^rofit of a second use of their sashes. A third use of sashes may be had in growing Tomato, Sweet Potato, or Egg plants, after the crop of Lettuce is sold, or forwarding an early crop of Cucumbers or Melons. (See *' Forcing Cucumbers.") CHAPTER XV. VEGETABLES, THEIR VARIETIES AND CULTIVATION. In describing the modes of cultivating the different varieties of vegetables, I shall notice at length only those of the most importance, and the most profitable for mar- ket purposes, while for those of less value as market crops, the directions for culture will be such as are adapted to private gardens only. A limited number of kinds will be described, and such only as our experience has shown to possess the greatest earliness and productiveness. Nothing is more perplex- ing to the beginner than to be bewildered by descriptions of perhaps twenty so-called varieties of a vegetable that in reality does not embrace four distinct kinds. For example, in early Cabbages, there are some hundred or more varieties described ; yet we find, after having 118 GAIIDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. experimented with some scores of kinds in onr time, there fire two varieties more protitable to grow than any others — viz., the Jersey AVaketield and Early Summer, which are grown in this locality to the exclnsion of all otliers. However, some kinds are fonnd to do better in some localities than in others — hence, as in fruits, no partienlar variety .should be claimed to be universally the best. AST A^A(jVB.— [Asparagus oficinaUs.) Asparagus being a hardy perennial plant, that may be grown on the same ground for twenty years without re- newal, special care is required in formiug the beds in wdiich it is to grow. This is done sometimes by trench- ing to the depth of two or three feet, mixing each layer of soil, as turned over, with tAvo or three inches of well- rotted manure ; but for market purposes, on a large scale, trenching is seldom resorted to ; deep and thorough pul- verizing by the plow and subsoiler serving instead. The soil best suited for Asparagus is a deep and rather sandy loam, such as is often to be found on the borders of mead- ows or on the margins of lakes or rivers — land formed by the washino's of the hi^i'her o-rounds, and known as allu- vial. This land, when clear from under water or from overflow is by far the best suited for the growth of all kind^of vegetables and is, from the nature of the plants, particularly adapted for Asparagus or Celery. Propagation. — Asparagus is propagated by seed, which is sown in spring, as soon as the soil will admit of work- ing, which should be prepared by being thoroughly pul- verized and enriched with well-rotted manure. The seed is sown in rows one foot apart, and if kept carefully hoed and clear from w^eeds, the plants will be in fine condition to plant out the succeeding spring. Strict attention to this will save a year in time ; for if the seed-bed has been neglected, it will take two years to get the plants as large VEGETABLES — ASPA liAGUS. 119 as they would be in one year, if they had been properly cared for. In con.sequencc of this very common neglect of proper cultivation of the seed-bed, it is an almost uni- versal impression that the. plants must be two or three years old before planting. This is undoubtedly an error, for almost all large growers for market purposes, in the neigliborhood of New York, invariably plant one-year- old plants, and count on marketing a crop the third spring from the time of sowing. One pound of seed will produce about 3,000 plants ; and to plant an acre of As- paragus requires from 15,000 to 20,000 plants when planted close. Planting. — The bod bcmg prepared as previously described, planting may be done any time for six or eighfc weeks from the opening of spring. The plant, from its peculiar succulent roots, is less susceptible of injury from late planting than most other vegetables, although at the same time delay should not occur, unless unavoid- able, as the sooner it is planted after the ground is in working order, the better will be the result. AVhen there is plenty of ground and the crop is to be extensively grown, perhaps the best mode of planting is in rows three feet apart, the plants nine inches apart in the rows. For private use, or for marketing on a small scale, beds should be formed five feet wide, with three rows planted in each ; one in the middle and one on each side, a foot from the edge ; the distance of the plants in the rows, nine inches ; the alleys between the beds should be two feet wide. In planting, a line is set and a cut made a little slanting to the depth of six or eight inches, accord- ing to the size of the plants. The plants are then laid against the side of the trench, at the distance already named (nine inches), care being taken to properly spread the roots. The crown or top of the plant should be cov- ered about throe inches. In a week or so after planting, the beds should be touched over lightly with a sharp steel 120 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. rake, wliicli will destroy the germinating weeds. The raking had better be continued at intervals of a week or &o, until the plants start to grow, when the hoe or hand- cultivator may be applied between the rows and alleys ; the weeds that come up close to the })lant must of neces- sity be pulled out by the hand. In the lirst edition of this work I gave it as my belief that we had only one Tariery of Asparagus, and that all the so-called **' Gianf and *• Mammoth" varieties were merely the results of superior soil or cultivation, which on being propagated by seeds or otherwise, and placed in ordinary conditions of culture, would fall back to their original or normal condition ; in short, that the species had never '"broke," as we technically term it. This belief necessarily made nie skeptical to the claims of the '" Colossal" when that variety was first introduced, and I invariably replied to all inquirers that. past ex- perience in this matter led me to believe that it was no different from the ordinary sort. I was finally invited to pay a visit to the farm of Abra- ham Van Siclen, of Jamaica, Long Island, and there to inspect an acre of the Oyster Bay Asparagus (the ordinary kind), and an acreof his '' Colossal," which Mr. V^an Siclen had planted in the spring of 1SG8, each then one year old from seed. A thorough inspection of the roots of each lot proved that they were of the same age when planted. The soil was next examined, and found to be as near the same as it could well be, yet these two beds of Asparagus showed a difference that left me no longer a shadow of a doubt of tlieir being entirely distinct varieties. In tfie old variety we found no shoot thicker than one inch in diameter and averaging twenty shoots to a hill, while in the "Colossal" many shoots were found an inch and a half in diameter, and averaging thirty-five shoots to a hill — an enormous growth, when it is remembered the plant was only three years from the seed. VEGETABLES — ASPARAGUS. 121 Mr. Van Siclcn is well known as one of. our best Long- Island market gardeners, who has made the growing of Asparagus a specialty for twenty years, and who has prob- ably in that time sold more Asparagus in the markets of New York than any other man. lie was exceedingly enthusiastic in praise of this variety, believing that at a low estimate it would yield a profit of at least one-third greater than the ordinary sort, under the same condi- tions, besides coming to maturity two years sooner. Mr. Van Siolen's method of growing Asparagus is sim- ple, and in some respects new to me. To begin, he sows his seeds in his rich sandy loam in April, in rows one foot apart and two inches in depth, dropping the seeds so that they nuiy be distributed evenly about half an inch apart ; the plants are cultivated by hoeing between the rows and keeping them clear of weeds by hand pick- ing. In the spring following he sets his plants, now one year old, which are in his experience preferable to those two years old. His mode of planting is somewhat differ- ent from the usual practice, but for havinef a lastino- Asparagus bed — one that will be as good at the end of twenty years as it is at eiglit — it is probably the best. It differs in setting the roots much wider apart than usual ; his stand, six feet between the rows and four feet between the plants, making less than tv/o thousand plants to an acre. In preparing the land to receive the plants, he merely plows to the depth of a foot or so with the ordinary plow ; his soft, sandy subsoil rendering the use of the subsoil plow unnecessary, but in soils less favored the use of the subsoil plow would be of decided advantage. In preparing to plant he turns out a furrow with a double mold-board plow, so that at its deepest part it is nearly twelve inches deep ; a good shovelful of thoroughly rotted manure is then placed in the furrow, at distances of four feet, so spread that it will make a layer of three inches or so ; an inch or two of soil is then 1 12 GARDEXIXG FOE PliOFIT. tlu'own on the top of the manure, and the Asparagus planted as shown in the engraving, figure 1-i, and with its crown six or seven inches below the surface level. The plant is now only lightly covered up with the soil, say two or three inches, until it starts to grow% when the furrows are thrown in by the plow so that the w^hole surface is leveled, which pUces the crown of the Aspa- ragus some six or seven inches under the surface. This w^ould be, perhaps, four inches too deep in heavy soils, but in light, soft soils it answers well. The first and second seasons after planting no Asparagus is cut for ■pyy, 14.— MANNER OF PLANTING ASPAKAGUS. market, as it weakens the roots, but in the third year a partial crop is taken, although the beds are not considered to be at their best until the sixth or seventh year. Their productiveness may be continued for twenty years by this wide system of planting, recourse being had to manuring freely annually, by digging or plowing it in around the roots before the crop has started to grow, or after it is cut. Gkowikg Asparagus from Seed, without trans- planting, is a method now finding many advocates. It is not only a much cheaper method, but in my opin- ion it is the best method if the operator can have patience to w^ait a year longer for a crop. The plan is very sim- ple, and can be done by any one having even a slight knowledge of farming or gardening w^ork. Prepare the laud by manuring, deep plowing and harrowing, mak- ing it as level aud smooth as possible for the reception of the seed. Strike out lines three feet apart and about VEGETABLES — ASPxiR^iGUS. 1^3 two to three inches deep, in which sow the seed by hand or seed drill, as is most convenient, using from five to seven pounds of seed (which costs fifty cents per pound), to each acre. After sowing the seed and before covering- tread down the seed in the rows evenly with the feet (see "Use of the Feet in Sowing and Planting") ; then draw the back of a rake lengthwise over the rows, after whicli roll the whole surface. As soon as the land is dry and fit to Vv^ork in Spring, the young plants of Aspara- gus will start through the ground sufficiently to define the rows in two or three weeks. At once begin to cultivate with hand or horse cultivator, and stir the ground so as to destroy the embryo weeds, breaking the soil in the rows between the plants with the fingers or liand weeder for the same purpose. Tiiis must be repeated at inter- vals of two or three weeks during the summer, as the success of this method is entirely dependent on keepino- down the weeds, which, if allowed to grow, would soon Bniother the Asparagus plants, which for the first season of their growth are weaker than most weeds. In two or three months after sowing, the Asparagus will have at- tained ten or twelve inches in height. It must now be thinned out so that the plants stand nine inches apart in the rows. By fall they will be from two to three feet high, strong and vigorous, if the directions for culture have been faithfully followed. A^hen the foliage dies (but not before), cut the stems down to the ground and cover the lines for five or six inches on each side with two or three inches in depth of rough manure. As the spring again returns, renew the same procef:s of cultiva- tion to keep dow^n weeds the second year exactly as was done for the first, and so on to the spring of the fourth year, when a crop may be cut that will well reward all the labor that has been expended. Sometimes, if the land is particularly suitable, a crop may be had well worth marketing the third year, but as a rule, it will be IM GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. better to wait until the fourth year without cutting much, as it would tend to weaken the plants. To com- pensate for the loss of a year in time in thus growing Asparagus from seed, such crops as Cabbage, Lettuce, Onions, Beets, or Spinach — all of which will be market- able before the Asparagus will have grown high enough to interfere with them — can be sown or planted between the rows of Asparagus the first year of its growth with but little injury to it ; and as the ground for the Aspar- agus has been heavily manured and well prepared, such crops will, in a measure, make up for the year's loss in time, provided there is a market near enough for their sale. I had an old friend near Macon, Ga., who grew an acre of Asparagus after this plan. His crop was sold in the New York market and brouo'ht him an averao'e of 11,000 a year for six years after it came into bearing, to my certain knowledge, my salesman having sold it for him. He died some ten years ago, and I presume the bed was neglected, or it might still be in full bearing. There is no crop so certain of sale and so easily shipped as Asparagus, from the fact that it has perhaps greater value for its weight than any other vegetable, besides, it is ready at a season wdien the temperature is low, so that whether shipped from the extreme Southern States to our large cities in the Middle States, or reshipped to still further North, there is never danger from injury in transit. The reason of its being profitable is obvious. The cultivator has to wait three or four years for a crop. The majority of gardeners either cannot or will not wait, and hence it becomes profitable to the few who cultivate it. The variety usually grown is the Colossal, but Mr. John Nix, a well-known commission dealer of New York City, and who is also one of the largest truckers in South Carolina, claims that the new variety of Asparagus, *■' The Palmetto," is one which excels all other varieties grown at the South, ni earliness, yield, quality and even- VEGETABLES — ASPARAGUS. 125 ness of growth. It has not ^^et been extensively tried at the ISTorth, but we have every reason to think that it will do equally well here. The AppLicATTo:jir of Salt to Asparagus as a top- dressing is claimed to be of benefit in inland districts out of the range of a saline atmosphere, but is of little or rko benefit in the vicinity of salt water. When used it should be applied in spring only, at the rate of half a pound per square yard, strewed on the surface ; the rains will dissolve it and wash it down to the roots. Besides its beneficial effects upon the plant, it is to some extent destructive to the wire worm and other insects that are often troublesome to the Asparagus. We have found Asparagus beds very profitably bene- fited by the application of superphosphate of lime or pure bone dust as a spring top-dressing, applied at the rate of 500 pounds per acre, sown on the beds and hoed in. Experiments with this on alternate rows showed a dif- ference of nearly one foot in height of the stalk in favor of the rows to which the superphosphate had been ap- plied over those which had none ; and a difference of nearly double the product when the crop was cut in the succeeding spring. The fall treatment of the Asparagus beds varies with the locality ; in cold regions, where, if left unprotected, the frost would penetrate below the roots, a covering of tjiree or four inches of rough manure or leaves is neces- sary. Although an entirely hardy plant, it will start earlier and with greater vigor in sj^ring if the root has not been subjected to severe freezing. In milder sections no such precaution is necessary ; all that need be done is to clear off the stems as soon as they are withered in the fall, and clean the beds preparatory to giving a dressing of two or three mches of manure, w^iich had better not be applied until spring. We believe the common practice oi top-dressing Asparagus beds m fall to be a very waste- fill Olio, in districts wliero it is not neccsstary to xirovidc jiiiainst severo froozini:-, for, as the plant is then dormant, the jnioes of the niaiuuv are either evaporated or else washed down by rains Mow the roots of the plant. I remember having- three small Asparagns betts under my oliaroe many years ago, on one of which I applied in De- cember twenty-five ponnds of Pernvian guano, dissolved in lifty gallons of water ; in April the same a])i)lication was made to anotlier bed, i\ud the i>ther was left without anyihiiig. There was no perceptible ditference between that to Avhich the li(|uid h.ad been applied in December and that to which none had been given, but on that which received it in A^iril nearly double the weight of cro}) was ])roduced. Since then, all our practice, cor- roborated by direct experiment, has convinced me beyond all doubt, that manures, eitlier liquid or solid, are nn- protitably employed when ai>plied to jilants in. the dor- mant state. In gathering the crop cautiiui must be used not to in- jure the plants by continued or excessive cutting; for it must be borne in mind that to reproduce annuiiUy its crop of shoots in spring, something must be left to grow to encourage the formation of fresh roots. In our market gardens the practice is to cut otf all the shoots as they are ready, until the middle of May or 1st of June, when the shoots begin to show signs of weakness ; then all is left to groAv and no nu^re cut. In its ].reparatiou for market the shoots are tied u\) in round buiu'hes. 'I'he size of the bunch is governed somev»'hat by the abundance of the crop, and is about four to iive inches in diameter and from seven to nine inches in length, in weight from two to three pounds, lirmly tie^l at the butts and to})s. The tying material is the matting known as Katila, as that is soft, pliable, and has the necessary strength. The proper bunching of Asparagus used to be ([Uite an art, but the "'Asparagus Buncher" (see implements) lias ren- VEGETABLES— ASPARAGUS. 127 aercd the operation so simple tluit any one ean do it ra[)idly with a few minutes practice. This crop is subject to so many conditions that an average value can hardly be given ; some of our growers here yet claim that it pays an annual clear profit of $500 per acre, while others say that it does not pay them over $200 per acre. During a period of ten years, counting from the time the bed was planted, it is safe to say that, in this vicinity, the average profits per acre will be $250. It is a crop that never fails to sell, is always productive if properly treated, and having a great value for its weight — a ton often being worth from 1200 to 1400 — it is, in all respects, a valuable crop for the market gardener. In packing Asparagus for shipping it is best packed in boxes of a depth equal to the length of the bunch or perhaps an inch deeper, because in packiug. Asparagus is placed on end, and some soft material, as moss, cotton, or soft paper should be placed on tlie top, so that should the box be turned upside down, the soft tops will not be bruised. The interstices between the bunches should also be filled in, so that the whole may be firm enough to not be injured by jarring. This is true of packing all vegetables for shipment; unless the box is packed full and firm, jarring in the handling is sure to injure them. In some localities, especially on Long Island, New York, the Asparagus Beetle {Orioceris (fsvaragi) has in- jured the crop to such an extent as to cause whole plan- tations to be plowed under. When the beetle first ap- pears it may be controlled by picking it off and destroying it ; but if allowed to become established the task is hope- less. The engraving (figure 15) shows the insect in its different stages. The lower figure is a part of a branch, with the small black eggs attached by their ends ; these are given of the natural size, and magnified. The larva, or caterpillar, as well as the perfect beetle, is shown at the top of the engraving ; tlie natural size of these is in- 138 GARDENIN"G FOE PROFIT. dicat d b}' tlie lines drawn at the side. Whenever the eggs or the larvae appear, cut and burn the plants as long lis any traces of tlie insect are to be seen; this must be done if it de- stroys every vestige of vegetation. A remedy much in use in some sec- tions is to coop up hens in the vicin- ity of Asparagus beds, and let the chickens out to pick up the larvae and insects. A certain remedy against the Asparagus beetle, it is claimed, can be made by mixing one pound of Paris green in 100 gallons of water, s})rinkling over the plants twice each Y^eek on the first appearance of the insect. The varieties of Asparagus now are confined to the " Colossal" and the " Xew Palmetto,'' already Giant," formerly so much grown, is Fig-. 15.— ASPAKAGIS BEETLE. described. The now nearlv out of cultivation. A'RTlxiKO'KE.—iCijuamScolymus.) Although a vegetable as yet rarely seen in our markets, it is extensively used in Europe, particularly in France. The portion of the plant most used is the undeveloped flower-head, or rather those portions of the flower-head called the scales of the involucre. They are sometimes boiled and used as a salad, with vinegar, oil, and salt ; but more generally in the raw stat-\ Another use of the Artichoke is to blanch it, by tying the voung'side shoots moderately close together, as we tie Endive, tilling in between with soil to exclude the air until the shoots are blanched ; this is what is known as *' Artichoke Salad/' or "Artichoke Chard;" it is used VEGETABLES — ARTICHOKE. 129 in this state in various forms of cookery, besides being used as a salad. It is a vegetable of easy culture, originally i)ropagated from seeds until a stock is secured, after which it is readily increased by suckers from the root. These are planted out in April or May, in rows from three to four feet apart, and two feet between the plants, care being taken that the plants are well firmed in planting, and if the weather is dry, they must be freely watered until they start to grow. The plantation, the first season, will only give a partial crop; but, as it is a perennial plant, after being once planted the same bed will re- main in bearing for Fifr. 16. — GREEN Gf-OBE AKTICDOKE. years. The plant may be said to be entirely hardy south of Mason and Dixon'? Line, but north of that it requires to be protected by cov- ering between the plants with six or eight inches of leaves or coarse manure. The Varieties are the Green Globe and Common Green, differing but little, except in the form of the flower-head, the former being globular, the latter conical. It is claimed by some that the Common Green is more hardy and productive, but we have grown tliem side by side for years and never have observed any dilference, except the very trifling one in the shape of the flower-head. 130 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. AETICHOKE. — Jerusalem. — (HeliantJius tuherosus.) This is au entirely different plant from tlie true Arti- choke, though it resembles it somewewhat in flavor — hence its name. It is a species of Hclianthus, or Siin- iiower, and the plant has the general appearance of a small Sunflower, 'ilie edible part of the plant is its tubers. These are like the potato in appearance, but when cooked, to the taste of most people, are very inferior in flavor. Their nutritive value is said, however, to be fully equal to that of the potato. Used in the raw state it is pickled like the cucumber, or sliced and eaten with vinegar as a sakad, but as a culinary vegetable it is but little grown, except for variety or novelty. Its culture is, in all respects, similar to the potato, but it is more productive, always free from disease, will grow almost in any soil or situation, and will stand the winter on light soils wherever a Parsnip crop will stand ; JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. for these reasons it is regarded as a valuable food for cattle or pigs, who eat it freely. It is planted largely at the West as food for sw^ine, which do their own har- vesting. Tliore are several varieties, known as Red, Piiryle, Yellow and White /Skinmd. VEGETAI3LES — BASIL — BALM — BEANS. 131 BASIL. — (Ocimum Basilicum.) An herb of a liiglily aromatic odor, and a strong flavor of cloves. It is used for flavoring soups, stows and sauces, and is by some used in salads. Its culture is the same as that of other sweet herbs. The seed should be sown in the open groitnd and not in frames, which is the English jn-actice, and necessary there from their colder climate. Sow in rows one foot apart ; when three or four inches high it may be transplanted in rows one foot aj^art and six inches between plants. If a small quantity only is required, it may be thinned out in the seed rows and left to grow where sown. There are two species cultivated, namely, the Common Sweet Basil {Ocimum Basilicum), and the Bush Basil {0. minimum). BALM. — {Melissa officiyialis.) Another well-known aromatic lierb which has a very agreeable lemon-like oclor. It is used as a tea for its soothing effect in irritations of the throat and lungs, and a century ago was used as a specific for coughs and colds. Its young shoots are sometimes used as an ingredient in salads. It is rapidly propagated by divisions of the root, which, planted in Spring at one foot apart each way, will form a solid mass by fall. Besides the common kind we have now in cultivation a beautiful variegated variety, possessing all the prop- erties of the other. BEANS. — {Phaseolus vulgaris.) — Bush, Kidney and Pole. A leading vegetable of our market gardens, and ex- tensively cultivated in every section of the country North 13;^ gaiij)i:ning foh profit. and South. AUhongh it can be grown on soils tiuit are not enviehod by nuinniv, yet, like almost every other vea'etable. it is more protitable when grown on highly cultivated hind. It is what we term a " lender" phint ; that is, one that Avill be killed by the action of slight frosts, hence it is not planted until late enough in the spring to secure it from the risk. As in a country pre- senting such ditferences of temperature as ours, no sttited date can be given at \Ahich to sow, i)erha])s no safer rule can be adojued for sowing all ** tender "* vegetables for all parts of the country than the time at Avhich our great staple. Indian Corn, is planted. This rule will be equallv intelligible to the inhabitants of Maine and to those of South Carolina, for all plant Corn, and know th.it our great enemy to early vegetation. "Jack Frost,'' will, without scruple, smite this "tender" vegetable if it be forced to grow before his icy reign is past. In this section we plant Beans for first crop when we jilant Corn, from 10th to ■■vHUh ^Lay. l^ut as the crop of Beans comes rapidly to maturity under favorable cir- cumstances, in tive or six weeks, it nuiy be sown any time from these dates until July, August, or September, ac- cording to the temperature of the district. The cidture in market gardens is simply to draw drills about three inches dee]), and from eighteen inches to two feet apart, according to the richness of the soil ; the poorer the soil the closer they can be planted. Tiie seed is dropped in the drills two or tiiree inches apart, and the soil covered in on them with the feet ; this we lind to be a quicker and better mctliod of covering m seeds of this size than by tlie hoe or rake. After the plants have grown an inch or two a cultivator is run between the roAvs, which generally is all that is necessary to be done, until they are large enough to have a little earth thrown to each side of the row by the plow, Mhieh completes their cultivation. Beans, like Tomatoes and VEGETA 15 L i:,S — BEAI^. 133 Pons, tire easy of cultivation and not particular as to soil, and are, in consequence, rarely a proli table crop in the locality in which they are grown ; lience the only way in which they are made profitable is by growini^ South and shipping JS'orth, they being easily transported. Large quanti- ties are grown in early soils in Southern sections of the country and shipped to our large Nortliern cities, and meet a rapid sale at prices that must ])ay a large prolit, if their manner of growing the crop is as simple as ours. It will be understood that this crop is almost exclusively sold in pod as snap sliorts (in the green un- ripened state) by the hucksters, and rarely as a shell bean. The varieties are now very numerous, but the following, placed in what we con- sider the order of their value to the mar- ket gardener, will embrace variety enough for all practical purposes. BEA¥.— DwAuF. Earliest RcjI Valentine— This variety is at least ten days earlier than the Early Red Valentine, which is one of the very best market varieties. On account of its great earliness it is largely grown by mar- ket gardeners ; but except in the charac- teristic of extreme earliness, it differs in no other way from the Early Red Valen- tine next described. (See figure 17.) Y\%. 17.— EARLI- EST RED VALEN- TINE BEAN. 134 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. Early Ued ValeiiliBe. — Equally desirable for either miu'ket or fiunily iu>e, biiiig early, productive, tender aud of excellent tiavor. The pods are round, somewhat curved, and the seeds, Avhon ripe, salmon speckled with purplish rose. Tliis variety is usually ready to pick in six weeks from the time of sowing. Early 3Iobawk. — A very productive early variety and one that will stand more cold than most of the bush varieties. Both this and the preceding sort are largely grown ill the Southern (States for JSorthern markets. The pods are from live to six inches long : seeds, Avhen ripe, drab with purple spots. Long" Yellow Six Weeks. — Early, very prolific, and of excellent quality. Pods, six to eight inches long ; seeds, when ripe, yellow or dun color. Kefui^ee or Thousand to One. — A very productive medium or late variety. The young pods are tender and of tine flavor. This variety is extensively grown for pickling. Seeds, speckled purple. Gallega or Larg'e Refuiree. — This is of recent intro- duction and is a larger form of the Eefagee above de- scribed. Both pods and seeds are not only much larger in size than their parent variety, but it is also a much better yielder. Seeds, when ripe, purple, speckled with white. White .llarrowfat. — The variety so often grown for sale in the dry state. It is also valued as a string bean, but is used to a greater extent as a shelled bean, either green or dry. Seeds large, ivory white. BEAN.~Wax. Black Wax. — When ripe the pods are yellow, averag- ing: from six to nine inches in lenofth. They are tender, VEGETABLES — BEAlf. kCQ and the quality is of the very best. The seeds, ripe, are glossy black. iloldcn Wax.^A strong growing, dis- tinct varietv, at least a week earlier than the Black Wax. The pods will average six inches long, are brittle and entirely stringless. As a snap bean, it perhaps excels all others in tenderness and rich- ness of flavor. Seeds, when ripe, are purj^le and white. (See figure 18.) Flageolet Wax.— The pods of this are very hirge size, often a foot in length, exceedingly tender and succulent, and enormously productive. It is equally good as a shell bean. I consider this one of the best of the Bush Beans. , when B'EA'N.—iPhaseoIus lunatus, etc.)—B\JiimNQ OR Pole. These are more tender and require rather more care in culture than the Bush Beans. The soil best suited is sandy loam, which should be liberally enriched vvith short manure in the hills, which are formed, according to yariety, from three to four feet apart, and pro- vided with a stake from eight to nine feet in height, set in the center of each. This class of beans is particularly tender, and it is perfectly useless to plant the seeds before the weather has become set- tled and warm in spring, as they are almost certain to rot, and even should they not, the plant makes no growth, unless in uninterrupted warm weather. Xv "i Fig. 18.— GOL-DEN WAX BEAN. 13G GARDEXING FOll PliOFrT. In this district they should never be phmted out until a, Aveek or more after the phmting of Bush Beans ; if phmted at the same time, lOth of May, they are almost certain to fail. From five to six seeds are planted in each hill about two inches deep. Being a vegetable requiring considera- ble expense in growing, staking, picking, etc., it brings a correspondingly high price per acre in market ; but maturing during the heat of summer, tlie advantage of earliness in this crop is not so manifest as in many others. The profits per acre average about $150, when sold for consumption in the locality in which it is grown. Shipped from earlier sections it, no doubt, would double the above amount. There are many varieties, but only a few of leading merit. Lar^e White Lima.— With nearly every one the seeds of this variety, either green or ripe, are considered the most tender and delicate of all the varieties of the bean, and it is therefore universally grown, both for market and family use. The ripe seeds are kidney shaped, and of a dull W'hite color. Jersey Extra Early Lifua,— (See figure 19.) A new yariety, said to be ten days earlier than any other sort grown in this vicinity. The pods have been in the New York market as early as July 30th, nnd sold at the rate of $3 per bushel (of pods). In size, appearance and qual- ity it is much the same as the Large White Lima. Drcer's Improved Lima. — The distinctive features of this bean are, early maturity, large yield and extra quality. The bean itself is thick, and in shape more round than oval. Scarli't Kuiiner. — A great favorite in European gar- dens, both as an ornamental plant and a useful vegetab^.e. It grows to a height of nine or ten feet, producing dazzlinsr scarlet flowers from Julv to October. Used both VEGETABLES — BEAN". 1 o^ as string beans and shelled. Seeds, when ripe, are lilac, mottled with black. A distinct species, Phaseolus miil- tiflorus. Giant Wax. — Very productiye, bearing pods from six Fig. 10. — JERSEY EXTRA EARLY LIMA BEAN. to nine inches long, of waxy color, thick and fleshy, ten- der and of good flavor. The seeds are red when ripe. Gorman Wax. — One of the best pole varieties, produc- ing large, flat pods. Ilorticiiitural or Speckled Cranberry.— One of the best of the pole sorts for use in pods. It is very produc- K)8 c:aki>i:nin(J for puokit. tivo, ;nul oi oxi'ollont quality. >vluMher served in (he i;iven st:ite ov shelled. 'The ripe beans are yellowish while, spotted with pink. BEET. -[l>cfa nil(janfi.) This is one td' the leailiiii:- and most valuable crops of our market izardens, ami, next to Cabbages, is perliaps the most extensively o-rown as an early erop. Tlie soil best suited is that whieh is rather li^ht than otherwise, always provided tliat it is tluu-ouahly enriehed bv ma- nure. We make little ditVerenee in the manner of wcu'k- ini^- ov mauurinu- the ground for any of our leading- earlv erops. The ground must, in all cases, be thoroughly jvalverized by plowing, subsoiling and harrowing, and when stable manure I'au be procured, ph^ved in at the rate o( seventy-tive to one hundred tons ])er aere. It must be borne in mind that this large quantity (»f manure is used where two erops are taken otf the land in one sea- son, for Celery always follows erops of Early Beets. Cab- bag\\'. Onions, ete. if stable manure eanmU be had. the next best substitutes must be used in the quantities speeitied in Chapter on Manures. As early in s}n'ing as the ground becomes tit to work, the Beets are nsuallv sown in rows one foot apart, made by the ••marker." about t liree inches deep. We prefer to sow rather thickly by hand (not less than eight juninds jier acre), for the reason that lute frosts often kill otf a jiortion of the young plants ; but when sown thickly, enough is generallv left to make a crop whieh amply repays the ditl'erence of a few pounds of seed. After sowing, the seed is pressed in by the feet (see "I'se of the Feet in Sowing and Planting," page Oil), and if the weather is dry, the whole surface is also rolled, which firms the soil better around the seed and also leaves the ground level., makino- it easier VEGET/VBLEH — BEET. 139 to bo hood. This firriiiii^ ol! Boot seed is voi'y irnpor- tiirit, as liLiudrods of acros, partioulaHy of tlio Su^ar iJoot, ^rown on the farm for stook, are annually lost for want of this precaution, lioots are occasionally p]antod two feet apart, and the intervening row sown witli Uadislios. 'i'he Kadishes mature early, and are used or sold off soon enough to allow more room for the Boot cror). It makes but little dilference with us in the profits oi! the crop which way it is done, the results being nearly the same in each case. But in places whore but limited quantities of vegetables can be dis|)ose(l of, perhaps the latter plan is the best. The young lioots are thinned out to six inches apart when the rows an; one foot apai't, but wh(;n at two foot to only four inches, a:; they have more spiice botwoon the rows for air. ^J'he thinnings of the Jioots are used like Spinach, and, when carefully handled, they will always sell for more than the cost of the labor of thinning the ci'op. In this neigh})orlj(jod, Beets sown first week in April are begun to bo marketed the first week in June and en- tirely cleared olf by July 1st, when the ground is pre- pared for the second cro[). It will be understood that they are, at this oaidy date, sold in an immature state, before the root has reached complete development ; but the great point is earliness, the public being well satis- fied to pay more for it half-grown, if early, than when full-grown, if late. This crop I have always considered a voiy profitable one, even at the seemingly low price of seventy-five cents })or 100 roots, the average wholesale price in New York markets. But 80,000 roots are grown per acre when sown at one foot apart, and although the labor of |)ull- ing and bunching up is greater than in some crops, yet at seventy-five cents per 100 it will give an easy profit of |>250 per acre. Beets are an excellent article to ship, and the price 140 gardektnCt for profit. paid in New York for the first lots from Savannah and Norfolk, etc., is often as high as 12 per 100 roots. The foregoing all relates to the crop in the green state for an early market, but they are also extensively grown for use in fall, winter and spring. For this they are usually sown later, often in some sections as a second crop, as late as July 1st, although in the Northern States the roots hardly develop enough when sown after June. The manner of sav- ing them in w^inter will be found under the head of Pre- serving Vegetables inWinter. Fiff. 20. — EGYPTIAN TURNIP BEET. Fiff. 31.— ECLIPSE BEET. The really useful varieties of Beets are very limited in number, and are embraced in the following, arranged as usual, according to their merit as market sorts: Egyptian Turnip.— (See figure 20.) Now a standard sort, being from ten to twelve days earlier than the old Blood Turnip. The roots are large in size and of a rich, deep crimson color. From the smallness of the tops at least one-fourth more can be grown on the same space than of any other sort we have been in the habit of raising. Eclipse. — (See figure 21.) A new variety that bids fair to rival the Egyptian as an early market sort. It is just about as early as the Egyptian, but is larger and of very VEGETABLES — BEET. 141 much finer quality. It makes a comparatively small top and the roots are of the globe form shown in the illus- tration. Our market gardeners in the vicinity of New York claim that it is bound to be the leading market sort. Bastian's Blood Tsn-iiip. — After the fi Egyptian and Eclipse varieties, this is prob- \^^fhf!0^ ably the earliest Beet in cultivation. In ^^V|f!S/^ shape it is very similar to the Early Blood Turnip described below. Early iUood Turnip. — A well-known variety, folio wiug the Egyptian and Eclipse in earliness. It is a deep red color, and of excellent quality. Dewing's Improved Blood Twniip,— This is simply an improved variety of the Early Blood Turnip, with the roots of a deep blood-red color, and fine form and flavor. An excellent market sort. Long, Sinaoth Blood,— (See figure 22.) A great improvement on the common Blood Beet, being less strong and freer from root- lets, besides being a week earlier. It is now grown liere to tiie entire exclusion of the other. The market demand, however, for ^^f early crops requires twice the quantity of ^^ round to that of lono^ beets ; for late sales W of barreled roots exactly the reverse quan- n titles are needed. Fig. 22.-long, Swiss Chard.— A distinct species from ^'^^^^^^ ^^^^^ the common Beet, which is grown for its roots, while the former is cultivated solely for its leaves. The midrib of the leaf is stewed as Asparagus, the other portions of the leaf being used as Spinach. The outer leaves are pulled otf as in gathering Rhubarb. It is largely grown in France and Switzerland. In this coun- 142 GARDENING FOU TROFIT. try it is now cnltivatod to some extent in private gar- dens only. Its handsome leaves are as attraetive as many of our prized tlower garden "foliage plants,'' and no doubt it would be mueh valued if \\e eould only regard it without the idea of its beiuu' oulv a l>eet. BOEECOLE OR KAL^.—iBrassica ohracca. Var.) A variety of this, reeeiving the rather iudelinile term of ''Sprouts,*' is extensively grown for the Northern markets, many aeres of it being eultivated in the vit-iniiy of Xew York. It is sown in the month of September in rows one foot apart, treated in every way as Spinaeh, and is ready for use in early spring. It is difficult to keep in some soils in winter : those of rather a light nature being the best. When sueeessfully "wintered over, it is a very profitable ero]). not unfrequently selling for 8500 })er aere. The variety thus grown is known iu the seed stores as Dwarf German Greens. Another class of it is cultivated as we o-row late Cabbau'e ; it is sown in the oik^'u UTound in May, and planted oui: at distances, according to the varietv, from two to three feet apart. Of all the Cabbaue tribe this is tlie most tender and delicate, and it is si.r- prising that it has never yet been wanted in cpiantitv' enough to make it a marketable vegetable, not one head being sold to one thousand of the coarse winter Cabbage. The varieties are very numerous ; those below described are all standard sorts. •• Sil)( riaii Ihvarf (iiiied Kale," •• Ihvnf Gcrmau Greens,'* or ••Sprouts." — (See Hgure t23.) The leaves are of a bluish green, resembling somewhat the foliage of the Ivuhi Baga Turnip. It is of delicate flavor and in every way desirable. It is the popular market variety. This IS the kind o-rown exactlv as Spinach ; it is culti- vated in inunense (piantities South for Korthern markets. VEGETABLES — BORECOLE. 143 Very Early Dwarf.— A new variety that is said to be of special excellence. The leaves are of a yellowish green color, very dwarf and finely curled. It grows very close to the ground. Dwarf (jJrcen (burled Scotch. — A dwarf variety, rarely exceeding eighteen inches in height, but spreading out yH *:"> J-A'' tn^ Fig:. 23.— GERMAN GREENS. under good cultivation to three feet in diameter. The leaves are beautifully curled and of a bright green. This variety is very hardy and will remain over winter in any place where the temperature does not fall below zero. It is most tender after being touched by sharp frost. This is the variety used in the famous Scotch dish of ^' beef and greens." Purple Borecole. — Similar to the above in all respects except the color, which is a dull purple. This is the va- 144 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT, riety most esteemed by the Germans. It is very liardy and is often seen in the markets of New York as late as Jannary. BB,OCJCOLI. — [Brassica oleracea. Var.) This vegetable is so closely allied to Cauliflower that it seems absurd to have ever divided them under different heads. Still, we persist in growing them under the names of Broccoli and Cauliflower, the Broccoli being planted for fall use, Cauliflower, on the other hand, being mostly planted for summer use, although it is well known that their seasons might be reversed without any marked dif- ference in the results. Like all of the Cabbage tribe, Broccoli, to grow it in perfection, requires the soil to be in the highest possible degree of fertility. The seed should be sown, in this district, in the early part of May, which will give plants large enough to be transplanted m July. I'arther south the sowing should be delayed until June or July, and the transplanting delayed accordingly until August, September, or October. There is no doubt that in parts of the country where the thermometer does not fall below twenty or twenty-five degrees above zero, Broccoli may be had "in perfection from November un- til March. A necessary condition of perfect development is a moist and rather cool atmosphere ; for this reason we only get the crop in fine condition, in this district, during the cool and moist months of October and November. Owing often, however, to heat or dryness in the months of August and September, the crop becomes an entire failure, and for this reason, for market purposes, it is rather hazardous. When a good crop is made, however, it is very profitable, rarely bringing less than $8 per 100, or about $800 per acre ; but as the crop in this sec- tion fails two seasons out of three, it is not considered a VEGETABLES — BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 145 desirable one to plant. The plants of most of the varie- ties are set out two and a half by one and a half feet, or about 10,000 plants per acre. In this district, for market purposes, we confine our- selves to the first two varieties named below ; some others, however, are occasionally grown for family use. V/hite €ape. — Heads of medium size, close, compact, and of a creamy Avhite color ; one of the most certain to head. Purple Cape. — Nearly similar in all respects to the White Cape, except in color, which is greenish-purple. This variety is rather hardier than the preceding, but its color renders it of less value in market, White Heads of the same quality bringing $1 to $2 more per 100. This is a mere matter of fancy in the buyers, however, as, when cooked, there is but little difference in its appearance from the White, and none whatever in the flavor. Early Walchereil. — This variety seems to produce its heads earlier than tlie preceding, but they are not usually so heavy or compact. This variety so closely resembles a Cauliflower that it is not easy to .^ay in what respect it differs from one. In England, where the Broccoli is much more grown than with us, this variety is sown every few weeks, in order to keep up a constant supply. The English catalogues enumerate some thirty or more varieties, and each year adds to the list. BRUSSELS SPEOTJTS.— (^rassica oleracea. Var.) This vegetable has never come into general use in this country, probably owing to its being too tender to stand the winters oi the Northern States. Still, by sowing in April or May, and planting out in July, it may be had 146 CARDENIN^G FOE PEOFIT. in fine condition UDtil December; and, in the Southern States, may be had in use from November to March. Even in England, where it is very extensively grown, it is not much raised for market, being mainly cultivated for private use. Its cultivation is very simple, and it can be grown on almost any soil. Plant about two feet apart, and cultivate as for Cabbages. Brussels Sprouts are readily distingnished from all other varieties of the Cabbai>"e tribe by the sprouts or buds, about the size of walnuts, which grow thicklv around the stem. These Fig. 24.— BRUSSELS SPROUTS, sprouts arc the parts used, and are equal in tenderness and flavor to Cauliflower or Broc- coli. CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWES. Cabbage is much easier managed than Ciiiiliflower, and is consequently more certain of giving a crop, even under unfavorable conditions. The first condition of success with the Cabbage crop, like that of nearly every other vegetable, is the right kind of soil. The best soil for Cabbage is a rather sandy loam, not less than ten inclies deep, the subsoil under which should be sand or gravel — a clayey or stiff subsoil is uncongenial to almost every crop. It may bo superfluous to say that unless the soil for Cabbage is drained artincially or natur- ally (by a sand or gravel subsoil), that success is impos- sible. This, of course, is true of nearly every crop grown. The propor pulverizing of the soil is a matter of VEGETABLES — CABBAGE AN^D CAULIFLOWER. L47 the utmost importance. Although ma-ny of the hirgo market gardens in England are yet dug with the spade or digging fork, it is rare that anything else is used with us than the plow and harrow. We ourselves are so satisfied of the superiority of the plow as a pulverizer of the soil over the spade or digging fork, that we would not allow our grounds, for any purpose, to be dug, even if done for nothing, and no digging is ever done on our grounds in any spot where horses can bo worked. Experience has shown us that it is always beneficial for the Cabbage crop to plow land in the fall, not only be- cause when thus thrown up in ridges it gets pulverized by the action of the frost, but also that the turning up of the soil exposes the larvae and eggs of insects also to the frost, which tends greatly to lessen their numbers the suc- ceeding year. Manure for the early Cabbage crop should always be spread on broadcast, and in quantity not less than 100 cart loads, or seventy-five tons to the acre, which will leave it^. when spread, about two or three inches in thick- ness. It is not unusual that much choice can be made in stable manure, but when such is the case, equal por- tions of cow and horse manure are preferable, not that there is much difference in value, weight for weight, but that it is advantageous to have the manure of the cow stable mixed with that of the horse, so as to prevent the violent heating of the horse manure, which, if not repeatedly turned, will generate heat so as to cause it to '^ fire fang" or burn, which renders it comparatively use- less. Always bear in mind that the more tiioroughly rotted and disititegrated manure can be had, the better will be the results. When manure is thoroughly rotted and -short, it maybe turned in by the plow Just as it is spread on the land, but if long, it is necessary to draw it into the furrow ahead of the plow, so that it is completely covered in. After plowing in the manure, 148 G.VlvDEXlNCi FOR rUOlMT. iiiul bcfovG the grouiul is harrowod, our best cTOWcrs in the vicinity of New York sow from -.100 to oDO pounds of guano or bone dust, and then barrow it in deeply, and smooth oYor Avith the baek o( the barrow, when the bed is ready to receive I lie plants. In the vicinity of jNew York, and. in fact, now wbor- C'ver the business of nuirkot .gardening is intelligently followed, the two best kinds of Cabbage for the carli/ crop are recognized (o be the "l^ariy dersey Wakeiield" ami *' Henderson's Early Summer" for general culture, untl to describe others of the scores* na.nuHi would be only confusing. "Jersey Wakeiield" is the earliest and a little the smallest, and is planted usually twenty-eight inches bi~twi\Mi the rows and sixteen inches biMwcen the plants, thus requiring from 10,000 to l*-2,000 plants per aiM'c. " l^]arly Summer" grows a little larger, and should be planted thirty inches apart and eighteen inches between phmts, recpiiring from 8,000 to 10,000 per i\c\\\ The reason for placing the rows so wide apart and the plants so close in the rows, is to admit of a row of licttuce. Spinach Or Ivailishes between the rows of C^abbage. All of these vegetables mature (piickly, and can be cut out before the Cabba2:e i^rows enou-rh tt) inter- fere with them, and it is necessary that this double crop should be taken olf the land so as to hel[) })ay for the manure that is so lavishly used, but which is absolutely necessary to produce a good crop of Cabbages. A^'here early Cabbtiges are grown alom\ tluMi it would be better to plant about two (>r two and a half feet each way, so that cross cultivatit)n can be done ; and also in cases where manure in sullicient quantities is not attainable, they are better thus planted when manure has to be a]^]dieil in the hill. If applied in the liill, a good shov- elful of stable manure should be used to each, mixing it wi»ll with the soil, but raising the "hill,'' so-called, no higher than the generivl surface. VEGKTAIJLKS — CAIJM Adi: AMD (' A H IJ FLOW Kit. 140 'I'licrc iiiis IxM'ii !i Wiiiil loii^' h'M l>y niuiiy of Uh; iiiarUiifc gardciKji'H jiikI (I'lidau's I'oi* a vai'ioly of (Jal>l)M;L;() whicli would c-Dnic ill al'icr Uk; l^^ai'ly SiiniFDci' ami Ix'I'oih! ajiy of ilu! laUj soi'ls, hutsiicli a Horl, willi all I Ik; '•liMractc'istiea ol! IJjo lI(!ii(l(;rsoirs l^]arly SiiMiriiei-, of slandiii;^ wilJioiifc l)ursl;iii<(, of Ikuiii^ lalcf, a.nd (;oii,s(!(jii(;iiily lar^(U', is hard to obLaiii. Throii^dj (Jui luodiiuii, liowcivcr, ol* the Hiuwa i>()()(| IViciid wlio lirst hi'oiiiiht to our fiol ico th(! !I('iid(M-- Kon's J^^aiiy Suniiucr, Mi*. Ahi-aliaiii Van Si(;kluii, of I^i^ng Island, wo think w(! will ho ahhf, within another year, to pi-oscnt to tliu ))ni)Ii(; a vai'ioty ol; (Jahh;i;,^o which will exactly supply this ion^-IVlt want. 'IMiaJ, is, of a (Ja))!)af^e to suec(;ed the l^ariy Suninici', hcin^' ahout two \v(!(d\S lat(!r than the av(!i-a<;e crop of that variety, lar^'er, and with all its good eharaet(!risti(;s of standing in the fHtld without bursting and of regularity in hahit, (dose gi'ow- ingaiul sure heading. 1 have not yd uiiukmI this variety, as 1 wish anothci- season'K test of it ij('ror(! de(;iirneH happ(!ns that aft(;r the ti"ans})lanting is finished to Octo- ber (we usually /jcr/in the ti'ansplantirig in the frames about the 15th), that we have a continuation of com- 150 GAKDEXIJifCT FOR PROFIT. paratively warm ^vcatlior, whii.']i induces a quick and soft growth in the phints, which, of course, renders them very susceptible to injury from frost. When in that condition we have seen them injured when the thermo- metor only marked twenty-seven above zero, or but live degrees of frost ; while if gradually hardened by being- exposed to chilly nights, they wouKl receiye no injury, even when the thermometer marks ten or twelve above zero. This will be well understood when we remember that in midwinter, when covered with sash alone, they sustain a cold often for days together of ten degrees helow zero, but then of course they have been gradually inured to it. In sections of the country where the ther- mometer falls to tifteen or twenty degrees below zero, it will be necessary to use straw mats or shutters over the glass. At all times from the time of putting sashes on in fall until taking them off in spring (which is usually from March loth to iVpril 1st), abundant ventilation should be given, so as to render them as hardy as pos- sible. The sure indication that they are in the "frost proof"' condition is, when the leaves show a bluish color, Avhich they get wlien they have been gradually hardened off. xVlthough the most of the Jersey market gardeners still use the cold frames for growing the bulk of their early Cabbage crop, of late years the system of spring sowing and transplanting, and sometimes even without transplanting, is also used to a considerable extent. For full instructions on this point, see page 51, '"Spring Eaising of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce.'" In the latitude of New York, Cabbage planting is ■usually begun about the •■?5th of March and finished by middle of April. It must always be borne in mind that Cabbage, being a very hardy plant, when wanted for an earlv crop, its setting out in spring should be done in any section as soon as the land is dry enough to work. As a guide, we may say that whenever spring crops of VEGETABLES — CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER. 151 Eyo, Wheat or Oats caii bo sown, Cabbage may safely be planted in the open field, for if plants have been properly hardened they will not be injured after being planted out even by eight or ten degrees of frost. The conditions in the different Southern States are so varied that it is not easy to give directions. It may be taken, however, as a general rule that in any section of the country wliere the thermometer does not fall lower that fifteen ahove zero, the seed for Cabbage plants should be sown about October 1st, left (without cover- ing) in the seed-beds all winter, and transplanted to the open ground as soon as it is fit to work in spring, say January or February. In sections wdiere the fall weather continues fine into November, transplanting is done in that month to where the crop is to mature. Great loss is often occasioned in mild seasons in the Southern States, by Cabbages, particularly tlie favorite variety — " Early Summer " — running to seed. As a remedy against this clanger I would advise sowing from two to four weeks later than the usual time, in such a way as they could be covered in cold niglits only with muslin, or, what is better, the new protecting cloth ; these will answer all the pur- poses of sashes at one-tenth of their cost. I refer to this cloth more fully in another portion of this work. After planting in the field, no crop takes so kindly to hoeing or cultivating as the Cabbage. In ten days after the planting is finished, cultivation should begin. If the Cabbages have been set two or two and a half feet apart each way, then the horse cultivator is the best pulver- izer, but if a crop has been sown or jDlanted between the rows of Cabbage, then a hand or wheel hoe can only be used — we ourselves now use the Planet Jr. Wheel Hoe exclusively, and find it a saving of three-fourths in labor, with the work better done. The price at which early Cabbage is now sold varies so much at different dates, and in different parts of the 162 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. coiiiitry, that it is impossible to give auytbiiig like accu- rate fjgnres, the range being all the way from $2 to $12 per 100. Perhaps 81 would be a fair average for *■* "Wakefield " and 85 for '* Early Summer." so that counting 11,000 as the average per acre of the former [lud 9,000 of the latter, we have respectively 8110 per iicre for *' Wakefield" and 8150 for ••Early Summer." These are the wholesale prices for large ma.rkets like N^ew York. In smaller cities, where the prv)duct is sold direct to the consumer, one-third moi*e would likely be obtained. LATE CABBAGES are such as mature during the months of September, ■ October and Xovember, the seed for which is sown in open ground in May or June. Perhaps the best date for sowing for main crop is about the 1st of June. We al- wavs prefer to sow Cabbage seed for this purpose in rows ten or twelve inches apart, treading in the seed with the feet, after sowing and before covering ; we then level with a rake lengthwise with the rows and roll or beat down with the back of a spade, so as to exclude the air from the soil and from the seed. Sown in this wav. Cabbage seed will come up strongly in the driest weather, and is less likely to be afflicted with the black flea than if it made a feeble growth. When the plants get too tall, mow two or three inches off the tops, which Avill make them stouter and stronger rooted. As the gronndused for late Cabbage only yields oue crop, unless manure is cheap and abundant, it will not often pay to use it in the profusion required for early Cabbages, so that it is usual to manure in the hill, as is done for earlv crops, if with stable manure, but when that is not attainable, some concentrated fertilizer, such as bone dust or guano sliould be used, giving a good handful for each hill, but being careful, of course, to mix it well with the VEGETABLES — CABBAGE AXD CAULIFLOVVEK. 153 soil for about nine or ton inches deep and wide. In this way about 300 j)ounds per acre will be needed, when 6,000 or 7,000 plants are set on an acre. In our prac- tice we find nothing better than pure bone dust and guano mixed together. In transjjlauting Cabbages from the seed-bed to the open field in summer, the work is usually done in a dry and hot season — end of June or July — and here again we give our oft-repeated warning of the absolute neces- sity of liaving every plant properly firmed. If the plant- ing is well done with the diljber, it may be enough, but it is often not well done, and as a measure of safety, it is always best to turn back on the rows after i^lanting and press alongside of each plant with the foot. This is quickly done, and it besides rests the planter, so that he* can start on tlie next row with greater vigor. In some sections of the country, particularly in the New England States, six or eight Cabbage seeds are planted in the hills, and when of the height of two or three inches, are thinned out to one plant in each hill. This we think not only a slower method, but is otherwise objectionable, inasmuch as it compels the manure to be placed for three or four weeks in the ground before the plant can take it up, to say nothing of the three or four weeks' culture necessary to be done before the seedlings in the hill get to the size of the plants when set out. The cultivation of late Cabbage is, in all respects, similar to that of early, except as it is usually planted alone ; the work of cultiva- tion is done entirely by the horse cultivator, the rows and plants in the rows being, according to the kind, from twenty-four to thirty inches apart. There are a great number of kinds offered in the different seed lists, but experienced cultivators confine themselves to but very few kinds. These we give in the order m which they are most approved : ** Henderson's Selected Flat Dutch," '^American Drumhead," and ^ ' Marblehead Mammoth." 154 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. Ill addition to these, the ^'American Drumhead Savoy'' is grown to a cousideriible extent, and it is really surprising that it is not gTo\Yn to the exclusion of nearly all other sorts, as it attains to nearly as much weight of crop, is much more tender, and finer in llavor. The "Green (Scotch " and '' Brown German Kale*' belong to the Cab- bage family, but do not form heads. The curled leaves of the whole plant can be used, and are, lilio the '* Savoy," much finer in flavor than the plain headed cal)- biiges, particularly after having been subjected to frost. KEEPING CABBAGES IN WINTER. It is best to leave late Cabbages out as late as possible, provided they can be lifted before being frozen in. In this latitude they can be safely left out until the third week in November. They are then dug or pulled up, accord- ing to the nature of the soil, and turned upside down — the roots up, the heads down — just where they have been growing, and the heads placed closely together in beds, six: or eiirht feet wide, with allevs of about same width between, care being taken to have the ground leveled, so that the Cabbages will set evenly together. They can be left in this vray for three or four weeks, or as long as the ground remains so that it can be dug in the alleys between the beds, the soil from which is thrown in on the beds of Cabbage, so that when finished they have a covering of six or seven inches of soil, or sufficient to cover up the roots completely. Sometimes they are cov- ered up immediately on being lifted, by plowing a fur- row, shoveling it out wide enough to receive the heads, then plowing so as to cover up, and so on till beds six or eight feet wide are thus formed. This plan is the quickest, but it has the disadvantage, if the season proves mild, of having the Cabbages covered up by the soil too soon, and hence more danger of decay. After the ground is frozen, stable litter, straw or leaves, to the depth of VEGETABLES — CABBAGE AND CAULIFLOWER. 155 three or four inclies, should be thrown over the Cabbage beds, so as to prevent excessive freezing, and to facilitate the getting at the Cabbages in hard weather. INSECTS ATTACKING THE CABBAGE. Tlie insects that attack the Cabbage tribe are various, and for some of them we regret to say that we are almost helpless in arresting their ravages. Young Cabbage plants in fall or in hot-beds in spring, are often troubled with the Aphis, or, as it is popularly known, the '^ Green fly," or *' Green louse." This is easily destroyed by hav- ing the plants dusted over once or twice with tobacco dust. This same insect, of a blue color, is often disas- trous to the growing crop in the field, and, on its first ap])earanco, tobacco dust should be applied, as, of course, if the Cabbage is headed up, it could not be used ; hence, it is always best to apply it as a preventive remedy. Another insect which attacks them in tJiese stages is a species of slug, or small caterpillar — a green, glutinous insect, about one-fourth or one-half an inch in length. This is not quite so easily destroyed as the other, but will succumb to a mixture of one part white hellebore to four parts lime dust, sprinkled on thick enough as to slightly whiten the plants. This same remedy we have found to be the most effica- cious in preventing the ravages of the '^ Black Flea," or ^^ Jumping Jack," that is often so destructive to Cabbage plants sown or planted in open ground during May and June, but in this case its application may have to be repeated daily often for two weeks. Another most troublesome insect is the Caihage cater- pillar, which often attacks the crop when just beginning to head. This is the larva of a species of small w^hite butterfly, which deposits its eggs on the crop in May or June. When fields of Cabbage are isolated, or where neighbors can be found to act in unison, the best jjlan is 150 GARDEXIXU FOR PROFIT. to cutcli the bnttorUies with an insect-catching net as soon as they show ihoniselves. This is tlio most effective anil quickest way to get rid of them. However, if that lias been neglected, the caterpillar can be destroyed by dusting white hellebore on the Cabbages, but, of course, this cannot be done when the heads are matured enough to be reatly to use, as the hellebore is to some extent poi- sonous, thougli if used when the plants are about half grown, it will do no luirm, as the rains will have washed it oif sufficiently bv the time they head up. The insects hero described are not, probably, all that afflict the Cab- bage crop. A letter just received from a gentleman in ^[ontgomery, Alabama, says that the young Cabbage plants in that region are often swept off in twenty-four hours by a small green worm — a species of slug or eater- pillar, no doubt. The remedy for all such is white helle- bore powiler, which had better bo dusted on the plants once a week, as a preveutirc, liefore the insect makes its appearance. In fact, all remedies against insects are best used as preventives, or, at least, on their first appearance. But the insect enemies that attack the nwls of the Cabbage are not so easy to destroy. In fact, with the Wire Worm and CaMage Mmigot we are almost helpless, as far as my experience has gone. For the latter, which is the worst enemy, a remedy has recently been recom- mended to me which as yet I have not tested. It is to make a hole with the dibber five or six inches deep, close to each root, and dro}) into it nine or ten drops of bi- sulphide of- carbon, closing up the hole again. Last year the Cabbage and Caulitlower in our "trial grounds " were attacked by the Cabbage maggot at the roots early in May. A small handful of Peruvian guano was at once strewn around each })lant and hoed in around the roots; this at once started an unusual vigor of growth, which sustained the plants until they matured excellent heads. Understand, the guano did not injure VEGETABLES— CABBAOE AND rAULIFLOWER. 157 the insect; it only oiuihlod the Ctibhagc to outgrow its attack. This season (188G), after plowing our Cabbage ground, wo gave it a heavy dressing of lime, thick enough to almost completely wliiten the ground. Tiiis was thoroughly harrowed in, [ind to further help against the attack of tlie maggot, after the plants had been set out three or four weeks, we removed the earth around the stem, and again sprinkled a little lime around it. This has com])letely sto})ped the attack of the maggots, for, in a portion of a neighbor's field adjoining, the mag- gots have nearly destroyed the crop. But one of the best preventives against the maggot is to plant early, so that the pUints get strong enough to overcome their attack. Our market gardeners here rarely have trouble with their main early crops, which are planted last of March or first week in April. In our own trial grounds, having to wait until our samples come in, we do not get our seeds of early Cabbage and Cauli- fiower sown until first week in March, which is a month too late, hence the lijibility of the too tender plants to the attack of the maggot. One of the most common mis- takes of the inexperienced market gardener is, to delay the planting of early Cabbage too late. Many of them in this latitude delay planting until May, which, if the ground is dry enough to work, had far better be done in April. For the destruction of the insect which causes the excrescence known as "club root" in Cabbage, a heavy dressing of lime in fall and spring will check it to a great extent. In- fact, on lands adjacent to the shores of New York Bay, where the soil is mixed with oyster shells, ''club root" is rarely seen. Cabbage having been grown on some fields, successively, for fifty years, Avithout a trace of it being seen, showing that the insect which causes the "club root" cannot exist in contact with lime : for it is 158 GAKDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. fouiui on lands whore tlioro is no 03'stor slioll deposit, a qniivter of a mile distant, where Oabbag-cs eannofc be grown two years in siiceession on the same land, niiless heavily dressed with lime, and even then, it is always deemed safest never to plant Cabbages two years in snooL^ssion on the same gronnd ; for, while sneh crops as onions show bnt little benetit by rotation with other crops. Cabbages perhaps more than anything else, are benetited by sneh alternation, and when it can be done, nothing is better than to let the Cabbage crop be alternated with a greou crop, sneh as German ^[illet, Timothy or Clover, or else a crop of Oats or Rye. This is the method pnrsned by many of the Long- Island market i^-ardeners, who arow for the New York market, where their lands are elieap enough to allow them to do so. But the gardeners of Hudson County, New Jersey, whieh is in sight of New York City, whoso lands now are limited in area, and for which an average of 150 i)er acre rent is paid ])er annum, cannot well afford to let their lands lay thus comparatively idle, and, in conseqnence, do not now raise as tine crops as the lands thus '* rested " by the grass or grain crops. If the land for the Cabbage crop is of a kind suitable to grow a good crop of Corn or Potatoes, and is tilled or fertilized in the manner advised, it is rare indeed that a crop will fail to head, if the plants are in good condition and have been ])roperly j)lanted, unless they are attacked, by the maggot or "club root." In our trial gronnd, where over a hundred different sorts of Cabbage are tested each year, we hayo found that every kind of Cab- bage tested, early or late, has produced s(did heads, showing tliaf when the conditions are ritfht, all kinds of Cabbaqes will Jwad up and produce a crop, though, of course, some are earlier, larger and heavier than others — hence, the value of known selected kinds. A circumstance came under our notice in the summer VEUETAIJLKS — CABBAGE AXD CAULIFLOWER. 159 of 1882, wliicli well illustrates ilio necessity for care in planting. We had sold, some time in February, a large lot of our '^ E;irly Summer" Cabbage seed to two market gardeners in Jiochester, N. Y. The orders were filled from the same bag of seed. Some time about the end of June one of the market gardeners wrote, saying that he had e\ i- dently got some spurious kind of Cabbage from us, as his neighbor was marketing his crop, while in his own field of ten acres, he luid not a head fit to cut, nor was there any appearance of their ever being so, he thought. Inves- tigation showed that no Maggot, "club root," or other insect was affecting the roots ; the land was nearly iden- tical with that which had made a successful crop, and had been erpially well manured and cultivated. So the only probable solution of the matter was, that the i)lants in the case of failure had been loosely planted ixwd had failed to mxake a prompt start, as in the other case where the planting had been properly done, so that while the one lot advanced without a check, the grouth of the other lot was arrested. This was undoubtedly the case, for there could be no cause for the difference unless on some such hypothesis. Hut there was a fortunate sequel to the case. It luckily happened that a heavy rainstorm occurred while the Cabbngos were yet in this unheaded condition. This started, as it were, a second growth, which resulted'in. their forming splendid heads by August 1st, at a time when Cabbages were scarce, wdiich, luckily for the owner, brought a much iiigher price than if they had matured at the proper season in June or July. The result was fortunate for us who had sold the seed, for had it not rained so opportunely, tlie crop might never have headed up, and it would then have been hard to convince the man that he had not been furnished with a s])ii lions kind of seed. What has been advised for Cabbage crops, either early or late, is exactly the culture necessary for a crop of Cauliflower, except that Cauli- 160 garde:n-ing for profit. flower, being a plant of more delicate constitution, it re- quires to be more carefully handled ; for, where tlie Cabbage plants in the cold frames will safely keep over winter in this latitude with no covering but the glass sash, Cauliliower plants require the use of straw mats over the sashes, as the plant is much more easily hurt by frost. In fact, in our increased experience, we find that it is better not to keep the plants through the winter ; those sown in February and transplanted into cold frames in March, and planted in the open ground in April, as recommended in the Chapter headed "Spring Kaising of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Lettuce,'' doing rather better and costing much less in labor. The plants, however, must be started early enough, so that they can be set out not later than middle of April, for if not rooted well before warm weather sets in, they will either ''button'' — that is, form small stunted flowers — or else fail entirely to head up. Cauliflower delights in a cool atmosphere, and never does well when the season is hot and dry, unless complete irriga- tion can be given when the plant is about half grown. If this can be done the crop is certain. We ourselves grew in this manner nearly an acre for many years, the crop selliug for an average of 81, '200 per acre annually, and that was before we had introduced the nov/ famous variety known as '' Henderson's Early Snowball," which is ahead of all other kinds in its certaiuty to make a crop. The next in succession to this, is the ''Early Erfurt," which is again sncceededby the "Early Paris," but neither of these in any respect is equal to the "Snowball." For late crop, the varieties known as "Algiers" and "Erfurt" are the kinds usually grown. The plants are obtained by sowing at the same dates as for late Cabbages. It is planted three feet each way and cultivated exactly m^ late Cabbages and often sells as high as ^25 per 100 m November and December. We are of VEGETABLES — CABBAGE A:^D CAULIFLOWER. 161 the opinion, however, that the ^^ Snowball," of which twice the number can be grown per acre, will prove a more profitable crop even for late, than the '^ Algiers," as it is assuredly more certain to form heads. It is not once in twenty years that a variety of vegetables or fruit makes such an advance in earliness and quality as this ^"^ Snowball" Cauliflower, and we have much satis- faction in the knowdedge that w^e were the first to bring it into cultivation about five years ago. It is now grown to almost the entire exclusion of all other early kinds of Cauliflower in this country, and hundreds have succeeded, both North and South, in raising a cro}) from this variety, who had previously completely failed with all other kinds. In Cauliflowers, as in Cabbages, it is folly to attempt the experiment of many kinds. Long- experience has taught us that two or three of each for early and second early is all sufficient. Although our seed catalogues enumerate scores of kinds, gardeners who know what they are about, fight shy of all except those whose merit has been proved beyond any question of a doubt. For this reason we only give the names of such as we 1c7iow to be the best. As yet nearly all CauUfiower. seed is imj)orted, as we have not yet been successful in raising it here so as to give satisfactory results, our climate seeming to be un- suited for the growth of the seed. But Cabbage seed is almost exclusively grown here. Though the imported seed costs less than half the price, we rarely have found it safe enough to risk it for market garden crops ; the American grown Cabbage seeds should be exclusively used. 1Q2 GAKDEXlXOr FOU PROFIT. VARIETIES OF CABBAGE.-E.vkly. Early Jersey Wakefieid.— The tirsi notoriety that this variety attained was when we th-st Avrote ** Gardening for Protit." That was nearly twenty years ago. and sineo tlun it lias ileservedly taken the tirst plaee as an early market variety. To most growers the merits and ehar- aeteristies of the variety are so well known as to hardly need re|Hvating here, but for the benelit of those who may not be familiar witli it, we would say that it is univers- Fing its merits may be mentioned its large size of head, small outside foliage, and its uniformity m prodiieing a crop. The lu\uls are pyramidal in shape, having a blunted or rounded i^eak. A fcAV 3'ears after the introduction of the Wakefield Cabbage, we found that it broke into over a dozen sub- varieties, of varying size of leaf and shape of head, and, woi'so tlum all, o![ varying oailiness. Ko matter how VEGETABLES — CABBAGE. 1G3 carefully v/o selected the IicskIh that we used for seed, tlic same diHieulty occurred. A few miles inland, some- where near the Orange Mountain, New Jersey, we found that an old German was alwiiys ahead of us in having the first Wakefields in New York market, and these, too, of a uiiifoi'mily in shape that none of us nearer the city C(juld iiroduce. All inducements to get him to sell seed were disregarded, and year after year he kept the lead. Several plans were laid to circumvenf; him, such as order- ing a hundred of his Cabbages with roots on. But old Carl was not to be caught so. lie filled the order to the letter, making the buyer pay roundly for the rootj, but took the liberty of first dipping them in boiling water ! l^ut one day he invited 'a frieiid and countryman to see his wonderful Cabbages as they .grew. This was a fatal day for Carl's moiioj)oly, for his friend had his eyes about him. and observed that several of the stumps from which the earliest heads had been cut, were marked with a stake, as were a few of the choicest shape, as yet uncut. The secret was out. Carl's success had been gained by persistently, year after year, selecting the earliest and finest heads ; taking up the stumps from which they were cut, he planted them carefully, and, removing the young shoots produced from the stumps, he treated them exactly as we treat cuttings of a flower; that is, by plant- ing the slip in the soil, watering it freely, and shading it until it rooted. After these cuttings or shoots of the Cabbage were rooted, they were planted in the usual Cab- bage-frame, covered with glass in winter, set out in spring, like a plant from the seed, and next July ripened seed. This ])rocess is too expensive and slow to follow for raising Cabbage seed in quantity, but it is now used by careful grov/ers to produce pure and improved stock from which to raise seed. 16-1 gaedeninCt for profit. Ileiider§oit*s Early Summer. — This peerless variety origiiKited with Mr. Abrahiim Xiiu Sickleii, of Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y., (to whom I paid IGOO for twenty pounds of the seed), hut was named and first introduced by me in 1874. The Early Summer heads about ten days later than the Jersey Wakefield, but being of over double the size, it may be classed as the best large early Cabbage. In weight it is equal to most of the late vari- Fig. 26.— HENDERSON'S EAIiLY SUMMER CABBAGE. eties, and its short outer leaves enable it to be j^lanted as close as the Wakefield, or at the rate of about 10,000 to 12,000 to the acre, while the Early Elat Dutch, AVin- ningstadt, etc. , producing no larger heads, can only be grown at the rate of 8,000 to the acre. It is equally valuable to use as a late sort, as, when sown and planted at the proper time for late Cabbage to be used in winter, we consider it has no superior. rreralcr. — A variety of quite recent introduction, exceedingly early, and much valued as a market sort. VEGETABLES— CABBAGE. * 1G5 The lieacls are somewliafc smaller than the Wakefield, but, as it forms very small outer leaves, it can be planted one- third closer — fifteen or eighteen inches apart each way, or from 14,000 to 16,000 to the acre. Early Whmiu^stadt. — This is really a second early variety, coming in about three weeks later than any of the above. It is an excellent sort, however, where first earliness is not the object, as it heads uniformly and is of large size, often weighing twenty pounds. It is a dis- tinct variety; head j^yramidal, the outer leaves spiral and spreading. It requires to be planted wider than the early sorts. For this reason, together with its compara- tive lateness, it is not a fayorite in gardens where two crops are grown in one season. Early Flat Dutch. — A very dwarf variet}^, having large round heads, almost flat on top. It is a very excel- lent variety for a succession crop, being two or three weeks behind the earliest sorts, but is now almost su2> planted by the Early Summer. CABBAGE— Late. Selected Late Flat Butch.— (See figure 27.) An excellent standard variety, making large flat heads, very solid, and an excellent keeper for late winter use. Al- though it grows larger than the " Early Summer," yet as it has to be planted one-third wider apart, it gives no more v/eight per acre. It is very largely grown as an early fall sort. It is very tender and of excellent flavor, and is largely used for Sauer Kraut. Fottler's Iinproyed Brunswick. — A second early and late variety, used originally by the Boston gardeners, but which is now cultivated quite generally all over the country. It produces large heads of excellent quality. 100 GARDENING rOK I'KOFIT. Marblclioad I^JamuioUi Ih'simlicad. — Trobably the largest variety oi' Utibbtige iu cultivation, specimens oi'ten growing to weigh sixty pounds. Jn gootl soil and with proper culture it will average thirty })ounds. 'J\he lieads are round and soniewliat irregular in shape. It should be cultivated witli tbe plants four I'eet apart each way. Fihlcr Kraut, — This resembles the Winningstadt, but Fis:. 27.— SKLROTED l.ATR FLAT DTTTCIl CABnAGE. IS larger and more poiidi'd. Also largely grown for Sauer Kraut. American Druinliead Savoy. — 'I'liis is tbe largest of the Savoy class, and is the sort most genei'ally cultivated for market. Tbe head is large, spherical, very solid, com])act and of a yellowish-green color, and, like all of the Savoy varieties, is of excellent llavor, far surpassing tbat of any other late Cabbage. Still, sucb is the force of habit, that the public do not purchase one Savoy for every thousand of the coarse Drumhead Cabbages, al- VEGETABLES— CAULIFLOWER. 1G7 though the difference in quality between the two is as great as between the fox grape of the woods and the cultivated Delaware. Grown in fall and al- lowed to be toudied by frost, it is one of tlie most delicious of all vegetables. (See figure 28.) Red Dutch.— This is used almost exclu- sively for pickling. It is one of the hardiest of all Cabbages, and when preserved as di- rected for the others, will keep later in the season than any of them. It is slow to mature, however, and requires a richer soil for its perfect development. DIaminoth Rock Red. — A now large-growing selected strain of the old Red Cabbage, the heads of which will average twelve pounds each. ri<^. 38.— AMERICAN DRUMHEAD SAVOY CABBAGE. CATJLIFLOWEE. As the cultivation of Cauliflower is almost identical with that of Cabbage, and as these are two of the most important of all crops to the market gardener, very full instructions are given under ''How to grow Cabbage and Cauliflower," on page 51. Henderson's Early Snowball.— (See figure 29). This variety, introduced six years ago by me, is now the lead- ing early variety. We have found it to be not only the 168 CtARDexixCt ior profit. earliest of all Cauliflowers, but it is more certain to make a bead tban any otber variety we bave ever grown. Sown Marcb 1st in our trial grounds in Jei*sey City (wbicb, bowever, is a montb too late), at tbe same time and under tbe same conditions witb otber kinds, beads of tbe Early Snowball measuring nine incbes in diameter bave been ready to market by June lOtli, one week before any otbei* sort. From its dwarf grow^tb and sbort outer leaves, this variety bas been found to be peculiarly well adapted for forcing under glass, and for this purj^ose no otber variety is now so largely grown. It is also begin- ning to be used for tbe fall crop of Caulifl.ower, for wbicb Fig. 29.— Henderson's early snowball caultfloweb. it is equally w^ell adapted as for tbe early crop. From 12,000 to 13,000 are planted on an acre. Tbis variety is a very sby seed-bearer, and tbe consequent higb price ot tbe seed bas induced unprincipled dealers in many sections of tbe conntry to substitute spurious sorts. In our trial grounds we found tbat in a test of ten of tbese samples purportmg to be tbe true " Snowball," not one was correct, and nearly all were wortbless. VEGETABLES — CARDOOX. 1G9 Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt. — This fine sort is a dwarf, compact, growing kind, producing uniformly large heads. The leaves grow larger and not so close as the Snowball, besides it is not so early. Extra Early Paris. — This w^ell-known A^ariety is ecpially meritorious in all respects with the Erfurt, ex- cept that it requires more space to grow in, as it forms larger heads. ilalf Early Paris or Nortpareil. — A useful variety for succession crop. The ditficulty with Cauliflowers for market is, that the whole crop comes in and must be sold in a space of two or three wrecks, unless we have a suc- cession of varielies. Le Normaiid's Short Stemmed. — A large late variety, producing well-formed heads of excellent quality. Larj^e Late AlJ?iers. — An excellent late variety, now coming into very general favor on Long Island, New York, and other Cauliflower-growing districts. Enor- mous quantities of this variety are annually grown for market and pickling, Avith A'arying results, sometimes selling as high as 125 per 100, and again as low as 13. It is usually planted quite wide — three by three feet each way — and worked by horse cultivation. It is a good plan to break and turn down the leaves of Cauliflower over the head as it is developed. This not only keeps it whiter, but prevents its spreading. CAEDOON. — [Cynara Cardunculus.) A vegetable that is but little grown, and grown oftener as a novelty than for use. It belongs to the same family as the Artichoke, which it much resembles. The leaf stems, after blanching, are used in soups or in sal- ads. It is cultivated by sowing the seeds in early spring, 170 GARDH]SriNG FOR PROFIT. thinly, in rows tliree feet apart, and thinning out to eighteen inches between the plants. The plant attains its growth in early fall, when it is blanched by tying the leaves together so as to cause an erect growth, after which it is earthed up, and preserved exactly as ^ve do Celery. CA'R'ROT.—iDauciis Carota). This may be classed more as a crop of the farm than of the garden, as a far larger area is grown for the food of horses and cattle than for culinary purposes. Yet it is a salable vegetable in our markets, and by no means an unprofitable one to grow on lands not too valuable. It is not necessary that the land for this crop should be highly enriched. I have grown on sod land (which had been turned over in fall), 300 barrels per acre, without a particle of manure, and three years after, and on the same land, which had been brought up to our market garden standard of fertility, a very inferior crop ; the land being too Vich, induced a growth of tops rather than roots. In our mal'ket gardens, we sow in rows fourteen inches apart, thinning out to three or four inches between the plants ; but on farm lands, where space is not so valuable, they should be planted eighteen or twenty-four inches between the rows, and worked with the cultivator. For early crops, we sow at the beginning of our first operations in spring, in the same manner as we sow Beets, as soon as the ground is thoroughly dry ; hut for later crops, they may be sown any time in this latitude until the middle of June. This is one of the vegetables that requires a close watching to see that it does not get enveloped with weeds, as, in its early stage, it is of com- paratively feeble growth, and unless it is kept clean from the start, it is apt to be irrevocably injured. VEGETABLES— CASROT. 171 The usually prescribed quantity of seed per acre is five pounds^, but I have always considered it safer to sow nearly double that quantity. In dry weather it germi- nates feebly, and not infrequently, when seed comes up thinly, it is scorched off by the hot sun, and the saving of a few pounds of seed may entail the loss of half the crop. We prefer to sow all such crops by hand, though for field culture on a large scale, the seed drill should be used. In all cases tread in the seed — see ^'^Use of the Feet in Sowing and Planting," Ohajoter 12 — to which, even at the risk of repetition, I again beg to call atten- tion. The Carrot, like all other root crops, delights in a sandy loam, deeply tilled. Considerable quantities of the early varieties are sold in our markets in bunches, in a half -grown state, at prices equal to early Beets sold in the same manner. Sold in this state, they are highly profitable at the prices received, but only limited quan- tities can be disposed of. In the dry state, during fall and winter, they range from $1.50 to $2 per barrel, according to quality, and at these prices will yield double the profit of Potatoes as a farm croj). The varietes in general cultivation are limited. The favorite variety for all purposes is the Early Freacli Forcing.— The earliest variety, and one largely grovv'u for forcing purposes. It makes a small, almost globe-shaped root, of an orange-red color. Early Scarlet Horn, — An old and favorite sort for an early crop, but not large enough to be suitable for general culture. It is one of the varieties that is bunched and sold in our markets in a green state. It matures eight to ten da3^s earlier than the Long Orauge, and is some- times used for forcing. Half Loiii? Eed (Stump Rooted).— (See figure 30.) At this time this variety is more largely grown for the New 172 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. York market than any otlier, and is the finest of the early sorts. It is intermediate in size and time of maturity between the Early Scarlet Horn and the Long Orange. i:aiiy llaif Long Scarlet (Pointed HooJed).— The only difference between this and the preceding variety is that it has a pointed instead of a stump or blunt root. Early Half Loiii? Scarlet ('areiitaii. — A distinct yariety, almost cylindrical, with few and very small roots. The skin is smooth, flesh red, and without any core or heart. It is excel- lent for forcing, and for tine quality and perfect shape can hardly be sur- passed. Lon^Oraiii?e Ira- proved. — (See fig- ure 31.) This is equally adapted for market and family use. It is of large ^^S'- so.-halv Fio;. si.-long . ^ LONG RED STUMP- ORANGE IM- size, lair specimens ^^qoted carrot, proved carrot. averaging twelve mches in length, with a diameter of three inches at the top; color, orange red, varying in depth of shade in dif- erent soils. l>anvers. — (See fiirure 32.) The color of this valu- able sort, which is of comparatively recent introduction. Fif^. 32. DANVEKS carrot. VEGETABLES — CHERVIL. 173 is a ricli shade of orange. In shape it is midway be- tween the Early Scarlet Horn and the Long Orange. Under the best cultivation, it is said to have yielded from twenty-five to thirty tons of roots per acre. Large White Kels^iaB.— The most productive of all varieties. The root is wliite ; that part growing above ground, and exposed to the air, green. It is exclusively grown for stock, bearing nearly twice as much in weight per acie as the Long Orange. Horses do not eat it quite so readily, however, and it is said to be less nutritious than the red or orange sorts. Yellow Belgian.— Similar to above ; color, yellow. CJLEB.VlL.—TvRmp-ROOTED—iChoerophylhtm bulbosum.) A vegetable of recent introduction, closely allied to the Parsnip, which it resembles in shape. It is of a grayish color; the flesh is white and mealy, tasting something like the Sweet Potato. It is equally as hardy as the Parsnip, and in France, where it has been culti- vated to a considerable extent, is said to hnve yielded six tons per acre. It is one of the many plants that were experimented with in Europe as a substitute for the Potato, when it was feared that that tuber would be lost to us by disease. Its culture is in all respects similar lo the Parsnip or Carrot ; it is entirely hardy in any lati- tude, and is rather improved by the action of the frost. It must be sown as early in spring as the soil is fit to work, it being slow to germinate if the weather becomes hot and dry. 174 GARDENING FOU PROFIT, CELERY.— {Apiiun graveolens.) I know of no vegetable upon which so much unneces- sary labor is expended v/ith such unsatisfactory results as Celery. Many private cultivators still think it necessary to dig out trenches, from six to twelve inches deep, involving great labor and expense, and giving a crop very inferior to that planted on the level surface, in the man- ner practiced on hundreds of acres by the market garden- ers in the vicinity of New York. Our manner of treating the Celery crop is now very simple. Instead of sowing the seed in a hot-bed or cold frame, which is the European plan, but not practicable here (unless when on such soils as the muck deposits at Kalamazoo, Michigan), owing to the tendency of plants thus sown to run to seed, the seed is sown in the open ground as soon as that is fit to work in spring — here about first week in April — on a level piece of rich mellow soil, that has been specially prepared by thorough pul- verizing and mixing with short stable manure. I have had large experience in growing Celery plants, as our demand for the plants often reaches 2,000,000 of plants in a season, and we never fail in getting a crop by rigidly adhering to the following simple method. The bed being fined down by raking, so that it is clear of stones and all inequalities, lines are drawn out by the ^'^ marker" eight or nine inches apart, in beds of eight rows m each, rubbmg out every ninth mark for an alley, on which to walk when weeding, etc. The seed should be sown rather thinly, one ounce being sufficient for twenty feet m length of such a bed, or about 150 feet of row. The seed is sown by. hand in the rows : after the sower follows a man who evenly presses down the seed in the drill with the feet. That done, the back of a rake is drawn lightly lengtliioise of the bed, which slightly cov- VEGETABLES — CELERY. 175 ers the seed to the average depth of something less than half an inch. After this, the hed is still further firmed and levelled by being rolled, or in small areas evenly patted down with the back of a spade. As soon as the seeds of Celery begin to germinate, so that the rows can be traced, hoe lightly between the rows, and begin to pull out the weeds as soon as they can be seen. One day's work, at the proper time, will be better than a dozen after the seed-bed gets envelojoed with weeds, besides insuring much finer plants. As the plants advance in growth, the tops ar« shorn off, generally twice before the time of setting out, so as to induce a stooky growth ; plants thus, treated suffer less on being transplanted. This i)lan of shearing off the tops we practice with Cabbage, Cauliflower and many other kinds of plants to induce stocky growth. The time of planting out in the Northern States may run from June 15th to the end of July, and in the South- ern States from August 15th to the end of September. In this section, we prefer to plant in July, as there is but little gained by attempting it early. In fact, I have often seen plants raised in hot-beds and planted out in June, far surpassed both in size and quality by those raised in the open ground and planted a month later. The great difficulty experienced in the Southern States is, in raising the j)lants ; for, if sov/n in March or April, as we do here, the high temperature and dry atmosphere either kill the plants outright, or so shrivel them up that they never start to make a free growth. By sowing about the middle of August in extreme Southerii States, shading with the protecting cloth sashes, already referred to, in hot days from 9 A. m. to 4 p. M., and planting out the end of September, a fair crop of Celery may be obtained in the late fall and early winter months. The plants are sometimes spe- cially grown at the North for planting at the South, but i:(i i;Aijni:NiN(; vow pkokit. in all siK'li I'asos tliov inusi lu^ {>lauts ^rowu (vom sowinixs mado ill Juno CM' ,hil\ , lor if i;ro\\ n ai l ho Nortli al tho usual soason, thov wouKl not answor. as llu>\ wouUl booonu' so laru'o that t!;ov woul 1 ronuiro lo ho planlodout bot'oro tho ond of Jul\, ami in nu>st ol' tho St)ulluM*]\ Statos, it' plantoil thou, th.ov oouKl not stand tlu» loni;- ocHitiniiod hiuh toni[HM";it uro :nul dry a(nu)S[>hoiv o( August and So{^(onihor. Tt is doubtful if this spooial urowiuu' oT plants is likoly to ho dono, and our frionds at tho South must submit to ]\!viu«jf lis for our Colory alroadv i:ro\\n, just as wo must submit to luivo tho oroani o( our [>roli[s lakon olV hv tlioir oarly supply of si>rini:," vogiMahli's. It is a i;ooiira[>hit'al ooiulition of oulturo that both sootions must aooopt. In aluu>st all I ho oarly vogotablos, tho lirsl sup[>lios oomo from ScMithorn liardons, thus ant ioipat in^^ our orops by somo wooks ; whilo Colory is one o{ tho mmt low things with whioh avo oau oompoto with our Souihoru frionds in thoir ow n markots. Colory is a plant nHpiiring a oool, nu)ist atmosphoro, anil it is nonsonso to attoinpt to irrow it oarly in luir lu^t and dry olimato, unloss undor olinuito and soil spooially adaptod, whioh is found in tho vii'iiiity of Kalauuizoo, Miohigan, Uoi'so Uoads, ^'ow \'ork, and sonu^ othor similar h)i'alitios, whoro thoro is a rioh vogotablo deposit on K'vol bottom hinds. Hut ovou whon grown, it is not a vogotablo that is over vory palatable until oool >voathor. 'Phis our market ex[>erioiioo well proves, for. although wo always have a few bunolu^s e\[>osod i"or sale in duly and August, thoro is not one root sold at that time for a thoiuaiul that are sold in Oetober and Tvovemhor. Celery is always grown by us as a ••• siH'ond ori)p;" that is. it follows after the spring orop of In'ots. Onions, Cabbage. Caulillower, Peas or early Potatoes, whioh are eleared oil* and marketed, at latest, by tho middle of fluly. VEGETABLES — CELERY. 177 The ground h then thoroughly plowed and harrowed. No additional manure is used, as enougii remains in the ground from the heavy coat it Ijas received in the spring, to carry through the crop of Celery. After the ground has been nicely prepared, lines are struck out on the level surface three feet apart, and the plants set six inches apart in the rows. If the weather is dry at the time of planting, great care should be taken that the roots are properly ^' firmed." Our custom is to turn back on the row, and press by the side of each plant ^jir I'l^.'iMj. — CELLHY AFTEIi "UANDLIKG," gently with the fo(jt. This compacts the soil and par- tially excludes the air from the root until new rootlets are formed, ^\hich will usually be in forty-eight hours, after which all danger is over. This practice of pressing the soil closely around the roots is essential in planting of all kinds, and millions of plants are annually destroyed by its omission. After the planting of the Celery is com- pleted, nothing further is to be done for six or seven weeks, except running through between the rows witli the cultivator or hoe, and freeing the plants of weeds until they get strong enough to crowd them down. This will bring us to about the middle of August, by which 178 gardexixCt for profit. time we usually have, especially at iiiglit, that moist and cool atmosphere essential to the growth of Celery. Then we begin the '•'earthing U13" necessary for blanchino' or whitenino- that which is wanted for use dur- ing the months of September, October and November. The first operation is tliat of " handling," as we term it ; that is, after the soil has been drawn up against the plant Avith the hoe, it is further drawn close around each j^lant by the hand, firm enough to keep the leaves in an upright Fi":. 34. — CELERY EARTHED UP, position, and prevent them from spreading, which will leave them as shown in fioure 33. This being done, more soil is drawn against the row, either by the plow or hoe, as circumstances require, so as to keep the plant in this upright position. The blanch- ing process must, however, be finished by the spade, which is done by digging the soil from between the rows and banking it up clear to the top on each side of the row of Celery, as in figure 34. Three feet is ample distance between the dw^arf vari- eties, but when '* Seymours Superb," " Giant White Solid," or other large sorts are used, though they are now rarely grown, the width between the rows must bo V^EGETABLES — CELERY. 179 at least four and a half or tive feet, which entails mnch more labor and loss of gronnd. For the j^ast fifteen years no Celery but the dwarf varieties is grown in our vicinity, which saves in consequence at least one-half in labor and one-third in ground, wdiile the average price per root in market has been always equal to, and occasionally higlier, than for the tail growing sorts. J^early all market gardeners liave at last got their eyes opened to the value of the dwarf sorts, and I tliink that a few years more will sufiice to throw^ the large and coarse-flavored sorts, such as ^SSeymours Superb" and ^" (iriant White Solid," out of our markets. The preparation of the soil and planting of Celery for tuinter use is the same in all respects, except that what is intended for winter need never be '' banked up " with the spade. It merely requires to be put through the handling process to bring it into a compact and upright position preparatory to being stowed aw^ay in winter quarters. This should not be done before the middle of Septem- ber, or just long enougii before the Celery is dug up to keep it in the upright position. AYe have, however, another method wdiich we have found to answer very well for the late crop, and it is one by which more roots can be grown on the same space and with less labor than by any other. It is simply to plant the Celery one foot apart, each icay, nothing farther be- ing required after planting, except twice or thrice hoeing to clear the crop of weeds until it grows enougli to cover the ground. IsTo handling or earthing up is required by this method, for, as the plants struggle for light, they naturally assume an upright position, the leaves all assuming the perpendicular instead of the horizontal, which is the condition essential before it is put into win- ter quarter:?. This method is not quite so general with us as planting in rows, and it is, perhaps, better adapted for private gardens than for market. As the plant is 180 GAKDENING FOR PROFIT. more excluded from the air, tlie root liardlj attains as much thickness as by the otlicr })lan. We are often asked for the cause of and remedy for Celery rustinc^ or burning. The cause, we think, is the condition of the weatlier, which destroys the tender fibers or what are called the '' working roots " of the plant, for we find it usually worse in seasons of extreme drouth or moisture, particularly in warm weather. We know of no remedy, nor do we believe there is any. We may say, however, that it is less liable to appear on new fresh soils, that are free from acids or sourness, than on old soils that have been surfeited with manure and have had no rest. Although, under ordinary conditions, if proper vari- eties of Celery are used, the crop should never be pithy or hollow, yet we have found that now and then even the most solid kinds of Celery have become more or less hol- low when planted in soft loose soils, suck as reclaimed peat bogs, where the soil is mostly composed of leaf mould. In fact, on heavy or clayey soils, the Celery will be specifically heavier than on lighter soils. Our manner of preserving Celery during the Avinter is now very simple, but as the knowledge of the process is not yet universally known to market gardeners in all sections of the country, I will endeavor to put it plain enough, so ihat my readers '^ may go and do likewise." In this locality we begin to dig up that wliich we intend for winter use about the end of October, and continue the work (always on dry days) until the 20tli or 25th of November, which is as late as we dare risk it out for fear of frost. Let it be understood that Celery will stand quite a sharp frost, say ten or even fifteen degrees, while twenty or twenty-five degrees will destroy it. Hence, ex- perience has taught us that the sharp frosts that we usu- ally have during the early part of November rarely hurt it (unless in rare cases where we have had an unusual VEGETABLES — CELERY. 181 warm spell succeeded by sliarp frost), though often caus- ing- it to droop flat on the ground, until thawed out by the sun. It must, however, never be touched when in the frozen state, or it is almost certain to decay. The ground in which it is placed for winter use should be as dry as possible, or if not dry, so arranged that no water will remain in the trench. The trench should l)e dug as narrow as possible, not more than ten or twelve inches wide, and of the depth exactly of the height of the Cel- ery ; that is, if the plant of the Celery be two feet in length, the depth of the drain or trench should be two Fi^ 35.— CELERY STORED FOR WINTER. feet also. The Celery is now placed in the trench as nearly perpendicular as possible, so as to fill it up entirely, its green tops being on a level with the top of the trench. Figure 35 represents a section across trenches filled with Celery in the manner just described. l\o earth whatever is put to the roots other than what may adhere to them after being dug up. It being closely packed together, there is moisture enough alv/ays at the bottom of the trench to keep this plant, at the cool season of the year, from wilting, and also to induce it to form new Avhite roots, which must be formed before the Celery will blanch. That w^liich is put in trenches about the 25th 182 GAlvDEXlXG FOR PSOEIT. of October is usually ready to be taken up for use about the 1st of December ; that a couple of weeks later, by 1st 01 January ; and the last (which we try always to defer to the loth or 20th of November), may be used dur- ing the winter and until the 1st of April. For the first lot no covering is required, but that for use during tiie Avinter months must be gradually covered up until the middle of December, or until the 1st of January, when it will require at least a foot of covering of some light, dry material — hay, straw, or leaves — the latter perhaps the best. I have said the covering up should be gradual. This is ver}^ important ; for if the full weight of cover- ing is put on at once it prevents the passing off of the heat generated by the closely packed mass of Celery, and in consequence it to some extent '^^ heats," and decay takes place. Covered up in this manner, it can be got out with ease during the coldest Aveather in winter, and with perfect safety. These dates of operations, like all others named throuo-hout this work, arc for this latitude : the cultivator must use his judgment carefully in this matter, to suit the section in which he is located. For market gardeners, and others who have large quan- tities, this is the best method of storing ; but for smaller growers, either for sale or for private use, quite a quan- tity may be preserved in any cellar where there is no furnace or other fire heat. "When a few hundred roots only are to be stored it can bo placed in narrow boxes, say nine inches Avide, four or six feet in length, and of a depth a little less than the height of the Celery. A few inches of sand or soil i> placed on the bottom of the box, but none must be put betAveen the stalks of the Celery, and the Celery is packed in the box upright, the roots being placed on the sand at the bottom ; the Celerv must be packed in as tight as possible, but without bruising. Boxes thus packed and stood on the cool floor of the cellar, if put away in NoA^em- TEOETABLES — CELERY. 183 ber, will be ^'blanched" lit for uzq during January, February, and March. If put in sooner than No- vember it will blanch earlier, and if stored later it will keep later. If larger quantities are to be kept in the cellar, the cheapest practicable way to do so is to begin at one side next the wall, furthest from the entrance, and erect boards across the cellar, nine inches from the wall, and of a height a little less tlian the length of the Celery — that is, if the Celery is twenty-four inches in length, the boarding may be eighteen or twenty inches high. In this narrow division the Celery is packed in upright, as above described for packing in boxes. As soon as the first tier is filled, erect another board trench or division at nine inches distant from the first, and so on until the wdiole space to be used is filled up. It will be understood that no soil or sand is packed between the stalks of Celery, only two or three inches being strewn on the floor, on which the roots are placed. Simultane- ously with the formation of the white rootlets the blanch- ing process begins, which is simply the plant making an effort to grow in the dark, and thus becoming blanched or w^hitened. We have sometimes complaints that Celery fails to blanch or whiten. In all such cases the roots must have been in some way injured by being frozen or dried too much while being lifted from the field, but this should never happen with ordinary care. A cellar or root-house twenty by twenty feet, so packed, w^ill hold from 3,000 to 5,000 roots of Celery, according to their size. Care must be taken not to get the board partitions forminof the trenches, or divisions between the tiers of Celery, more than nine or ten inches apart, for if at much greater distance the stems and leaves would be in too large masses and would generate heat and rot. As the cellar or root-house is usually a damp and dark apartment, there will generally be no necessity to water the Celery after it is packed. Every means of ventilation 184 (;AKi>i:MN(i roi; i-kokit. slh>iiKl he u-cd, o\c\\ in I'oKl wi^alhrr, l\»r i( musi iilwnvs l)i> l)ov\w in nuiul lluil (\'Km'v is a vogotablo that will siaml (juito a sliar[) frost without injury, so if the toniporaturo ol" i\\c I'olhir falls livo or si\ (k\i;-iws below tho friivan*; [)oint, no injury will bo (b)iu\ Wlion ('Olorv or ollu^r YOO'otables aro packoii awav t\>i- pi\'siM-valion in cellars or in the opon lirbl, it is iiuiispiMisable that no waliM- be allowiil to loil^v in the pit or triMU'h; so that, in the ONont of usini>- a cellar or riU)l-house for this purpose, a. matter of lirst iuiportauce is thorough ilraina^e, in soils where ilraina^^'e is necessary. lieua riling- the prolits of this crop I can speak from a very extensive experience in ilsculturc, luiving- cultivated nt oue time, an average of ten aerivs for eighteen years. Vov main veajv, iii the early part of thai lime, it was by no means w hat W(^ wouUl now call a pro!itabl(> cri>p. l>y persisting in raising tlu> large growing sorts, aiul the nwkwanl ami expensive mode wt^ had then of working it, we were satistied if it^ gave us a protit of ^50 or $75 per acre. But for the last twenty years, by adopting the lla.t culture, and t lu^ ilrain or tn^neli system for winter stt>r- age, it has done inui'li better, and is now a very [)n)ritablo '•second crop," averaging a cK^ar [>rolit of iyi')0 })er aero, thouii'h it rarelv brings hen* over $"^.50 )hm- 100 roots. ISodoubt, in nianv [>arts o\' the country, it is inueh nuu'i' pn^titable than in the crowded markets of New York. It is shipped from herein all directions — 1o Philadelphia (largelv), i>allinu)re ard Washington (South), and to Newport, Providence, Hartford and New Haven (Kast). It is a bulky and exi)ensive article to shi[), and the dealer must realize more than double on the purchase, or it will not pay his risk. It must thus cost the consumer, in those towns to which we send it, seven or eight eents per head, a price at which it would pay a clear prolit of $l,Otn^ or $1,500 per acre. If the awkwar«l and laborious systems of cultivation V EG CT A h h i:S — CELERY. 1B5 still persisted in for the growing of Celery are ji mistake, the coiitiiiiied use oi' tlie tall growing and coarse varieties we helieve to ha even a far greater one. The kinds that are offered in European catalogues are many, Ijut in tiie wli(;ie list there are hut few that are deoirahle for the market gardener or for private gardens. 'J'iie eliniato of Eng- land is rnueli uioiv fa- vorahle to the growth of Celery than that of our country, and every year new varie- ties are olfered tliere, of Avhich only now and then one proves of permanent vakie, but with the majority tlie differences are mainly in the name The following kinds, some of them of very recent introduction, are great i i n [) ro ve- ra en ts on the sorts grown a dozen years ago: Henderson's (jJoldcn Dwarf.— (See figure 30.) This is now tliQ leading variety, not only around New York, but iii nearly all parts of tlie country. In the great Celery-growing district of Kalamazoo, Michigan, it is the variety that is planted alm.ost exclusively. In size and habit of growth it. is much the same as the Half Dwarf and Dwarf White kinds, except that when blanched, the heart is of a waxy Fig. 36,— uenderson's golden dwakf CZLLliX. 19G GAR I) EX [XG FOR PROFIT. The soil best suited for Corn for an early crop is a W3U enriched sandy loam. The planting should never be done until the weather is settled and warm, as heat is indispensable to the healthy growth of Corn. AVe make our first plantings in this vicinity about the middle of May, and continue succession plantings every two or three weeks until the first week in July, whicii date, in tliis latitude, is the latest at which we can plant and be sure of a crop of ''roasting ears." In more southerly latitudes planting is begun a month earlier and con- tinued a month later. The crop is hardly profitable enough for the market gardener where land is high in price, but tlie farmers realize double the price for Sweet Corn when sold m the green state in our markets, that thev do for Ripe Corn, besides, as the ground can be cleared when the ears are thus sold in August, it can be used afterwards for Turnips. About twenty years ago I came into possession, about the 1st of May, of a four-acre plot that had lain for many years in sod. It was then too late to be able to break it up for planting any of the finer kinds of vege- tables, so I decided to plant it with Sweet Corn. Ac- cordingly, I had the sod plowed over flat in such a manner as would best rot it. I was careful to have the furrows straight, and at every five feet where they lapped together I dropped Sweet Corn at four or five inches apart, so that when it started to grow it stood in regular lines five feet distant. The Corn w\as planted about May 20th, and hoed around the line as it grew, the space between being run over by the harrow cultivator. By the middle of June, from the action of the cultivator, the space between the rows of Corn was in fine friable condition, and Celery was planted in double rows, ten inches apart. The sliade given by the Corn was of no injury to the Celery at this early stage of its growth, and as the Corn crop was sold and the stalks were cleared off VEGETABLES — COllX. 107 by the middle of August, the growth of the Celery was not in the slightest impaired. The whole transaction Avas quite satisfactory ; the Corn crop sold (green), for about IGOO, or $150 per acre ; the Cel.ery at about $400 per acre, which was exceedingly low, not much more than one cent per root for every root planted ; in some subsequent years the price would have doubled that for the same quantity. No fertilizer was used, except a slight sprinkling of bone dust for the Celery. A profit now of from $50 to $75 is usually realized per acre from Sweet Corn. The best varieties now are : Early l>lar5)lcliead.— (See figure 41.) Certainly as early, if not a little earlier, than any of the other sorts of Sweet Corn. In appearance it resembles the better known Early Narragansett. The stalk is dwarf and it sets its ears very low down, which are of fair market- able size. Cory, — Equally early as the preceding, and said to be larger in size. Early Minnesota.— (See figure 42.) Very early and desirable alike in the market and family garden. Height of stalk, four and a half feet ; ears of fair size and good quality. Crosby's Early Su^ar.— Early, and a great favorite in the markets of all large cities. Ears rather small but productive, and of excellent quality. Henderson.— This variety is of medium earliness nnd is valued alike in the market and family garden, or for canning purposes, for which latter use enormous areas of it are now grown. The ears are twelve rowed, straight and handsome ; quality of the very best. Squantum Sui?ar.— One of the sweetest and most valued varieties I know of. It is rather early and won- derfully productive. Rows irregular, but setting four and five ears on a stalk. 188 GAUIM: N1N({ l-OR PHOFTT. most oi I ho l:iri:v gTowinu" sorts in woig'ht of bunch v/hen iii"o\vu under the siuue eoiulitious. ¥%'#L'^' Sand riiiuhaiu.— Under good cnltiviitioii this variety attains a height of two feet and a eir- cumferenee oi twelve inches. It is perfectly solid, the stalks half round, the leaves and stems being rather light green. AVhen blanehed it is a yellowish white, erisp. tender and of very thm ilavvU". The great advantage of this, as Will as the other dwarf sorts, over the large kinds, is that nearly every part of tho ^^ plant is itt to eat when blanehed. For instai^.ee, if in the dwarf varieties the length is only two feet and in the large sorts three feet, the extra length of the large sort is unlit for use. being usually only an elongation of the outer leaves, the heart or edible ]xirt rarely rising more than eiuhteen inches in the hirfro sorts, while the dwarf sorts may be said to be all heart. This variety in this section seems to have more tendency to blight or rust than any other kinds ; hut where it can be grown with- Fig. 3S.— hexderson's half out this difficulty, as it c;m be DWAKF CELERY. \j^ suc\\ solls as at Kalamazoo, Michigan, I think it has no equal. Boston 32arkot. — A o-ivat favorite around l>oston and VEGETABLES — CELEKY. 189 similar to tlie Dwarf WJiitc, but rather more robust. The leaves are a darker green, the stalks when blanched are nearly white. It is an excellent variety, solid, crisp and tender. Uiaiit U'liitc Solid. — The best of the large growing ?orts, attaining a height, under good cultivation, of three v^.a ../^ >>^vj, Fig. 39.— CELEEIAC. feet. It should never be planted closer than four feet Ijetween the rows, or it cannot be properly worked. For southern sections of the country this variety is more suitable than the dwarf sorts, as it grows freer in a hot and dry atmosphere. Henderson's Rose. — The superiority in flavor, as a rule, of the red or rose Celeries over the white sorts, is much better understood in England (where the majority of Celery grown is red), than with us. For some unexplained reason, tiie red Celeries have not sold 190 GARDENTXG FOR PROFIT. well in our markets, '.riiis cannot long be, however, as when once grown they Avill never be given up, not only for their superior llavor and crispness, but for their far better keeping qualities. This variety is one of the best I have ever seen. illajor Clark's Pink. — Another excellent variety among the red sorts. It is of medium growth, stiff, close habit, large heart, solid, crisp and of fine Avalnnt flavor. CELERIAC, OR TTJRmP-HOOTED CELERY. {ApiiDH gravcolcns. Var.) This, figure 39, is grown from seeds sown in the same manner, and planted out at the same times as directed for Celery ; but as it requires but a slight earthing up, ^^ it is planted closer than ordinary Celer} ; eight- een inches between the rows and six inches be- tween the plants. It is pi'eserved for winter use in shallow trenches, and covered up as the season advances, as directed for Celery. It is as yet grown to but a limited extent here, being used only by the French and Germans. The turnip- like root is cooked, or it is sliced and used with vinegar, making a most excellent salad. Dwarf Apple Shaped,— (See figure 40). This com- paratively new variety is now the main kind grown. "Fig. 40.— DWAUF ;\ PPLE-SnAPED CEl.ERIC. VE'il^rrABLES — CHIVES — (JOHN SALAD — (JRKS8. 191 CHIVES.— (^^^'*w//i Schcenoprasum.) A small bulbous- rooted i)lant of tlio Oiii(jn tribe, en- tirely hardy and of the easiest culture, as it will grow on almost any soil for many years without renewal. It is propagated by division of the root, and may be planted at nine or ten inches ajDart ; the leaves are the parts used, which may be repeatedly shorn off dui-ing the early summer months. They are sometimes used in soups, but more generally in the raw state. CORN SALAB, OR FETTIGU3.-(^edm olitoria.) A vegetable used as a salad and sold to a considerable extent in our markets. It is sown on the first opening of spring in rows one foot apart, and is fit for use in six or eight weeks from time of sowing. If wanted to come in early in spring it is sown in September, covered up with straw or hay as soon as cold weather sets in, and is wintered over exactly as Spinach. The covering is re- moved in March or April when it starts to grow, and is one of our first gi-een vegetables in spring. It is also grown to a large extent by tlie German gardeners on New York Island in cold frames. CRESS, OR PEPPER GRASS.— {Lcpidium sativum.) Another early spring vegetable, used as a salad, and of easy culture. It is sown in early spring in rows one foot apart ; as it runs quickly to seed, succession sowings should be made every eight or ten days. There are sev- eral varieties, but the kind in general use is the Curled, which i3 used for garnishing as well as for salads. 102 GARDENING 1-0 il I'ROFIT. CRESS— WATER.— (i\^<«f/n'.'//n;/ qtJiciualc) This is a well-known luirdy perennial aqnatic plant, growing abundantly along the margins of running streams, ditches and ponds, and sold in immense quanti- ties in our markets in spring. AVhere it does not grow naturally, it is easily introduced by planting along the margins of ponds or streams, Avliere it quickly increases, both by spreading of the root and by seeding. Many a farmer in the vicinity of New York realizes more profit from tlie Water Caresses, cut from the margin of a brook running through his farm in two or tliree weeks in spring, than from his whole year's hard labor in growing Corn, Hay or Potatoes. Water Cress can bo best cultivated in })laces where the streams run through a level tract. Supposing the stream to be a foot dee^) on an average, and six or eight feet wide, running" through a meadow, a c'ood plan for culti- vation is to make excavations laterally, say in beds five feet wide (with five foot alleys between), to a depth of about eight inches, or deep enough to be flooded by the stream when it is of average height, or when shallow, by damming it up so as to flood the beds. The advantage of having the beds excavated at right angles to the stream rather than ]iarallel Avith it is, that in the event of freshets the crop is less liable to be washed away. The length and number of the beds excavated must, of course, be determined b}^ circumstances. Water Cress seeds germinate freely in earth when kept saturated ; hence the beds, wdien properly levelled and pulverized by digging and raking, should be slightly flooded — enough to only saturate the soil until the seeds germinate, for, of course, if the beds were filled up with water, the seeds would be washed off. After the seed- lings have started so as to show green, iho water may be gradually let on as they develop. The best time of sowing the seed for the latitude of VEGETABLES — CRESS. 193 New York, for spring, is about the middle of April ; for fall, about the middle of August. I advocate that seeds of all plants of this description should be sown in rows a foot or so apart, as. the seed is small and germinates freely, so that three or four pounds will be enough for an acre. It should be cultivated exactly as Spinach is. When Water Cress is found growing naturally, the beds can be made by setting the plants six or twelve inches apart each way. When the cultivation is once fairly be- gun, there is no difliculty about forming new beds, as few plants grow more rapidly when proper conditions are present. After the crop is planted or sown, in two months it will have spread all over the beds. The streams bGino" full in autumn, the beds will be fully flooded so as to protect the plants during winter. It is always found growing best wild, in clear, shallow, slowly-running Avater, with a sandy or gravelly bottom ; and as nature is always the surest guide to successful cultivation, the nearer it can be imitated the better the success. I find it is one of the plants the culture of which is not very easy to give by writing, as so much must be de- termined by the circumstances of locality. Wherever a suitable stream is at command, the experiment of growing Water Cress is worthy of trial, especially when we know that it in many cases pays, for a given area, six or eight times more than any other vegetable cultivated, provided it can be sold in the markets of New York or Philadelphia. It is usually sold in baskets containing about three quarts, which sell, when first in market, at fifty cents each ; 200 or 300 such are carried in an ordinary wagon, so that from a single load on this simple vegetable, -SlOO to $200 are realized. The Water Cress has a particularly pleasant pungent taste, agreeable to most people in early spring. 194 GARDENII^G FOR PROFIT. It is said that when Sir Joseph Banks first arrived in England after his voyage aronnd the world, among the first things he asked for were Water Cresses, well know- ins" their value as a purifier of the blood ; and tliat he afterwards presented one of the largest Water Cress growers for the London market, a Banksian Medal, for energy shown in the business, believing that while he had benefited himself he had benefited the community. I have no doubt whatever that in situations where irri- gation could be used at pleasure, and regular planta- tions made, as for Cranberries, that, grown in this way, judging from the enormous price it sells at, picked up as it is in the present hap-hazard way, at present prices, an acre would sell for 11,000 to $2,000. To give some idea of the immense quantities of Water Cress sold about some of the cities in Europe, we may state that a recent number of " Covent Garden Gazette " states that Water Cresses to the value of £60,000 are annually consumed in Paris, and in London to the extent of £30,000 annually. UPLAND CRESS.— (-Bar6a?'ea vulgaris.) This has recently been introduced as a new vegetable by a Mr. Beyer, of Iowa, and Mr. Beyer may be well par- doned for believing it to be new, for he says that he is informed by the largest seed firm in Paris in a letter written in 1885, that in their belief it is '"'new in France. " Now, it is not '' new," but a very old plant, as I well remember it in my 'prentice days, when it was grown as Spinach, and used exactly as AYater Cress. In fact, it so much resembles Water Cress in taste that the difference is scarcely discernible, and the wonder is that its use has not become more general, as it is of as easy VEGETABLES — COLLARDS — CORX. 195 culture as Spinach ; indeed, easier, for it is a perennial plant, and can be grown easily for two years without re- sowing, and it yields enormous crops. The seed should be sown in April, in rows twelve to fifteen inches apart, and Mr. Beyer, who has been experimenting with it in the climate of Iowa, says it has stood a temperature of five degrees below zero, and still keeping green. He believes that its great value as a salad will soon be ap- preciated here, and, besides, as cattle eat it greedily, it may, in some sections, prove a valuable forage plant. COLLARDS (SOUTHERTJ ).—(5rassica oleracea, Var.) Most of the Collards, as grown in this section, are nothing more than sowings of any early variety of Cab- bage in rows about one foot apart, which are cut off for use when six or eight inches high. The Southern Col- lard is a distinct variety of vigorous growth, attaining a height of five or six feet, and grown in portions of the South where the ordinary kinds of Cabbage fail to head. Spring sowings may be made every two weeks at two feet apart from February to May ; and in fall from Sejotem- ber as late as the season v/ill admit. COPvN.— (^ea Mays.) The varieties known as *^ Sweet" are the sorts most cultivated for culinary use in the green state. It may be either sown in rows four and a half feet apart, and the seeds planted at eight or nine inches in the rows, or planted in hills at distances of three or four feet each way, according to the variety grown or the richness of the soil in which it is planted. The taller the variety or richer the soil, the greater should be the distance apart. 196 GARDENING FOR PR(3FIT. The soil best suited for Corn for an early crop is a W3ll enriched sandy loam. The planting should never be done until the weather is settled and warm, as heat is indispensable to the healthy growth of Corn. We make our first plantings in this vicinity about the middle of May, and continue succession plantings every two or three weeks until the fii'st week in July, which date, in this latitude, is the latest at which we can plant and be sure of a crop of '^ roasting ears. " In more southerly latitudes planting is begun a month earlier and con- tinued a month later. The crop is hardly profitable enough for the market gardener where land is high in price, but the farmers realize double the price for Sweet (yorn when sold in the green state in our markets, that they do for Kipe Corn, besides, as the ground can be cleared when the ears are thus sold in August, it can be used afterwards for Turnips. About twenty years ago I came into possession, about the 1st of May, of a four-acre plot that had lain for many years in sod. It was then too late to be able to break it up for planting any of the finer kinds of vege- tables, so I decided to plant it with Sweet Corn. Ac- cordingly, I had the sod plowed over flat in such a manner as would best rot it. I was careful to have the furrows straight, and at every five feet where they lapped together I dropped Sweet Corn at four or five inches apart, so that when it started to grow it stood in regular lines five feet distant. The Corn was planted about May 20th, and hoed around the line as it grew, the space between being run over by the luirrow cultivator. By the middle of June, from the action of the cultivator, the space between tiie rows of Corn was m fine friable condition, and Celery was planted in double rows, ten inches apart. The shade given by the Corn was of no injury to the Celery at this early stage of its growth, and as the Corn crop was sold and the stalks were cleared off VEGETABLES — COKX. 197 by the middle of August, the growth of the Celery was not in the sliglitest impaired. The whole transaction was quite satisfactory ; the Corn crop sold (green), for about $G00, or $150 jjer acre ; the Cel.ery at about $400 per acre, which was exceedingly low, not much more than one cent per root for every rooi planted ; in some subsequent years the price would have doubled that for the same quantity. No fertilizer was used, except a slight sprinkling of bone dust for the Celery. A profit now of from $50 to $75 is usually realized per acre from Sweet Corn. The best varieties now are : Early i^larl)leliead. — (See figure 41.) Certainly as early, if not a little earlier, than any of the other sorts of Sweet Corn. In appearance it resembles the better known Early Narragausett. The stalk is dwarf and it sets its ears very low down, which are of fair market- able size. Cory. — Equally early as the preceding, and said to be larger in size. Early Minnesota.— (See figure 42.) Very early and desirable alike in the market and family garden. Height of stalk, four and a half feet ; ears of fair size and good quality. Crosby's Early Su^ar. — Early, and a great favorite in the markets of all large cities. Ears rather small but productive, and of excellent quality. Henderson. — This variety IS of medium earliness r>nd is valued alike in the market and family garden, or for canning purposes, for which latter use enormous areas of it are now grown. The ears are twelve rowed, straight and handsome ; quality of the very best. Squantuin Sui?ar. — One of the sweetest and most valued varieties I know of. It is rather early and won- derfully productive. Rows irregular, but setting four and five ears on a stalk. 198 GAUDEXIXG rOR PilOFIT. Egyptian.— The ears of this variety are of large size, the iivor peculiarly rich aud sweet. It is grown in equally large quantities for both canning and for selling in thegreen state. Like all the other large varieties, it matures late — perhaps the best late sort. StoweirsEvcri^recn,— (See figure 43.) Kow recognized Fiii 4:2. — MINNESOTA COKN. Fiff. 43.— stowell's EVERGREEN CORN. Fig. 41.— MARBLE- HEAD CORN. everywhere as the standard late variety, and having the peciiharity of remaining longer m the green state than most other sorts. Mammoth Sugar.— A late variety and a sort that pro- VEGETABLES — CUCTMBEK. 109 duces ears of very large size and fine flavor. It is un- usually productive, and is the variety almost exclusively grown by New York market gardeners for their late crop. CUCUMBEH.— (C'itcz^ju's sativiis.) The orowino- of the Cucumber out-of-doors is, in most places, attended with a great deal of annoyance and loss, occasioned by the attacks of the ''Striped Bug/' When tbe seed is sown m the open ground, repeated sow- ings are often utterly destroyed by this pest, despite all remedies. To avoid this, and at the same time to forward the crop at least a w^eek, we have long adopted the following method with the greatest success : About the middle of May (for this section), we cut from a pas- ture lot, sods two to three inches thick ; these are placed with the grassy side down, either on tlie benclies of our forcin2"-house, in an exhausted hot-bed, or mside of a cold frame ; at that season of the year any one of these. will do as well as another. The sods being tittcil together neatly so that all crevices are filled up, they are then cut into squares about three or four inches in length and breadth ; on each of these are planted two or three seeds of Cucumber, and over the whole is sifted about half an inch of covering of some fine rich mold. They are then sprinkled thoroughly from a rose watermg- pot, and the sashes put on and kept closed until the seeds begin to germinate, which will be m three or four days. As soon as they are up, the sashes must be raised to admit air, else the sun's rays, acting on the glass, w^ould raise the temperature too high ; at that season of the year the sashes, as a rule, may be tilted up at eight or nine o'clock m the morning, and shut down by three or four o'clock m the afternoon. By the time the Cu- '■iOO (lAlJDKNlNU I'OIJ I'liOI'ir. (Minibor ])lants Jiavo uttaiiied two or tlu'oo of (ht^ir rouiih loaves, which will ho in ahoiil Ihroo AV(H'ks from tlu> tiiiio; of sowiuii", tlu'v ;n\> phintod out itillu^ opoii ii'ViHiU'l in hills ( hriH' foot apart t^aoh wav. 'VUc hills shoiiM havo biHM\ [)ri>vi(>iislv pr(.>par(vl, hy inixiui;- t horoiii;lil\ with tho soil in oaoli, ;i shovolful of woll-rottoil nianuro. 11 is always hi>tu>r lo plant in lluMifUu'noon rathordian ilnriiii4' llio oarly part of tlio day, as tho ooolnoss and moistnro at ni!j,-ht onahio (lio plants to roiaiporato from tho oltoots of rontoval. If tho woather is hot anil dry, it is safor to gavo oaidi lull a thoron^h watoriniioy/o'. inmu^- diatoly aftor plant ini;\ 1 haw rooonunomliHl sods in pridoronoo to llmvcM'-pots for start ini^-. tho Ciicinnhors, inasmnoh as llu\v ari> not oidy protnirai)lo in all [ilaci^s, hut onr e\porioni\> sh.>ws that tlio soil is ovou bollor than tho llowor-[)ot ; it bettor retains moisture, and there is a freshness about sod in whicdi tlu> roots of all plants lov(> lo nnol, and wluoh no eoinposts wo ean prepare o:;n (>vor (vpial. It will ho seen that the i^xptaiso of oTowiui;- ('luainibers m this maiHier is eonsidorahh* ; to iirow enough for a.u aero— about fl,000 hills — it will rotpiiro tho use of twenty throe by six toot sashes, ami tho preparation of tho sods and attention in airing', eto., until tlu\v are tit to plant, will involve ton times niorv^ expense than simplv sowino; the seed in tho hills ; but all suoh oxpcMulituros are well returned, for it is salV^ to say that the proiits wouUl always bo at least t'.iroi^ times mon* by ihivS plan than l)y tho other. Tho a.vera.u-e receipts are $'){)0 per acre, workiuo- expenses ])r(U)ably 1^350, and tho crop is oit' m tune for Turnips or Spimich a.s a second cro]>. Tho Cucumber is a vegetable perhaps better titled than any other for Southern market gardeners. There is no doubt that by th(^ forwarding proooss above described, ifc could be had in inarkotahlo oomlitiou in tho neighborhood of Charleston or Savannah, at least a month before io vi'inr'/i" \ iMJ'is— ci'ciMiJiiu. ;J0I could ill New York, ;i,ii'l ms i(, i.s one of Mk; c/.Mlr/M, Uiiii^jH \v(! li;i,V(! l-o ,-ilii|», ;i |)i"(Wll-;il)l(! huHiixiSH could hi! rnjid(! of f^rovviii^^ il, l.o Hciid Norj.li. 'V\]^>, prollLs ou )i,u;i,crcor Oii- cinrdxM'M ;^n"()\vii hy Mii.s iiKiMiod in ( !li;irlc,;l,oii, jiiid sold in New Yoi'k ill dilli'', would, I liiiuk, exceed llie ;i.\ cr- ii,'j;(! |(rolil,s ol" I w(^til.y-li ve iier(!:J of (lolLui. I'or forvviird- in;^^ UMd(!r ^dusH ho(! " 1\>vca\\<^ ( 'uciniilierH," on \>:\h(! niiniher <;rown [kji* ;i,ci*e on pi'operly (Uilli- val,(;d injKJH i.s 150, ()()(), whi(di \h 1225 ^n-oss i-(!f;(;ipl,s per acre. 'VUii oxf)onsn of r;iiHin^ is Hfiid to Ix; JihoiiL one-lnilF. TluJHO prolil-H would nol siilisfy I, Ik; ni;i,rk(d, ^<;;i,rd(!ner on his few v;i,lii;i,hl(! ;ien!H M(!jii' Uie cily, hul, no doii!;!, nm r(!rniin('ni,l.iv(! (inou;.di (o Hie f;ir)norH wiU\ l;ir;^^e (jkiiuM- iios of clioiip liind. TIk! V}U*i((linH !i,re nunieivuis ;i,nd enihnice niiiny \(;ry well niiirk(Ml kinds. The l;i,r^^o jC^rovvin^ kinds Unit, ;i,ll,iijn t,wo le(!(. or inoH! in hMiLd li li;i,ve iH!V(;r hoconie r;ivoril,cH in our Ainerieiiti niiirkel,s. l!ii|»rov(' .'4r(;en in Ilesli, ci'i ;p, .'ind of 202 garde:n"tis^g for profit. line flavor. This is one of the varieties grown for forcing'. IVichoFs Medium Careen. — This new variety is excellent as a pickle sort, and for forcing there is none better. It is very prodnctive, of medium size, and always straight and smooth. Color, dark green ; flesh, crisp and tender. Fig. -ii.— IMPROVED WHITE SPINE CUCUMBER. Early (luster. — A mnch esteemed early variety, grow- ing in clusters and extremely productive. Its color is bluish green, shading lighter at the extremities. Early Russian. — (See figure 45.) This is the earliest variety, coming into use about ten days before the Early Fig. 45.— EARLY RUSSIAN CUCUMBER. Fig. 46. -WEST INDIAN GHEHKIN OR BURR CUCUMBER. Cluster, which it resembles in some respects, but is smaller and shorter. The fruit is generally produced in pairs, and is from three to four inches long, hardy, pro- ductive and fine flavored. One of the best varieties for l^rivate gardens. VEGETABLES — EGG PLAXT. 203 Green Prolific. — As a pickle variety it is unsurpassed. Its characteristics are its very uniform growth, hardly ever yielding Cucumbers too large for pickling, and its immense productiveness. Tailby's Hybrid.— Dark green and glossy in color, good yielder and fine flavor; resembles the English forcing- varieties, with one of which it is a cross. West India Gherkin ©r Burr,— (See figure 46.) This variety, which is exclusively grown for pickling, is a spe- cies distinct from the common Cucumber (Gucumis An- guria). It is very small, length from two to three inches^ a strong growing sort, and should be planted five feet apart. »o* EGG VLkHT.—iSolanum Melongena.) The cultivation of the Egg Plant, fiom its extreme tenderness, is, in its early stage, attended perhaps with more trouble than any vegetable of our gardens. A na- tive of Tropical America, it at all times requires a high temperature. For this reason, in this latitude, the seeds should not be sown in the hot-bed until the first week in April ; even then a steady bottom heat is necessary to a healthy development, and there should be a warm cov- ering at night over the sashes. I have always found that with tender plants of this kind, nothing was gained by starting early, even though by great care the plants are carried through the cold season. By the time they can be planted in the open ground, about June 1st, those started the 1st of March would be no larger than those started 1st of April, besides being harder both in roots and leaves, in v\^hich condition they are far inferior to the younger plants that have been raised with less than half the labor. A correspondent from an inland town writes that, for the first time, the Egg Plant has been grown in his sec- 201 v'V\ki>i:ni Nc von imjokit. Ii()!i (his SOMSOTi, mid (li;it i( luis bcHMi ;i woiuKu' to tho ^ood [)i'(>|)l(M>r (lint |)l;u'i\ :iiul I lu>v wish for nioro lii;lit on its c'iilliir(> nnd iisi>s. 'Tiiis oimiIUmikiu savs (hat tho OJirlios( ami hcM fruit is protluciMl (MI the phnits hist sot out (rliiiK" loth), aiul si>oms to woiulor that siu'li shmiKl bo lljo cuso. His oxporionco hcvc icArhc^ a f«M\'ihlt^ Icvssoii on tlio snhjoot that \\h> so ofton dwoll upon, cautiouiu^" against tho st)\\inii- «>i' phmliui;- o\' tiMuliM" kiuds, such as Tomato, i']ii;U' l^liHit, CuoumhiM- or MiMon, ioo (\irlv. In th(> lati- (u(hM)f Now ^'o^k, l\ui:- Plants slu)uKl novor bo sown in '\ol -boils soi)nor than April 'iOth, tho tiMn[)orat uro of tho ]iot-h(ni to be not loss than scniMity doi^TiHvs at niiiht. 'i'lu> plant at no s(>ason of its growth sh(»uhl bi^ kc\)\ for nny lon«i'th of tinu'at a lo\\(>r aviu-au'o tompiM-at uro than soviMitv (Io«;toi\s. Tho o.xpiM-imont of mv corrospcuulont iliMnonst ratoil that his plants, plantoil in i)pon air on Mav I'.Mh, woro infiM'ior to thoso siM out ou ,]u\\v 10th.' l^iU'ii' Plants, whon thov tirst i;iM-minato, aro vory sonsitivo to damp and to boin^ii" ohillod, and tho amatour ofton fails to raise tiiiMn, ovon with his hot-bod. Hu( as thov aro now urown in all lar^i* (owns, thosi^ wishini^' io try thorn, and ni>t havinii' tho propor moans of raising llu' plants, can pr^)- ouro thoin at trillini^" o\pons(> from (ho marluM o-ai'diMuvrs or ih)rists of thoir nearest town. The soil in which tlu>v fruit bos( isa lioh(, sandy loam, well ouricluul by decayed stabK* manun>. 'I'he V/j:ix Vnui is (it for use from tho time it is tho size o[' a turkey's oi:«.!: until it is full urown, say live inches in dianiotcM-; but it is not so «i\)od when (ho seeds boeome hard, and indicati^ an appoara.ioe of ripenin<2;*. The soil \\\ w Inch 1\l:"i:; Plants aro to he i^'rown can hardly bo too rii'h, for it is a plant that will ii\Miorally ropiy i^ood treatment, 'rhoy are [)lantod from two to throe foot a})art, aeoording to tho douroo of riolniess of vi:(ii;i'Ai{ij:s — lAHi I'Lan'I" 205 Koil ; ill lli(! I'diilc iiiiirkcL /^ardoiiH ii^jvcr 1'hh iliiiii iliroc fvA't. AlUioii.^li iJuiir Kiilo \h (;orii|){iniiiv(!ly limilod, yuf,, fiodi (Ik; (liniciill ics ol'lcii experienced in riu;siii^- LIk; |)l;iiils, :dl lliiii jir(! olTered arc sold ai ^lood prices; IIk; iisoriv^v, is :il)()ii(, $1 per dozen, Ciieii plii,nl, prodiiein*^ six to nine ruil-Hized I'riiil. ILisinons iinj)orliiiil witii tlii.i vo^(;iaI)lo to Holoet Uk; proper- variety for growing tliaii witli any oilier that I know ; for I hat reason we ai'c Fi;^. 47.— NKW yokic impuoved eoo I'LANT. Fi^. 48.— BLACK Pi-iKIll EGG J'LANT. elia-ry of (oiK^hing any other sorts I'oi' iiiai'ki^l piir|)ose.s than tiie "New York Improved " and "Black Pekin." IVcw York Improved. — (Sec figure 47.) This is oi:r lending market variety, and is nsadily distinguisliablc from either tlic Large Uoiind or Long I'lirph; varieties in the plant fieing more i-obiist in all its piirts, the leaves and stems also heing thickly studded with spines, wJiich arc not found to any great extent on tlie other varieties. A productive and excellent variety. 206 GAPvDEXIXG FOR PROFi I". Long Ffirplc, — DiiTerent in shape from the foregoing; sometimes deep purple, and again pale, with white or yellowish stripes. Erirly, productive, and of easy cul- ture. Black PeksSL — (See figure 48.) A comparatively new variety of superior excellence ; fruit glossy, deep purple, almost black, of globular form and very solid. It is earlier and more j^roductive than the New York Im- 23roved, and much superior in flavor, and is now selling rather better in our Xew York markets. Whitc-fniited Egg Plant. — Similar in growth to the Long Purple, but the fruit is larger, and of an ivory white- ness. It is good when cooked, but much less productive, and, like the Scarlet, which is almost identical except in color, is grown more for curiosity and ornament. ENDIVE. — {Cicliorium Endivia.) The cultivation of this vegetable for market purposes is not yet extensive, it being used by few except our Ger- man and French population. It is, however, offered now by the wagon load, where a few years ago a f ew basketf uls would have supplied all the demand. Like all other vegetables that are grown in limited quantities, it com- mands a high price, and the few vrho do raise it find it yery profitable. Like Lettuce, it may be sown at any time, from early spring until August, and perfect its crop the season of sowing. As it is used almost exclusively in the fall months, the main sowings are made in June and July, from which plantations are formed, at one foot apart each way, in August and September. It requires no special soil or manure, and, after planting, it is kept clear of weeds by hoeing and weeding, until the plant has attained its full size, when the process of blanching begins ; for it VEGETABLES — EXDIVE. 20? is never used except when blanched, as it is harsh and bitter in the green state. Blanching is effected by gathering up the leaves, and tying them up by their tips in a conical form, with bass matting. This excludes the light and air from the inner leaves, which, in the course of three to six weeks, according to the temperature at the time, become blanched. Another method cf blanching is much simpler and quicker, and is the one mostly practiced by those who grow Endive for market ; it consists simply in covering 'Tl^y^ "■- >-^^. '■,!<.{ r" Fig. 4'.).— GREEN CUKLED ENDIVE, up the plants as they grow, with slates or boards, which serves the same purpose, by excluding the light, as the tving up. The average price during the months of October, November and December is. fifty cents per dozen. The best sorts are the followino- : Green ('urled. — (See figure 49.) This is not only one of the most useful as a salad, but is highly ornamental from its delicately cut and curled leaves ; it is much used for garnishing. Moss i'urled. — This variety is now common, and is being extensively cultivated. From the density of the foliage, the plant is heavier than the Green Curled, is 208 (;aki)KMN(} tor i-kofit. (.'(jujilly :i;^"reeal)le as ;i salad, and its a|)|)i'araiu'e, either frrocMi or blancluMi, is particiilai'ly liaiidsoine, and is now bi'liii;" niiicli used Tor <;arnisliiiii;" iii our best hotels. IJroad-lravcd Italaviaii. -A loose orowiiii^- variety, rorniiiii;- hut lit lie heart. As with tliis bhiuehiiii;- can only be aceomjjiisheil by tying iij), it is not so desirable as either of the preceding. GAB.LIC. {AUitiin sativuvi.) Another vegetabli* usimI mostly by foreigners. It is of the easiest cnlture, growing freely on any soil suitable for onions. It is propagated by divisions of tJie bulb, ealled ^'cloves" or "sets." These are planted in early s})ring, in rows one foot a|)a.rt, and from four io six inehes between the })lants in the rows. ^Phe erop matures in Aiiirnst, when it is harvested like the Onion. It is always sold in thi' dry state. HORSERADISH.— (A' has still ke]it sulliciently hii^-h to make it a fnirly prolitable ero]). Our a\oi'ane weiii'ht ])er acre is live tons, or a little over th roc- qiiar tiers of a, pound jier n)ot for 12,0lM) jilantcd. Its averao-e price is novv about 'iUOO per ton. l>ur there is one thing- to be renuMubered : these heavy crops are only obtaineil in our i>-ardens that are in the highest state of culture ; no ordinary farm land, tlu> first season, nninure it as you nnght, will prod nee such results. KOHLEABI, OB, TUEIJIP-EOOTEB CABBAGE. {Brassica olcracca. Var.) In general apiiearance. this vegetable more resembles a Rnta. ]>aga 'rurnip than a Cabbage, though it is more generally classed with the lat- ter. It is best cultivated by sowing tlie seeds in rows in ]\[ay, rlune, or July, according to latitude. In t his district we sow throughout flune, for suc- cession in rows eighteen inches apart, thinning out to about eight or ten inches between the plants. It is rather dilUcult to transi)lant, and we generally ]n*efer to sow the whole cro]) from seed, and thin out wh.ere it stands; although when the weather is suitable, the thin- nings nuiy be ])lanted at the distances above named. It is sold in our markets in fall in the green state in bunches containing three roots, at an average price of Fili'. ''^~. — KOIILKAJU, vi:(;ktai{Li:s — Koiii.ifAiu — i.kkfc. 213 seventy-five cents per dozen bunches. As it is not in general use, its sale is limited. The varieties mostly cultivated are : Early White Vienna.— 'I'liis is greenish-white outside ; flesh wliite and tender while young. ^IMie best condition for use is when the root is from three to four inches in diameter; if younger it partakes too much of the taste of the Cabbage, and when older it is ilvy and sti'ingy. The best market sort. Early Purple Vienna. — Almost identical with the preceding, except in coloi-, which is a bluish-purple. LEEK. — (AlHum Porrum.) The Leek is another vegetable that is exclusively grown as a second crop. The seed is sown in April in rows one foot apsirt in ground well prepared, as recom- mended for the Celery seed-bed ; and, like all seed-beds, it is kept scrupulously clear of weeds. The best time of planting is the same as that for all our second crops — during July, or as soon as the first or spring crop can be cleared off. '^I'he ground can hardly be too rich for Leeks, and, when time will allow, we always contrive to get in a slight additional coat of manure for this cro]) ; the spring dressing, large as it always is, hardly being sufficient. The ground being well prepared by plowing and harrowing, lines are marked out by tlie marker at one foot aj)art, and the Leeks planted on each line at five or six inches apart ; we do not earth up, but instead plant rather deeply. As it is a plant the foliage of Avhich is but little spreading, great care must be taken that weeds arc never allowed to get ahead, for if they do, they may soon entirely enveloj) the crop to its total destruction. 2U GAR1)ENIN(» FOR I'UOFIT. i^SlJlrmiffl It is a vegoiablo used mostly in winter and sprinr, and requires to be duft: up, in ibis vicinity, m November, as olbei'wise it would be injured by our severe winters, but in milder sections, it is better left standing where it grew. It is ((uite a hardy vegetable, so that twenty or twenty-five degrees beloAv freezing will not injure it. It is preserved by the maricet gardeners here in trenches, exactly asCeleryis preserved (see Cb;ii)ler on Celery.) Ii:n'ge (piantities are sold in our A'ortbei'u nuirkets tit fairly remunera- tive rates, although, from tlie nature of the plant, itrecpiires i)erhaps more labor tlum any other vegetable to ))repare it for mai'ket. Figure 53 represents the Musselburgh Leek, trimmed pievious to being bunched up for market. From six to eight roots are tied in each bunch, which" bring in the market u))on an average, throughout the season, about fifty cents per dozen bunches. We plant about 85,000 plants on an acre. T\w two varieties used are known as Musselburgh :ind London Flag. The former is rather preferred in market, being usually larger, but there is but little choice be- tween them. Fii^-. 53. — MussELBUKan LEKK. LETTUCE.— {^«c-eable in the hands of every one. In a well-ap- VE(}ETA 15LES — LETTUCE. 215 pointed market garden it i,^ the most important vegetable cultivated, engaging our attention throughout tlic entii-c year, either in the open ground in summer, in forcing houses or hot-beds in winter, or in cold frames in si)i'ing. As our mode of growing it under glass is sufficiently described in treating of pits, frames, etc., I will in tiiis l)lace confine myself to our system of cultivating it out of doors. For our main early crop, that is sold from the open ground in the latter i)art of May or first of Juno, the seed is sown tiie previous season in tlie oi)en ground, from the 15th to 25th of September. Tliese jdants are usually large enough to be planted in frames four or five weeks later, as recommended for Cabbage plants ; about 600 or 700 are planted under a three by six sash. Occasionally we sow seed thinly in the frame in fall and do not transplant them, as it saves a great amount of lab(jr, but they are not ((uite so good phmts ii.i those trans- planted, as it is difficult to sow them so t!iat they come up at the regular degree of thickness. Tlie winter treat- ment of Lettuce plants in every way similar to that described for Cabbage plants. In dry, well-sheltered spots, by covering up with leaves or litter, late in the season, say middle ol: December, Lettuce ])lants, jmr- ticularly of the more hardy kinds, such as Boston Mar- ket and Butter, may be saved over winter without glass covering, in southern parts of the country without dif- ficulty. Like most plants that we term hardy, twenty degrees of frost will not injure them. The plants for setting out in spring are also sown in cold frames in February, and in hot-beds in March. (See Chapter on 'SSpring Raising of Cabbage, Cauliflower aud Let- tuce.") To economize not only in space, but in manure, we make every foot of our gardens available, so that when we come to plant out our Lettuce in March or April, instead of setting it in a bed exclusively for 216 GARDEXINU FOR PROFIT. itself, it is planted at the same time and between the rows of Early Cabbage or Cauliflower, which are set at two feet apart. The Lettuce matures its crop in half the time tliat it takes for the Cabbag'e, and is consa- quentiy all cut off and marketed before the Cabbage is half grown. If it were not so, they could not be botli grown at once on the same ground, for, when the Cab- bage crop attains its growth, it requires the full space allowed — two feet — for its development. This early crop of Lettuce from the open ground is considered rather an auxiliary than a main one ; it meets with a rapid sale at an average of $1.50 per 100 heads. Jiather a low price, it may be thought ; but growers hav- ing only ten acre^ of ground not unirequently plant over 100,000 heads. It is planted somewhat closer than Cab- bage, usually about 15,000 per acre. For succession crops of Lettuce, sowings may be made in the open ground as early as spring opens until Ji\\j. AYhen not planted between Cabbage, they are set at one foot a])art each way. They are sold to some extent throughout the whole summer, but the great weight of the crop is sold about the first week of June in New York markets. The summer price of Lettuce is very variable, as the supply is often irregular ; it may average ^2 per 100. The passenger in Elevated Railroad cars going from Sixtieth Street to Harlem, on New York Island, may yet see, any day from June to October, little patches of vege- tation of ditferent shades of green, ranged in uniform and regular lines. These are the '^ salad patches," culti- vated mainly by Ger.man market gardeners ; they range from two acres down to a quarter of an acre in area. It seems a wonder that the cultivation of such a small plot of earth should give an able-bodied man a living ; but a liv- ing it does give in nearly all cases, and some have quite a respectable surplus for a ''rainy day." VEGETABLES — LETTICE. 217 The manner of growing the Lettuce for the first or early crop, is the same as that practiced by th(? market gardeners of New Jersey or Long Island, namely, using plants from seed sown in fall that have been wintered over under sashes, and planted out as early as the ground is fit to w^ork, which, in these warm nooks (in most cases at the base of rocky elevations), is often as early as the first v/eek in March. In some particularly favored spots the Lettuce is planted out in the first week of October, and, if it remains unscathed during winter, comes in m such fine condition for market in May as to well repay the risk. The variety used for this purpose is the " Brown Dutch." In any section of the conntry where the thermometer never falls lower than ten degrees above zero, Lettuce sown the first week in September and planted out the first week of October in sheltered spots in dry soils, will be almost certain to '^ winter over," and give a crop in spring earlier than if treated by any other method. A plan of recent introduction for the summer growing of Lettuce, is to mark out lines one foot eacli way across the bed, and at the intersection of the lines six or eight seeds are planted, pressed down and slightly covered. These in the summer months germinate in a few days. When the plants are an inch or so high, they are all taken out but one plant. This is a quicker and better plan than planting in hot summer weather, as the Lettuce plant at that season is somewhat difficult to trans]3lant. Succession sowings should be made eveiy two or three weeks. To return to the New York City growers. The varieties grown under glass and first planted out in spring are usually the '"Butter" and ''Curled Simpson," both white and black seeded. As soon as the crojD is planted out, sowings are made for a succession ; this time of the "Salamander" and the " New York," the "Simpson" 218 GARDENING FOli PllOiaX. being unfitted for the warm weather at wirich this sowing would mature. The crop pkmted out in March, matures by the end of May or 1st of June, and as soon as it is cut off, tlie ground is plowed or dug oyer, and the phmts from the March sowings are set. Another sowing is made for plants to succeed these again, and so on during the entire season, the rule being to sow seed at each time of plant- ing. Four crops of Lettuce are usually taken from June to October, or nearly a crop each month. The plants are set about a foot apart each way, and will average one cent per head, so that the four crops give a return of nearly $2,000 per acre. This seems like an immense return for an acre, but though the net profits arc respectable, there are some serious disadvantages attending the cultivation. Few, or none, of these men are owners of the land in New York City, nor in hardly any instance have they a lease. They are tenants at will, and pay a yearly rental, in some instances, of $250 per acre. Many of our country readers may think that an extra cipher has been added to the amount, but they must recollect that the value of some of these ''salad patches," as they are called, is $8,000 per city lot, or over $100,000 per acre, so that the paltry rental of $250 per acre hardly pays the interest on the amount of taxes. The following figures were given me by one of the best and largest grow- ers, whose patch was two acres : Rent - $400 Manure - '-^50 Labor of three men for six months 750 Horse keep and incidentals - -- 450 $1,850 Four crops Lettuce, estimated at . - $4,000 Expenditures 1,850 Annual profits for two acres. $2,150 This w^as in 1874 ; it is probable that now the profits W'Ould be quite one-third less. VEGETABLES — LETTLCE. 219 A pretty good proiit, but deservedly earned, for to attain this result the grower works early and late. It must not be supposed that five acres coirld be cultivated by one man with the above profit. The loss from inade- quate hired labor, and the difficulties of selling large quantities of a quickly perishable crop, would be likely to make the attempt to largely increase the area culti- vated a failure. Bosides, Lettuce is only used to a lim- ited extent in the summer and fall months, and if grown in the quantities that it is in spring, could not be sold, yet in all large citi?s it is used more or less at all seasons, and commands, for limited quantities,' usually a higher price than in spring, the season of its greatest consump- tion. ]S"o doubt the system of our New York City Let- tuce growers might be successfully and profitably followed in the neighborhood of many oilier cities and large towns. The varieties of Lettuce used for the different j^urposes of forwarding and forcing, and for out-door culture in spring and summer, are of more importance than with most vegetables. I once lost almost my entire crop of Frame Lettuce, from planting the Curled India, a summer variety, instead of the Curled Sim^)- ^J^- 54.-early c rled simpson 1-1 XT 1 J- J? LETTUCE. son, which 1 had got irom a well-meaning but not very learned friend, whose hieroglyphics had got transposed. Early Curled Simpson, — (See figure 54). This is still the most generally useful variety for all purposes, and so I place it at the head of the list. Properly speaking, it does not head, but forms a close, compact mass of leaves, which are of a yellowish shade of green and much curled. 2:>0 GARDKNING FOR PROFIT. This peculiarity allows it to matiiro quicker than varie- ties that form linn heads, and gives it its great desidera- tum — eaiiiuess. It is the kind that is largely planted ill cold frames, although not so largely as tlie Boston Market; it is also largely grown as an early open air variety between the rows of the Cabbage crop. Black Scedfd 8imi>S0ll. — (See figure 55.) Like the Curled Simpson, this variety does not form a head proper, but it dift'ers from the preceding in being much lighter colored, the leaves being creamy yellow ; it attains a size "'iixj' Fl;'". ">7. — Ni:\v YOHK i.irrri'O!':. trials in my E\])oriinontal Croiimls for tliopust two years show it to bo tlio lust 01 tift}' kinds io iiin to seed. All (he Voar ?{omi(l.— )/^^ As its nanu» iniplios, it is one o( I \w hi\^l for ^iMu^ial crop. 1 loads of nu>iliuin s\y.(\ solid, o\' da.rk ij,rri>;i color. rails While tic\-^ pri'viouslv Fi-58.--v..vHiswiuTR cos LETTUCE. nuMdioiiod, vot t liov a r sometimos grown in tlu» early vSprinix and fall for privalo use, thonuh 1 havi^ never soon them in our nuirkots. In --KA!*»^ VEGETABLES— MAItJORAM — MELON. 223 shape they differ materially from the other varieties, the head being elongated and of eonieal form, eight or nine inches in height, and five or six inches in diameter. The color of this variety is yellowish-green. To be had m perfection, it requires to be tied up to ensure blanching. Millions of this variety are annually grown to supply tije markets of London alone, where it is preferred to all others. MARJOEAM.— Sweet.— (OKflra?izr/?i Marjoram.) A well-known aromatic herb, grown to a considerable extent for market purposes ; but as it is of less import- ance than Thyme, which is grown very largely for sale, the reader is referred to that head for all information regarding its culture, price, etc., as in these particulars they are entirely identical. MELON.— Musk— (CwcM?ms Melo.) The Melon is not cultivated in the vicinity of Xew York in the market gardens proper, but to a large extent in what may bo called the farm gardens of Long Island and New Jersey. There it is grown rJaiost in the same manner as they grow Corn, planting about the same time and cultivating in the same manner, and often with but very little more profit per acre than a crop of Corn. But the Melon is a fruit easily shipped, and when grown by the forwarding process we detail for Cucum- bers — by planting the seeds on sods under glass— there is no question but that ic can be made equally profitable in all respects with the Cucumber, when grown in south- ern latitudes for our northern markets ; although, like many other fruits and vegetables so easily raised, it can 224 GARDEis^lXG FOR I.iOFT. never be expected to be very profitable if sold in the district in which it is grown. It is a plant not at all particular as to soil, provided it be not wet or heavy. Moderately enriched, liglit soils, are those most congenial to it. For open field culture, Melons should be planted in hills six feet each way, incorporating well with the soil in each hill a couple of shovelfuls of thoroughly rotted manure. Sow four or five seeds in each hill,* and culti- vate afterward as for Corn. A clover sod is especially favorable for Melons. The main point is to push the crop forward as rapidly as pos- sible, so as to catch the high prices which usually rule for an early crop. One of the Melon growers of Hacken- sack, Xew Jersey, admitted to me that he had lost the whole of his late crop by withholding the expenditure of $25 or $30 for guano on his field of twelve acres, which, ii used at the planting, would have pushed the crop for- ward six or eight days, and would thus have saved it from an early fall frost. For this reason, a dressing of guano or bone-meal, well mixed with the soil, should always be used if we would attain the most profitable results. It is a crop that can be as easily raised as a crop of Corn, and when sold at wholesale, it is safe to say, will always pay a profit of at least $100 per acre. The variety most preferred for tliis section is that known as Hackensack, which is grown by the hundreds of acres for the New York market. The most successful growers greatly increase the yield of this crop by a system of * The term " hill," when used here and elsewhere, means but a slight elevation of the surface, and is used only as a convenient term to denote where the seed or plant is to be planted. Bat from the sig'nilication of the word, it naturally leads the novice in gardening into very serious error, by causing him to think he must literally raise a hill on which to sow or plant, and in consequence we too frequently see plants elevated on little knolls a foot or more above the general surface from which the rain slides, and on which the sun beats to their utter destruction. VEGETABLES— MELOX. 225 pinching the main vine,, so as to encourage the lateral shoots upon which the fruit is horne. A Uirge grovv^er in the vicinity of Hackensack, Xew Jereey, a noted locality in this respect, gives the following details of the culture : Melons are a special crop which needs particular care and culture. In some localities they are grown for market in great quantities. It is said that, on one evening in 1885, IGO tvvo-horse wagon loads, each of about 1,000 Melons, crossed by one ferry from a suburb of New York City. And this v/as by no means an extra occasion. The Melon season lasts from July into Octo- ber, so that some idea may be gained from this of the magnitude of this business. The crop is a very prolit- able one when skilfully cultivated, and often realizes $500 to $1,000 an acre, and more rarely even as high as $1,500, when the Melons are the first in the market and bring the highest price of the season. But as with other products, these large profits are only realized by those growers whose long experience and skill give them more than usual advantages. The methods, ho v ever, are no secret, and any one who will follow them may just as easily meet with the same success. The most suitable soil for Melons is a rich, warm, deep, sandy loam, having a southern or southwestern exposure. The latter is preferable, as it gets the last rays of the sun and the soil is thus warmed up for the night, and, being sheltered from eastern and northern winds, retains this warmth until the morning. This may make several days' difference in the ripening of the crop, which may be equivalent to $300 or $400 an acre in the value of the fruit. The manner of culture is as follows : The soil is plowed .in the fall or early in the spring and is cross-plowed the first days of May, about twenty loads per acre of manure being plowed under, in addition to the special manuring for each hill. The ground is then well harrowed and furrowed out six feet 226 GAKDEIsnXG FOR PROFIT. apai't each way. A good shovelful of mixed fine manure and night soil, togettier with a small handful of guano, is used in each hill, being mixed with the soil, for nine inches deep and twenty-four inches wide ; six or eight seeds are planted in each hill. The first planting is early in May ; other plantings may be continued through June. The hill is raised two or three inches above the surface, and is made about two feet broad and quite flat. "When the plants appear above the surface they require- protection from cut worms, which would otherwise cut the stems and destroy them ; and as the rough leases appear, the weaker plants are thinned out and only three left. A good method of protecting the plants against the cut worms is to make a ring of thick paper, about a foot in diameter and three inches broad, and place this around them, so as to form an obstacle over T^hich they cannot climb. The after cultivation consists of deep plowing at intervals, at least twice, and frequent cultiva- tion, until the vines begin to run, when the terminal buds are pinched off to cause the growth of the lateral branches. The main vine produces chiefly male or bar- ren flowers, and if this is left to run, the laterals would not push out and there would be little or no fruit. Tlie lateral shoots bear the female or perfect flowers, and to encourage the growth of these, is one of the secrets of Melon culture upon which the profits depend. The same peculiarity of growth is found in all the gourd tribe, and applies to Squashes, Cucumbers and Water Melons, as well as to Musk Melons, careful attention to which, other things being right, makes success certain. The pests of the Melon are lice, the striped beetle, and the squash bug. The lice appear on the under side of the leaves and are difficult to get at, so that the simplest and most effective remedy is to pinch off the affected leaves or the part of the vine and carry it away and burn it. If left undisturbed; the lice from one hill will <(uickly TEGETAI?LES — MELOX. 227 spread over several square rods and completely destroy the crop. A sure preventive against the lice or Aphis is tobacco, which, if either in the form of refuse stems or dust, is strewn on the hill, the lice will never appear ; it will also act as a preventive against the striped bug. The striped beetle is the worst enemy to deal with. It lays its eggs on the stem at the ground, and the small grubs work their way to the root and feed upon it. The first indication of their presence is the wilting of the leaves— '-'going down" of the vines, the growers call it —and vine after vine thus goes down, until at times the larger part of the crop may be destroyed when the Melons are half grown. The remedy for this pest is to apply strong tobacco water around the stem on the first appear- ance of the small striped beetle and repeat it in a few clays, and to repeat it again as soon as the wilting of the first leaf is noticed. The fruit begins to "net" about two weeks before it ripens, and the indications of ripe- ness are the fragrant scent, the softness of the blossom end of the melon, and the cracking and easy parting of the stem. Too much care cannot be used in sowing the seeds of all plants of this class, as they cross very readily ; for this reason, when seeds are to be saved from any par- ticular variety, care must be taken that it is widely re- moved from any other— not less than 300 yards'. If seed is not wanted, improper crossing will make no difference to the fruit that season, but the seed— the pro- duct of that crop— will be affected thereby, and its im- purity developed in the fruit raised from it. From the facility with which the Melon intermixes, it follows that the varieties are very numerous, and for the same reason it is difficult to retain varieties pure. The following seem to be the most fixed in character, and are the varieties in general use: Early Hackeiisack,— This is an improvement of recent :3v^s nAK':>i:NiNr. von ruo fit. iutroihh'tion on ilio \vrll-kni>\vn •• ll;u'kiMis;u'k," do- yi'ribmi 'oolow. in b.Mnu from livo L) six (l;i\s o;irlii>r. This iMiTmoss i;a\c a <;ro\\or in Albany, \i>\v Wirk. last isnninuM" ( 1SS()). (n'tM* ^1(H^ mow prr :\cvv in usinii'lhiv^ variolv, abo^o all ol luu" kinds irioil. In v^i/.o it is Siunr- •Vi-' Fig. tid. — HAOKENS.VCK Ml^SK MKl.ON. wliat smallor. but it is similar in v:\]cv ros|>i\'ts to tho Iari:o Ihu'konsai'k. Ilackeusack* — (Sov> liuuiv -'>'.).) Tliis is now oiu> o( tbo inosl popular varic^lios i^Town for niai-kiM by iho ^ankMiors of liiis vii'iniiy. ll attains a lar^osi/o. is round in sbapo aiui llattouod at tho onds ; skin iiivotiand thiokly nottod. Tlio llosh also is aiw^n. and rioh ami sugary in llavor. It is wondorliilly ]>roduot ivo. ^ioldni \on(Mi (inn. (Soo liiiuiv bO. ) This is ono o( tho oarliost, ^, and nt> doubi tho brsi small Molon ' I jvi'v^^^ '>. Tlu* fruit is ii'Kibo-sliapod, unil\uan in si/.o. woi^hiuii" from ^^'h> ^^ and a ipiartor to ono pound and Fisr. (>0.— uoi.owN NKutcn a half oaoh. 'IMio llosh is lighl- OKM MiMv MKi.oN. oivou. aud o\' tiuo ilavor. naltiiuoro. — \^Soo tiu-uiv t"»l.) This is a pn)ductivt» aud vi;oi:tai}ij:s— mj;ko.n'. ^'iO cxoollcMif: Hhii)f)ifi^^ Mdon, tliat curi uhvayK b(; foiirj'l in itn seaKon In Uio f^ol IjoIoJw and rentaurantH of Now Yoik, PliiIar3^'I[>liia ati'l I'altjrnoiv;. Ij, jm ;i iln(;k, ^^rcon-lloHhed vuj-if;fy of ot>lon<( form, find of oxeolU^tJ, flavor. Jrj P>jil- tinion- iiiKJ farUior kouIIj Lhin claHH of Melon Ih known a-! CanijiloMpo. Moutrcal >!arkct.— (Sec fi/(ure C^.) The McIoiih of this oxerjllont variety are of the I'drgoat size. We liave /J30 GAKDKNlNii \'0\l I'KOKIT. had tluMu wiM;;hiiiii' ovor Iwonty ju>inuls. Tu fovni it is? almost round and deeply ribbed. The t^kin is given and netted ; llesli i^reen, very Ihiek and of the linest llavor. It is largely raised for the nuirkeis oi' JMonlreal, where it is justly hiulily esteemed. <«ITOll Mh'OI). — This exeellent Melon was formerly the leadini; variety in our ^ew ^'o^k markets, but oi' laie years il has been superseded by the llaekensai'k. The fruit is of medium size, deeply netted, ol' globular shape and six to eight inehes in diameter. Flesh green and of line ilavor. MELON.— Water.— ((\7rlauted about the same time and euliivated in all resjiects the sanu^ as the jMusk JMelon, oidy that (he hills should not be less than eight feet apart. It is grown in immense quantities on the light sandy stuls of ]\e\v Jersey for the New York and riiiiadelphia markets, in whieh it is said to give a profit of from ^5Q to ^100 per aere. But it is in the vieinity o^ our Southern cities — Charleston. Savannah, and also nniny points in Florida, etc., where we have regukir steamboat eommunieation, that these tro}>ieal fruits ean be grown ai a high rate of profit to the cultivator. Water j\lelons grown in the vieiniiy'of Charleston id July are sold by the tens of thousands in Kew York to the consumer at 81 each, Avhile those grown in Southern Jersey in August and September, are a drug at lifteen and twentv-tive cents. The leavling varieties are: V K'i J;TA liUlH — M I'AA) S . 231 Phiiiru'y's r]arly, — Wn-y oarly, produclivo, of inodium HJzo arj(J 'jiialily. Ice t'rcum.— Tlio Wliito Seeded Jco Cream or lY-erleKs is of rriediuni size, nkin pale green, flefih scarlet, of the best quality. .Hoiuilain Sweet.— An old favorite. It is of largo .size, oblong hliape, :-:!althier cro}> of whatever vegeta- ble may follow it. THE IMJOIH'CT. The product of the average ()nion crop varies very much, ranging from o(H) to 000 bushels per acre, the mean being about GOO bushels per acre. The price, like that of all perishable connnodities, is variable, ranging from 50 cents per bushel, the price at which they usually wholesale in the New York market in fall, to $1 or $1.50 ]H>r bushel for winter and sj^ring prices. The estimate, then, of }>rolit per acre may be given about as follows: Manure, per acre $ ?3 rii)winu:, weodiuii: aiiil harvestins: crop, per acre 100 Six \iounds seed, avera2,'e ^2 per pound 12 Kent or int orest on land, per acre . - 9 Market inu' I'vop. per aere 7 Cost 1200 Six hundred bushels per aere, at 50 cents 800 ft-ofit 6100 Vf:<;F:TATnj:.s cauvj^v. 25 1 'I'his CHiimaio in a ino(J(!r;iLo one, foi- if \\\AT UKlJ OMf>N. Fl(< 08. LAItOK FiKD WKTIIKKHFIKLn ONION. 'i'hoHr; cuts, wtiicli !iif, liMifJIy IjmII' the !JV(!i!i{:^f; riatur.'il nizf, uro i,'-iven to Hhow Ui'; Hliapf; (ui'J iv;l;itiv<; hIzc of Uio fJiilcKMiL kirid.4. Lar^c Red Wcthcrsficld.— (See figure 08.) 'I'hiH i'h a ^"aAorito sort tV^r gerieriil rjrop. A hirgo yieldei- nr.d ^'•oorl keeper. Vellovv (;iobc Dan vers. (See figure 09.) A fine gloh(!-.shaped vaiiety, one of the bent yielders and a splen- did keepei'. Soulhport hur'^v. Vcllow (;iobc.— (S(;e figure 70.) This is perfeetly glohular in form. It is a good yielder and fine keeper. The Large Ked Globe and the South- ;^5*v GARDENING FOK IMiOFtT. [)ort Lnri^v W'hiio (Hobo [)ossess the same cluiracteristics as (lu> v:>riotv just (k'scribrd, and vary only in tlu' coloi. Soii]Si|M>S't \\ llEtC ^«loho, — One of Iho linost a])pearing Fig. 09. — iiii.Low la.ouK i>.v.n- VEUS ONION. Fiji'. 70. — t^Oi i'lii'OUT lAlU^H VILl.OW GLOUK ONION. a'.ul most saleable sorts we liave ; ])ure white, tine llavor and in every way desirable. It is not (jiiite as o-ood a keeper as some of the colored sorts, bnt it is a great favorite in the New York market. Soiiniport \\Vi\ ^Ao\h\ — Similar to the above in slia} e ; color, a d(>ep red ; a good kee[)er. Itf'rmuiia Onion. — A di;tinet sort, ])rincipally grown in the Island of Bermnda, altliongh the seed cannot bo grown there. There are two varieties of it, the ^\ liite and the Pale Red. They are both very early, and are the varieties from wlueh as high as r-300,000 bags of Onions have been shipped from Bermnda in one sea- sim. It is now being extensively in((uired for by t^e truckers in the South, for the reason that it cai^ bo grown there as })rofitably as in Bermnda. whii'li lias h.ad VEGETABLES- ONION. 253 for thirty years a (;ornf)i('to inoiiopoiy of it,s culture. Great care kIioiiM be t;ik(!ii in <^(]\i\\\'/^ the weed genuine. V^'llow B)iilr8i, — A Hat, yellow Onion. A '/ood yicldcr, Ijut not BO desirable as otlier yeJlow sorts, on account oF its color and shape. Tliis iind tlic Flat Yellow l)at)vers are vei-y similar, it. is oik; of the heiivie.'t ei'opjx'rs. White B'ortu^^al or Silver Sliiii.— (See fi^^nin; 71.) One of the leadin;^^ soris of wliite, Hat Onions. A most ex- cellent keeper and good yieldej*. Fi^. 71. -AVilUK J'OUTI.'OAJ. ONfON. Fi{^. 72,— GIANT HOOCA ONION. The following sorts are Italian varieties, and are well adapted for growing. in the Southern States : Queen. — 'Ihis is the ear]i(!st of the Italian sorts, small, flat, white and mild-flavored. IVeapolitan Marzajola. — An early, white, flat Onion, of fine llavor. («iant Rocca. — (See figure 72.) A very large-growing globe-shaped variety, of a j-eddish-brown color ; flavor mild and sweet. 354 GARDENING TOR PROFIT. Lariro White Italian Tripoli and Larjyc Ked Italian Tripoli.— (See figuiv 7o.) These gnnv to a large size, and are later tliau either of the preceding. Fig. 73. — WHITE TRirOI.T ONIOS. Potato Onions are increased by the bulbs as it grows, splitting into six. eight or ten sections, which form tlie crop from Avhich the **set," or root for next season's planting is obtained. These are planted in early spring, in rows one foot apart, three or four inches between the onions, and, like the Onions raised from sets, arc gen- erally sold green, as in that state they are very tender, while in the dry state thoy are less desirable than the ordinary Onion. T'op Onions, so-called, arc propagated by the peculiar growth of this variety, which produces a cluster of small bulblets on the Onion stalk, a cluster of bulblets being formed instead of flowers and seeds. In all respects its culture is the same as the Potato Onion, only that, as the bulbs are smaller, they can be planted closer. VEGETABLES — PA IJSLEY. 255 PARSLEY. — (Petroselinum sativum.) A vegctiible in more <(enonil use for gariii«lilni( than any othur plant of our gardens ; it is also extensively used in soups, stows, etc. Its cultivation forms (piite an impoi'Lant item in market gardens, particularly under glass. The manner of cultivating it thus is by sowing it between the rows of a growing crop of Lettuce in our cold frames in April. As it is slow to germiiuite, it only appears at the time the Lettuce is out off in M;iy. It is then cleared from weeds, hoed, jirid forms a growth fit to cut a month before that sown in the open ground. After the fii'st cutting has been made in June, it is gen- erally so low in price as not to be worth marketing, so it is allowed to grow througli the summer until the first week in September, when it is cut off close to thegi'ouiid and thrown a/oay, jis it is rarely wanted at this season. It is again hoed, and as at this time it makes a short, healtiiy growth, suitable for keeping well in winter, it is stowed away in narrow, shallow trenches, exactly in the same manner in which we preserve Celery. M'his way of growing Pa''sley is, I believe, mainly con- fined to the vicinity of -New Yorlc, but as the consumj)- tion of such an article is necessarily limited, this market has been oversupplied of late years. T'ornierly it has frequently paid twice the value of the sash tliat covered it in one season — IG for a three by six sash. No doubt, in many places, this system of growing would be as profit- able as it used to be with us. When not grown under glass, it should be sown thickly in rows a foot {i]);irt in early spring in the o|)en ground. Where greenhouses are used for forcing vegetables, l-'arsley can bo nicely grown under the benches, at least as far under as there is partial light. This is best done by sowing the seed in boxes (three or four inches deep, eighteen inches wide, and two feet in length), in Augu.-t, keeping them out-of-doors until cohl 256 GARDENING FOR PHOFTT. weather in November, and thou ])l;ioiiiu- (Iumu nndor the benches of the greenlioiiso, but close to the walk, where fchey will i;et iho niosf. light, as this space cannot bo util- ized for anythino; else, except for foroinijf Ivliubarb and Asparag-us or Parslov. (See Chapter 10, *' (ireonhouso;^. for Forcing Vegetablo Crops." ) if Parsley is wan toil in winter, it will bo t'oiiml to do noarly as well in this posi- tion as in the full hght. The variotio^^^ arc . Ileudersoirs Line rahJ.— (Sec llo-ure 74.) The finest varietv for market, dooidoLJlv light or in color than the ..^f'^®;^- <^^>^.%^:r^'^^: ■■1^ :'.;^4^ 'V'h 4'^. -i— ^"- _ — ^ — -_ - J"^^*^ j-'^iV -- - . — --^ Fig. 74 — EMEKALD P.\K!>!.i:v. Double and .Moss Curled varioiies. Is partieularly adapted for garnishing, which is one of the main uses to whioh Parsley is put. It is now the main sort g-rown by the market gardeners of New York. DouMc I'iirlcd, — A d^varf growing variety, beautifully t urlod. The kind most largely grown by market gar- deners, until the introduction of the " Emerald." rem l.favcd, — Distinct and beautiful. Very useful for table decoration, as it appears more like a crested Fcni or ^loss than like Parslov, Vi:GETABLr.S — PARSXIP. 257 Main* — Oi tliis variety the leaves are plain. It in har- dier, })ovvever, iijan any of the curled sorts. iSamtmr^S or Turuip-Rootcd, — A fleshy-rooted kind, the root,-; of which are lined for flavoring soups. VA'RS'NlP.—iPctstmaea sativa. ) Of late years our market garden grounds have become too valuable to be used in growing this vegetable, the competition from well cultivated farm lands having brought it down below our paying level. Its cultivation is, in all respects, similar to the Carrol. The soil most suitable is a deep and sandy loam, moderately enriched. It is sown rather thickly in our gardens in early spi'ing, in rows which are about twelve or fourteen inches apart ; on farm lands at eighteen or twenty inches, or wide enough for the rows to he v/orked between by the horse cultivator. Like all vegetables of this nature, it must be thinned out to a distance of about three or fonr inches between the plants, and our oft-repeated caution about weeds is here again enjoined. Parsnips are used almost exclusively in winter, but in our Northern States what is wanted for winter use must be dug up in fall, and packed away in the manner described under the heud of " Pre- serving Vegetables in AV' inter." AVliat are wanted for sale or use in spring, are best left in the bed v/hero they grew, being entirely hardy in our coldest districts. About one-half is usually dug up and pitted in fall for sale in winter, and the other half left over for spring. But it sometimes happens that the winter supply is ex- hausted before the frost is out of tiie ground in spring suffrcicntly to permit of tlieir being dug, and wh(m pro- curable at sucli times, tliev command almost falniloiis 258 (JAKDIONIHd KOH PUOIMI'. prioos. llowover, ilio iivcnigo price is just about Muit of Carrots. 'V\w varieties are con lined to the Hollow ^'r®W!U'«l, — Mostly used by market gardeners. The Sludent. — (J rows a little smaller, but has a more delicate llavor. Early Uoillldt — A small round early sort. PEA. — {Pt'sHDi sad rum.) The lV:i is i;-ro\vn lar^-ely tor market purposes in nearly every State in the Union, the time at which it is sown and matures being at widely dilTerent dates in Northern and Southern sections. In any district its iiighest de- gree of ])erreetion is attained nnder a comparatively low temperature, hence it is one of the many vegetables de- scribed as best to bo sown in '" early spring.'' 'i'rue, it is sown for a. succession crop throughout the summer months, even as late as August, but the first sowings ever} where always produce the best results, and it is from the first sowings only that it is mostly oltered in market. For markil. purposes it is more a crop of the farm than of the garden, and many hundred acres arc cultivated in Southern Jersey ami Long Island for the New York market. Warm, light soils, moderately enriched by stable ma- nure or bone dust, are best adapted to its culture, but if the ground has been manured the previous year, no ma- nure is needed. Tiie whole crop is marketed by July, and is usually follovred by a seccmd crop of Late Cabbages or Turnips. The two crops togetlier average a prolit of from ^MOO to ^1i^"200 per acre, according to earl iness, 'con- dition of aoil, etc. There is an iiuporlant matter con- VEGETABLES — PEA. 259 nected with growirif^^ Peas, tli:it confines ihoir culture to the vicinity of a town or vinag(! — it is the necessity of being able to get a large nnnibci- of hands to pick iit the time tliey ai'c marketable. I'lie vai'iation in one day in the market is not unusually from $2 to 50 cents ])er busliol, which siiows tiie great importance of an early crop. From the soft condition in which it is required to be gathered, it is a vegetable not very manageable tct ship, and the [)a(^kages, which should be latticed boxes or baskets, should never exceed the capacity of a bushel, when shipped from distances requiring from two to three days in th(^ transit, liut even, th's expense and care are well re[)aid by the high rates for which the first lots are sold. Wlien grown as a market crop. Peas are rarely ever staked. They are sown in single rows about two inches deep, the rows two to three feet apart, according to the variety or the strength of the soil. Wiien grown in small quantities for private use, they are generally sown in double rows, six or eight inches apart, and stakcl up by brush, for the taller growing kinds. The varieties arc very numerous, but are in a great state of confusion, the same kind being often sent out under a dozen names. The following varieties are well- defined, arranged as our experionco givos the order of merit for this locality. I'EAS— EXTRA EARLY. First of All.— (See figure 75.) One of the best types of the Extra Early Class, and u.nsurpassed as a market variety. The pods are of good size and well-filled. A very heavy bearer, and can be pi(;ked clean in two pick- ings, thus making it the best sort for early ])liinting in market gardens. It is also very hardy, and when planted in the fall or early spring, as is done in some parts of the South, usually stands the cold better than 260 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. VEGETABLES — PEA. 201 any other sort. One bushel and a half of seed is re- quired jicr acre. Improved Daniel O'Rourke and Extra Early.— These are excellent early varieties and great favorites in all parts of the country, but are not so regular in habit as the First of AD. These, as well as the First of All, should be sown for a field crop in rows of from two to two and a half feet apart, about one and a half bushel of seed being required for an acre. American Wonder, — (See figure 76.) One of the best acquisitions of this generation, but a variety perhaps better suited for private use than to the market gardener. It is early and very productive. The j^easare wrinkled, and its distinctiveness consists in its extremely dwarf growth, which rarely exceeeds ten inches in height. Can be sown at eighteen inches apart ; two bushels of seed is re- quired for an acre. Like all wrinkled peas, the flavor is much superior to the round, or first early kinds. Alaska. — Very distinct and first early; foliage very light green, vines slender. In our trials this year (1886), it was shown to be very iDroductive. Premium Clem. — A green, wrinkled marrow, that comes into use just a few days later than the First of All or Improved Daniel O'Rourke. It grows from twelve to eighteen inches high, is very productive, and of excel- lent flavor. Kentish Invicta. — About five days later than the First, of All and Daniel O'Rourke. Very productive, and pos- sesses fine flavor. Although it is one of the best for can- ning purposes, it is also largely grow^n for market. McLean's Advancer. — A second early variety, and now a great favorite with market growers in this neighbor- hood, among whom it is often known as the Early 262 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. VEGETABLES — PEA. 263 Champion. It is a green wrinkled variety, of delicious flavor. FOR THE GEN^ERAL CROP. Champioii of Ens^land. — Tliis is still, by general con- sent, acknowledged to be the best of the late sorts. It is a tall-growing kind, attaining a height of four feet or more, and requires to be stak- ed. The pods and peas are of the largest size. Strataja^eiii. — (See figure 77.) Is a newer variety, and by good judges considered one of the best Peas raised in recent years. It is a dwarf -grow- ing, Avrinkled, blue marrow, and produces large, well-filled pods. Yorkshire Hero. — A splen- did wrinkled green marrow Pea, of a branching habit, and an abundant bearer. Seedsmen on both sides of the Atlantic find their sales for this variety constantly on the increase. Telephone— A newer tall, wrinkled marrow, with enorm- ous pods, which are not al- ways well-filled. In spite of this, it IS becoming a favorite market garden sort. Bliss' Abundance. — Eemarkably productive; grows from twenty-four to thirty inches high. Bliss' Everbearini?. — Also very productive ; grows Fiff. 77.— STRATAGEM PEA. 264: GARDENING FOR PROFIT. from eighteen to twenty-four inches liigh. Should be planted thinl\% and is noted for a continuance of bearing. Pride of the Market. — Also a new sort, strono- stow- ing, and a wonderful bearer. It grows only from eighteen to twenty-four inches liigh, producing large pods of Peas of exceptionally fine flavor. Ilhick-Eyed and White marrowfat,— These are botli productive and hardy varieties, extensively grown as field Peas, to be used dry. They are also, from their great productiveness, grown largely in both private and mar- ket gardens, but they are not of so fine flavor as most other varieties. PEPPER. — (Capsicum annuum.) A tropical plant, that requires to be started in hot-beds or forcing-pits in the Northern States. Tlie most com- mon method is to sow in liot-beds in March, and treat in all respects as directed for the cultivation of the Egg Plant. Light sandy soils are rather best suited for its growth, but it will grow^ tolerably well on any soiL When cultivated for market they are planted in rows two feet apart and fifteen inches between the plants. The crop is only moderately profitable, but it is not grown in large quantities, the main consumption of it being by the pickle factories. The varieties are : Larfi^C Bell or BjiII Nose. — An early variety, of mild flavor, and a favorite sort both for pickling and for use m the natural state. Sweet Motiiitain or Mammoth.— Similar to the Bull Nose, but larger and milder m flavor, l^sed to make stuffed pickles. VEGETABLES — POTATO. 265 Ruby Kiii^. — Introduced two years ago, aiul ;i decided acquisition. The peppers grow from four and a half to six inches long by three and a half to four inches thick, are bright-red in color, and are mild and pleasant to the taste. Squash or Tomato-Shaped. — Generally grown for pickling, hardly so eai'ly as the Bull N^so, but very pro- ductive, and the lea ling market variety. CJoMew Dawn, — Of the same shape and size as the Large Bell, but of more delicate flavor, while the color, as the name indicates, is a beautiful golden yellow. I'raii berry, — One of the best for picklhig. The fruit closely resembles tiie Cninberry in appearance. Loni? Ked I'ayeime. — The variety of commerce. Pods small, cone-shaped, scarlet when ripe. It is quite a late variety, but the pods are as frequently used for pick- ling green as when ripe. "POTATO.— {Solanum tuberosum.) The soil acknowledged to be best suited for the Potato is sandy loam ; in ail heavy soils it is more subject to disease, and the flavor is also much inferior ; this, how- ever, is true of nearly all vegetables, heavy land inducing a watery insipidity of flavor. Like all robust-growing vegetables, Pototoes can be grown with varying success on soils of all kinds and m all conditions of fertility, but it is every way most profitable to use an abundance of manure wdien it is at all attainable. In breaking up good pasture land, the decaying sod answers sufficiently Avell for the first year in lieu of manure. Manure is applied either in the rows or hills, or broadcast over the surface, and plowed in ; the latter plan being in nil cases pre- 2(i(i HAHDENING l'01{ PROFIT. fcrablo, uhon inaniiro can bo oblaiiuHl in sullieicnt quan- tities. Potatoes, \A\on g-rowji for lutirkot at tbo Nortb, arc always a farm crop, the rcccii)ts per acre bciui^: much too low for the regular market garden. The large (plant it ios that are planted usually prevent the u^^e of manur(> in any other way except in the rows. When thus applieil, fur- rows are plowed out in spring, after the ground has be- come dry and warm, usually three feet apart, and from four to live inches deep. The numure is spread in the furi-ow. the *' sets" or '* seed *' planted thereon frcun eight to ten inches apart, and the furrow again covered in by the plow. As soon as the shoots are seen above ground the ridge should be at once boed, and the cultivator run between the rows. As they advance in growth, the soil should be laid up on eacli side against the row, so as to form a slight ridge. The Potato disease, which lias frccpuMitly been so dis- astrous in Ireland and })arts of Scotland, has never been very devastating beri>. It is now well known to be a par- asitical fungus, J^'roi/ospora iuf(\sfrj/s, for whicdi all reme- dies are useless when the crop is attacked. Like all dis- eases of this kind, the oidy hel]) we have is prevention. As far as experiments have gone, they have shown that Potatoes are always less liable to attacks of disease or rot if planted in new land, broken up from the sod, or at least that which has not been long in cultivation. Another enemy to this crop is the well-known Colorado Potato beetle. Importunately, for this pest we have a cer- tain renunly in Paris green, mixed with twenty parts of Hour, applied by dusting while the dew is on the leaves in the morning, or after a rain, or else in a liquid form of one ounce of Paris green to ten gallons of water. But which- ever way it is applied, it should be begun at the very first apoearanee of the beetles. If they once get a foothold, they increase so rapidly that the cro[) is often destroyed VEGETABLES — POTATO. 20? before ilic remedy can Ije of any avail. Paris green beiii^ a deadly poison, it is absolutely neeessary iliat fields on whieli Potatoes are growing should be proteeted from cattle. It is sometimes su])posed that danger miglit arise from the use of the Paris green adecfing tlie Potato tubers. There need be no fear of tiiis, as tbe tubers do not in any way absorb it. The Long Island farmers, in the neighborhood of Xew Yo]-k, have their ei-o[)s of Early Potatoes sold off early enough in July to get tin.' ground leveled and Late Cab- bages planted on the ridge on which the JVjtatoes have been growing, sullieient manure being left in the gj-ound to carry through the ci'op of Cabbage. The two crops together give an average profit of lloO an acre. Potatoes may be preserved during winter by the section pit system recommended for t he general preservation of vegetables, or in a frost-proof cellar. 'I'he varieties of the Potato are very numerous, many of them having only a local reputation, so that it is some- what difficult to name the best for such an extensive ter- ritoiT" as ours. But few of the varieties named below werOi grown twenty years ago. but these are such as are now in very general demand, wdiich indicates that they are the best for general cultivation. Early Rose. — .A. standard variety everywhere. It is still one of the best for earliness, quality and productive- ness yet introduced. Vanguard. — Extremely early, perhaps the earliest of all. Quality unsurpassed, but not quite so heavy a yielder as some others. Fearl of Savoy. — A good yielder and a very excellent variety. The tubers are large and oblong ; flesh, white and mealy. Beauty of BSebron.— One of the best early sorts, being very productive and of fine quality. 2i>S CxWiDEHlSii FOH PiaU'JT, I^BJipsrc Slate— (See llo-iiiv IS.) This is a- now niuin crop variety, \ or V proiluclivo, aiul in I ho ostiniiitioii of tlio origiiuitor, Mr. Coy (to whom wo are indobtoil for tho Boautv of Ilobron), a porl'oct Potato for ^-onoral pur- ])0scs. It is of excellent quality, tind a rough and vigor- ous li'rowor. Whitf I'llephaitt. — Is late, largo, of good quality, and enorniouslv proiUictive. YEGETARLES — POTATO. 260 Clark's J\'o. I.— (Seo figure 70.) Tliis is sjiid to bo earlier tliiiri tlie Early Kose, and it is ccrlainly v(;i'y pi-o- ductive. The flavor is cxccllorit, and it cooks dry and mealy. A great favorite ab(^nt Charleston, S. C, where it is grown for tlie Xorther]) markets. St. Patrick. — One of the handsomest varieties in cul- tivation. The tubers are smooth, with very few and shallow eyes. A good yielder, and of the best f|iiah"ty. iliiral BIsssh. — Spoken of very higlily, ];oth as to ^ield and qiialily. Rochester E'avorite. — A late sort, tubers white and oblong. Jt is an excellent market Potato, as it is an im- mense yi Older. Triuinj)ll,— An early variety, that has given groat sat- isfaction, particularly in the Soutli. Very productive, and of good ((uality. Perfect Feachblow, — (See figure 80.) A most ])i-oin- ising new variety, resembling somewhat the old Peach- 270 (; AKDl'IN I N(i KOi: I'liOKIV. blow ill f^'oiicnil jippcMrancc, but ri])(,'iiiiii;- carlior and cooking tliroiigli very quickly and evenly, a chamctcristic Fii;. SO. — PKUi'EOT I'KAcam.ow iotato, thai w;is want inu' in (lie older IV'aeliblow. 'Vhc ilesli is \)\\vc white and llu> (|uali(y exeelliMd. (\)nsid(>ral)le discussion has at various times occurred concenung the relative in(>rits of plantinsi' cut or whole tubers, but is yet undecided, each nu'tliod liavini^- its ad- vocates; a fact which goes Tar to jtrove that it is oi' little coMse([uenc(* wliieli wav is I'oIlowHHi. Tlu* best rule, in our experiiMtee is, to plant tlu^ whole small tubiM's if fully matured, and cut the larger ones, but in eifluu' cas(^ K>aving enough in bulk of tlu^ potato to give sulliciiad sustiMianct* to the plant, 'JMie superinttmdent of oiu' of the State Experimental VEGETAHLES— I'OTA'I'O. 271 Stations, in a rocent rcpoiL on cxpcrinicnls niadc; with Potatoes, gave it as his o[)inion that hy coiil iniially selecting the b(3st tnbors, a varioi-y could Iki pcnnanently improved. Believing tiiis to be an error which should not go foi'th unchaliengxul from sneli an authority, 1 take the liberty, at the risk of a slight digi'cssion, to give a few facts which argue against the belief, published by me in an agricultural journal in 1885, uudcr the head of ^'Do Pl.dits Vary when Propagated by Cuttings?" On reading what is said about ''seed" Potatoes, I notice the assertion is made that '* seed'' taken from the most produelivc hills gave a larger yic^Id of tulxu-s (ban (hat taken fi"o;n the least jji-oiluetiv, 1 ;:in ii^elined to believe that fui-ther ex])(!rimeiits will show that this in- creased j)roductiveness will not continue to hold. I)ecause tjfiG reason for the greater or less yield was i)robal)ly only an accident of cii-eumst.'nKu's — specially favorable condi- tions of the set nnide to form tlu; hill, oi- by being highly fertilized, oi* some such cause that gave it this tem|)o- rary advantage — and that the chances are all against any permanent improvement being made by such selections. T!ie Potato is said (o hav(! IxM'n inti-oducicd into Europe ill 1584. If the original tubers h;id had the highest cultivation that the skill of man could give, it is exceedingly doubtful if )J00 years of culture would have changed them in the slightest degree, if propagatioii had been solely from the tu))ers, ,ind not fi-om seed p]-()[)er. I base this opinion on a very extended exp('rien(;e in the cultivation of [)laiits from cuttings. Strawberry plants taken from any well known kind, such as Sharp- less, for exaiupl(\ from strong, vigorous growing pkint,s, will certaiidy give better results than fi-om weak j lan(,s of the same kind planted in the same soil, iiut if the l)r()geny of the sti'ong and the weak plants ai'c again tak(^n and replanted, the dilference between the two would hardly be perceptible after they had been growing to- 272 GAEDEI^'IN'G FOR PROFIT. gether under the some conditions. Every now and then we hear of varieties of fruits or flowers^ said to be de- generating, that are propagated from cuttings, grafts or roots. I believe there is no such tiling as permanent de- generation of any fruit, flower or vegetable that is raised from cuttings, grafts or roots. The Jargonelle Pear, the Ribston Pippin Apple, the Hamburg Grape or the Keen Seedling Strawberry of the English gardens, are found to look just as good and as bad, under ditferent conditions of culture, as they were fifty or 100 years ago, and that any change, either for better or worse, is only an accident of circ .imstances, and temporary. For, be it remembered, that when a plant is raised from en t tings, as in the grape-vine, grafts as in a Pear, or layers as in a Straw- berry, or pieces of the tuber as in a Potato, such parts- are not seed proper, but are merely parts of thy same indi- vidual that was first called into existence. The Early -Rose Potato, introduced nearly a -quarter of a century ago, is just as good to-d:iy, under proper cultivation, as when first introduced, but it is certainly no better. It is often to be found under unfavorable circumstances, and then may be supposed to have degenerated ; but when it is shown, under other circumstances, to-be as tineas when first introduced, how can the assertion of permanent degeneracy be admitted ? Permanent improvement, in my opinion, in varieties, can only be made by the selection of the fittest speci- mens that have been raised from seed proper. Here we have, as in the Early Eose Potato, the Sharpless Straw- berry and the Concord Grape^ varieties that liave shot ahead of their fellows, having merits that the general public recognize, but all the art of man cannot further improve these, so that their '• progeny" (to use a con- venient, though, perhaps, not a strictly correct term), \vhen increased by ^'sets," 'Mayers" and "cuttings," will be permanently bettor or worse than when first VEGETABLES — POTATO. 273 called into existence. It is a very common error, when a luxuriant crop of anything is seen growing under specially good culture, to imagine that cuttings, roots or grafts from sucli plants must necessarily give similar results when the same conditions to grow such crops Avell are not present. Not long ago Boston was famed for its Rosebuds, and even experienced florists paid double price for .stock from such plants, only to find tha^ in their hands these plants would not produce Boston Rosebuds. Now the case is changed. Madison, New- Jersey, as a whole, beats Boston in Rose culture, and the demand has changed from Boston to Madison, and, of course, with the same results, for, if the purchasers of Madison Roses cannot give Madison culture, there will be no Madison Rosebuds. While we admit the advan- tage of a healthy stock, and even, perhaps, the value of a change of stock, what I claim is, that no culture vrill permanently change the variety from its normal condi- tion, and that the only advance that can be made is by selecting the best S23ecimens, hybridizing tliese from their seed, again selecting, and so on forward. To be sure, we have in rare instances what are known to gardeners as '' sports," or v/hat Darwin has called ^^bud variation," which may be improvements on the original variety or the reverse ; but culture, good or bad, has nothing to do with such anomalous cases. We often see it asserted as a matter for wonder, that the wild Celery of English marshes, or the wild Carrot of the liedge rows, have attained their present high condition by ''cultivation." If cultivation means that man has through generations ''selected the fittest" of these again and again, taking always the " flower of the flock," go as to have attained the present perfection, then that is true ; but if by " cultivation" is meant that " domestication " by high culture, manuring, etc., in a garden or a field has caused such results, then, in my humble opinion, it is not true. 274 ■ GARDEKTNG FOR PROFIT. TJJUL^KnS.—iCucurbita Pepo.) The Pumpkin is yet offered in large quantities for sale in our markets, but it ought to be banished from them as it has for some time been from our gardens. But the good people of oar cities are suspicious of all innovations in what is offered them to eat, and it will be many years yet before llie masses will understand that the modest, and sometimes uncouth looking. Squash is immeasurably superior, for all culinary purposes, to the mammoth, rotund Pumpkin. The Pumpkin is an excellent agricul- tural plant, of great vaJue for cattle, but I only alhide to it here, to denounce its cultivation or use as a garden vegetable. RADISH. — (Raphanus sativus.) Eadishes are consumed in immense quantities, and are one of the vegetables which we deem of no little im- portance as a market crop. To have them early, a light rich soil is the best ; heavy or clayey soils not only delay their maturing, but produce crops much inferior, both in appearance and flavor. They are grown by us by various methods ; the most common is, after sowing a crop of Beets in rows fourteen or fifteen inches apart, to sow Radishes between. The Radishes come up quick- ly, and are gathered and sold usually in six weeks from the time of sowing. The Beets at this time have only become large enough to be thinned, and will not be ready for at least a month later, so that the Radish crop is taken from same ground with little or no injury to the Beet crop. Another method is, to sow them be- tween the rows of Early Cabbages or Cauliflowers, where they also are gathered o2 so soon as not to interfere with these crops. VEGETABLES — RADISH. 275 These are the methods practiced in our gardens here, where land is so valuable that we must make it always carry double, and often treble, crops in a season. Radishes are also grown in some places very extensively, on land devoted exclusively to that purpose ia sjn'ing. Their culture thus is exceedingly simple. Tiie ground being plowed and har- rowed well, the seed is sown, and the harrow again run over, which places the seed at the proper depth. But though the field cultiva- tion of this vegetable is shnplo, the labor of gathering, tying up, and washing, jjreparatory for market, is great, which detracts largely from the profits. Perhaps the average receii^ts are $300 per acre, but the expense, before this is realized, is probably one-half that amount. It must be remembered that, in many cases, it is an auxiliary crop, interfering but little with our main scoring crops. It is one of the vege- tables convenient to ship, and the early sam- ples from I^orfolk, Virginia, average 17.50 per barrel, of 200 bunches ; or about $750 per acre, which should be a great inducement to south- ern cultivators, as there is but little danger of glutting the markets witli fresh vegetables Vig. 81. shipped frojn a southern to a northern port, let^shokt- For forcing Radishes under glass, see Chapter '^^^^ 10, on " Greenhouses for Forcing Vegetable Crops." Wood's Early Fram?, — This is a favorite with market gardeners, as it is at least ten days earlier than the Long Scarlet Radish, which it very much resemble3, although it is not hardly as long. Long Scarlet Slsort-Top. — This variety is grown the country over in rather the largest quantity, as from its shape (when tied up in flat bunches), it is best suited to 276 GAEDENII^G FOR PROFIT. shipping. In rich, light soils its average length is about ninB inches. (See figure 81.) Becker t'S Cliartier Radish, — TMs, shown in figure 82, is decidedly distinct in appearance from any other Eadish in cultivation. Its form is ^vell shown by our engraving, the color at the top being crimson, running into pink about the middle, and from thence downward it is a pure waxy white. It will attain a very large size before it becomes unfit for the table. In fact, at nearly all stages of its growth the quality is excellent. It sold rapidly in market during the past season. Early Scarlet Tiiraip.— More delicate in flavor than the above, and for this rea- son more in demand for home consumption. By al- lowing it sufficient time to grow, it attains a size of three inches in diameter, but it is always gathered at half this size. Early Round Dark Red. — The shape is the same as that of the Early Scarlet Turnip, and it differs only in the skin, being darker in color, and in making much smaller tops. On this account it is now very largely used for forcing in both frames and greenhouses. This and the preceding varieties are the sorts that are grown most largely for early marketing. (See figure 83.) Red Forciiisr TJirnip. — The tops of this variety are the smallest of any of the early Radishes, which, with Fig. 83.— beckert's cuartiek RADISH. VEGETABLES — EADISH. 277 its extreme earliness, make it especially valuable for strictly forcing purposes. White Tipped Scarlet Turnip.— (See figure 84.) An Fig. 83. — EAELT ROUND DARK Fi;^. 84. — WHITE TIPPED TURNIP RED RADISH. RADISH. early variety of medium size, very handsome in appear- ance, and of excellent flavor. French Breakfast. — (See figure 85.) A variety of quick growth, very mild and tender, and one of the best Fig. 85.— FRENCH BREAKFAST Fig. RADISH. » .—YELLOW SUMMER TURNIP RADISH. for forcing. Of oval form ; color, scarlet, tipped with white. 278 GARDEI^IXG FOR PROFIT. Olive-Shaped Scaiiet. — Of oblong shape ; flesh, rose- color, and a good summer variety. Later yarieties, grown for fall and winter nse : Yellow and Umy Summer Tiiniip, — Varieties well suited for summer use, as they stand the heat better than the early sorts. Both are mild in flavor. Tlie yellow variety is shown in figure 86 ; the other is like it, save in eolor. Chinese Uose-colored ^Visiter, — Excellent for winter use ; flesh, firm ; skin of a bright rose color. Loiii? and Round Black Spanish.— A ery hardy vari- eties. They are often j)reserved, keeping as well as any other ropt, in sand, until mid-winter, in a cellar or root- house. They are of large size, but rather harsh in flavor. Color, grayish-black. EHTJB AEB. —{Rheum RhapGnticitm). Ehubarb is noAv cultivated largely for market purposes in the vicinity of all large cities, and fcAv private gar- dens are without it. Its culture is of the simplest kind. It is a plant that adapts itself to almost any soil, pro- vided it is well drained, artificially or otherwise. The preferable soil for Rhubarb, as for most vegetables, is a deep, sandy loam. Whatever the soil, it should be plowed from ten to twelve inches deep, tlie subsoil plow following in the wake of the other, stirring to the depth of ten or twelve inclies more ; after plowing, harrow deeply and thoroughly. After the soil is prepared, lines are struck out by the plow four feet apart from each side of the field or plot, so that they will intersect at right angles. At these points the plants are set, first mixing with the soil three or four shovelfuls of well-rotted manure for each plant. VEGETABLES — KlirBAKB. 279 The time of planting in the Northern or Western States may be either in the fall or spring ; at the South the fali is preferable. Rhubarb is usually propagated by division of the old roots ; each eye or bud, when broken apart with a root attached, forming a plant. But making a plantation of any great extent in this way is expensive to the begin- ner ; as the roots are rarely to be purchased under 150 per 1,000 eyes, and as about 3,000 plants are required for an acre, quite an outlay is necessary. This expense may be obviated by increasing the plants by seeds, instead of by division of the roots. In the Northern State.:, tlie best time to sow the seed is about the middle of April, in the open ground, in rows a foot apart, if the plants are to be again transplanted ; if to be left where sown, the rows must be three feet apart, and the plants thinned out in the row^s to one foot apart. But as tliis latter plan requires the occupation of the land too long, the usual Avay is to sow closely and trans- plant. Care inust be taken that the seed is well trodden in with the feet, as it is very light and rather slow to germinate. The soil best suited is a rich sandy loam, which should be thoroughly pulverized, and the surface made completely level before sowing. The plants may be transplanted from the seed-bed either in fall or spring. The first season after planting, no stalks should be pulled, but the next year a full return may be expected if proper attention has been given to cultivation. It IS exceedingly difficult to name the annual profits from an acre of Rhubarb in full bearing, as everytiiing depends upon earliness. Even here, in the vicinity of New York, growers vary in their statements from $100 to $300 per acre. The difference of a week in earliness often makes a difference of $150 and 1200. It may be safe to say, however, that it will average, in 280 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. this vicinity, a profit of 1250 per acre annually from the date of planting ; in many places where there is less competition, no doubt double or treble that amount may be realized. Rhubarb is a most simple and convenient plant for forcing, which may be done in the following manner : The roots are dug from the open ground in fall, put close together in a box or barrel, and soil sifted in to fill the interstices between the roots ; they are then placed in a situation where tiie temperature will range from fifty-five to about seventy-five degrees, with a moderate amount of moisture. By this treatment ELubarb may be had from January to April. The roots may be placed wherever there is the necessary temper- ature. Light is not at all necessary ; in fact, the stalks of Rhubarb are much more crisp and tender when forced without exposure to direct light ; hence the roots may be placed in the furnace room of a cellar, under the staging of a greenhonse, or in an early forcing grapery. A florist in Boston told me a few years ago, that he had sold enough Rhubarb, grown under his greenhouse stages, to pay his coal bill (over $100), besides having all he wanted for his family use. Rhubarb is forced quite ex- tensively by some of our market gardeners ; the method pursued by them is to lift tlie roots from the open ground in the fall, place them as closely together as pos- sible in such pits or frames as are used for hot-beds, but about two feet deep, sifting in soil so as to fill the spaces between the roots. On the approach of cold weather, the whole is covered over with a foot or so of dry leaves, and so remains until about February first, when the leavDs are removed and sashes placed on the frames. Sometimes this is not done until March, the sashes being then used which have been covering Cabbage plants through the winter. But little ventilation is given to the frames at this cold season, as it is necessary to raise the temperature of the frame by the action of the sun's VEGETABLES — RHUBARB. 281 rays, so as to forward the crop. It greatly aids the for- warding if the sashes are covered up at night by straw mats or shutters. Ehubarb so forced matures about one month before it is marketable from the open ground, and averages about ^10 for each three by six foot sash. It must be borne in mind, however, that forcing com- ..J^ -^^J^ffP Fio-. 87. — ST. martin's ehubarb. pletely destroys the roots, and for that reason it is only practiced by those who have a surplus that they would otherwise throw away. The principal varieties in cultivation are : St. illartin'Sc — (See figure 87. ) A new London variety, which is by far the best, being of rich spicy flavor, enormously productive, and of the largest size of stalk. The other two well-known kinds are '* Linnaeus" for early, and '^ Victoria " for late crops. 282 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. SAGE.— (-S'aZi'm officinalis). See Thyme, and other Sweet Herbs. SALSI?y, OE OYSTEB PLANT. {Tragopogon porrifoUus). This vegetable is coming rapidly into general nse ; patches of an acre in extent are seen in some of the more extensive gardens here, that a few years ago grew only a few rows. It should be sown in early spring. Its culture is in all re- spects similar to that of Carrots, and al- though its consumption is as yet limited, for w^hat is grown of it, the prices are high and very remunerative. It is more- over a safe root to cultivate, for, being entirely hardy, there is no risk whatever of its being injured by frost, should it so happen that the digging u]) is neglected in the hurry of fall w^ork. It is gener- ally better, how'ever, to dig it ujo and put it away as we do Parsnips or Car- rots, so that it can be had at any time during winter. It usually sells at higher rates in spring than in fall or winter ; but even wdth the advance in price is less profitable to the grower when sold in spring, as that being a busy season, the labor expended in digging it up and getting it readv, is then of much more value. As this vegetable will be unknown to mauv, I will state that it is used in various w\ays, but generally boiled or stewed, like Parsnips or Carrots.. It is also used to Fiir. 88.— SALSIFY. VEGETABLES — SCORZOXERA — SEA KALE. 383 make a soup, winch lias a decided flavor of the oyster. It is also eaten as a salad, sliced and dressed with vine- gar, salt and pepper. There are no varieties. SCORZONERA-ELACK SALSIFY. (Scorzonera Hispanica). Very similar to the above in general character, and of the same cnlture and nse. It is not, however, so gener- ally esteemed as the Oyster Plant, and is not grown ex- cept for private use, and even for tiiat purpose sparingly. SEA KALE. — {Crambe maritima). This vegetable is much esteemed and grown largely for market purposes, both m England and France, and no private garden of any extent in either country is consid- ered complete without it. Here, however, even yet we seem to make but little headway in its cultivation. I have rarely seen it offered for sale in our markets, and Its culture is practiced in but few private gardens. There is an impression that it is difficult of culture in our climate ; this is not so by any means ; it is equally as easy to grow it here as it is in England, only that, like all vegetables requiring artificial heat for its per- fection, its cultivation is attended with more expense than that of vegetables that we plant in the open ground, without other care than to keep them clear of weeds. It IS increased cither by roots or by seed ; when roots can be obtained to start with, they are quicker. The manner of operating with them is as follows : In fall, a few old plants of Sea Kale are dug up, and the roots cut in pieces of from two to three inches m length ; these are placed in boxes of sand in a dry cellar until 284 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. Fobniary or March ; tliey are then surewn on tlie surface of a hot-bed, where, in a week or two they will emit roots and tops ; they are tlien potted or phinted in shallow boxes two or tliree inches apart, hardened oft' for a few weeks, and as soon as the weather is settled, planted ont in rows three feet apart, and two feet between the plants. If the ground is in the condition that it shouM be. Sea Kale, thus treated, will produce crowns strong enough to give a crop the next season after plant- ing. When grown from seed, the seed should be sown m hills at the above distances apart, in the early spring, each hill being thin- ned out to three or four plants. In our colder lati- tudes, the crowns should be covered by four or six inches of manure or leaves as a protection from frost. Sea Kale is only fit for use in the blanched state, con- sequently on the ap})roach of spring, the '^crowns" should be covered with some light material, such as sand or leaf mold, to the depth of twelve or fifteen inches, so that the young shoot, being thus excluded from the light, will become blanched in growing through this covering ; or sometimes cans, made for the purpose, or inverted llower pots are used, the only object being to Fie;. 89.— sea kale. VEGETA.BLES — SHALLOTS — SOIUiEL. 285 exclude liglit. In England it is forced extensively by covering over the whole beds witli leaves, manure or some heating material. The young shoots, when cooked, have a llavor something between Asparagus and Cauli- flower, but io much preferred to either. The engraving (fig. 89) shows a young slioot when ready for the table. The fully developed leaves are large and robust. SRALLOTS— {Allium Ascalonicum.) This vegetable, which is used in the green state in early spring as a substitute for Onions, is planted by dividing the bulbs in September, and planting m rows one foot apart and six inclics between the plants ; it makes a slight growth and forms its roots in the fall. On the opening of spring it develops rapidly, and the single bulb, planted in September, will have increased by May a dozen fold. From its hardy nature, coming in at least three Aveeks earlier than the Onion, large quantities are sold at rates corresponding with those of Onions raised from sets. It, with us, has ever been a profitable vege- table to raise, and I have rarely found the profits on an acre to have been less than 8200. It is generally cleared off by the last week in May, giving sufficient time to follow with second crops of Early Cabbage, Beets, Tur- nips, etc. SORREL. — {Rumex Aeetosa). A well-known perennial plant, cultivated to some ex- tent with us. It IS used in soups and sauces, mostly by the Germans and French. In the French markets it is nearly as abundant as Spinach is in ours, and is hi;_'-hly recommended as a wholesome vegetable. Its cultivation is very simple. Seeds, sown thinly m rows in early 286 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. spring, will give a heavy crop of leaves in June and July ; when the flower-stalk of the Sorrel starts to grow, it should he cut out, wdiich will add greatly to the devel- opment of the leaves. The crop may be left two sea- sons, but is more tender wdien annuallv raised from seed. SPINACH. — {Spmacia oleracea.) This is a very important crop in our market gardens, hundreds of acres of it beino: cultivated in the nei2:libor- hood of New York. It is one of the most manageable of all vegetables, requiring but little culture, and may be had lit for use the entire season. In our market gardens it is sown in early spring as an auxiliary crop, between the rows of Early Cabbage ; it comes to perfection usually in four or five weeks after sowing. At this season, it sells at a low^ price, usually about fifty cents per barrel ; but it requires but little labor, and generally pays about 150 per acre of profit. The main and important crop is sown in drills one foot apart, in this section from 1st to 15th September, or late enough in fall to get about half grown before cold weather sets in. It is sometimes covered up in exposed places with straw or salt hay during winter, whiL^h pre- vents it being cut with the frost ; but in sheltered fields here there is no necessity for covering. Any soil that will grow a good Corn crop will grow Spinach, though, as is the case with all other vegetables in which the leaf or stem is the part used, the land can hardly be made too rich. Our practice is to grow" it on our best soils, applying not less than fifty tons of well- rotted stable manure to the acre, or in lieu of stable manure, one ton of bone dust ; or about 1,200 pounds of guano sown after plowing, and deeply hnrrow-ed in. The rows are made with the ordinary garden " marker/' VEGETABLES — SPI:N^ACH. 28^ at the distance of twelve or fifteen inches apart. Tlie seed is sown rather thickly; we prefer to do it always by hand, using from ten to fifteen pounds per acre ; when thickly sown the plants can be thinned out, so that a much larger yield will be given. We sow here from the 5th to the 15th of September, and quite frequently sell, by thinning out, fifty or seventy-five barrels from an acre, which usually in October and November sells for $1 per barrel. This thinning out, which is done by cut- ting out the plants where thickest with a knifo, if care- fully performed, does not at all injure the maincro]), which is to stand over winter until spring. I may here caution the inexperienced of the necessity of treading down the soil on the seed, if the land is dry ; the crop is often ruined by the want of this precaution, in continued hot, dry spells that are frequent with us during 8eptem- bero If the soil is left loose, the hot air shrivels up the seed so that it will never germinate. The best way is to tread in each row with the feet, and in addition to use a roller. Prol^ably one-half of all Spinach seed sown in fall fails to germinate, and from no other cause than the failure to thus firm the seed. The same precaution is necessary in the sowing for Cabbage and Lettuce plants ; at this season these are often lost from the same cause. Fair crops give a yield of 200 barrels per acre (average price, $2 per barrel); at a high estimate the expenses will not exceed ^250 per acre, so that it is safe to claim a net profit of $150, although extraordinary cro]:>s often do much more than this. The ground can be cleared early enough in May to follow the Spinach with a crop of Flat Dutch or Early Summer Cabbage. Spinach is hardy enough to grow in almost any part of the country ; but in districts where the thermometer falls below zero, it IS necessary to cover it up about Christinas with hay, straw, or leaves, to the depth of two or three inches ; it .?.88 GAKDEXING FOK PllOFIT. is best done just iis a snow storm is setlino- in, as the snow settles down tlie covering- and keeps it from blowing- otT. Spinach is now largely urown at Norrolk, Vira'inin, and other sections of the South, which has, of late years, seriously interfered with the IS'ortheru grown crop. ^j=.-=^^>"^ >^>-.^-'' -V. Fie;. 90.— IdORFOLK SAVOT-LE.VVED SPTNACH. The quantity of seed per acre is from eight to twelve pounds, according- to the distance between rows. Since the early editions of this book jqipearcd, our list has been increased by two or thive varieties of Spin- ach that are not only distinct in appearance, l)ut which, in many sections of the country, are now grown to the exclusion of the older varieties. The '•Savoy-Leaved" and the "Thick-Leaved'' sorts, are both varieties that have secured ihis i)opularityc VEG ET ABLES — SPINACH. 289 Norfolk Savoy-Leaved. — (See figure 90.) This pro- duces nearly twice the weight of crop of the older varie- Fig. 91.— THICK-LEAVED SFLNACH. ties, and has a further value in the fact that it is the hardiest of all varieties of Spinach. In appearance the leaf is wrinkled in the same manner as the Savoy Cab- Fig. 92.— LONG STANDING SPINACH. bage, hence the name. From the tendency of this sort to run to seed, it should never be sown in spring. 290 (jAKiM'MNi; roii imjofit. Tliick-LoavtMi, -(Soo tiouiv 91). Tliis is ono of the best marker sorts. It prodiioos u lariiv, thiok, stroni:-. groon loaf, somoAvliat e'niinpKHl, and possos^^-os tl\o valiia- bloqualitv of stanuinu- a Ion-;- time boforo rmunuii- to seod. Tliis varioiy is o^iuallv ii'ood tor v<]nMiiii" or fall. Long St and ill!?.— (Soo tiguro 9\M. K\oo]^i in tho poouliarity that i» stands a long time boforo rnnning to seod, this variety, in all other respeets, elosely a}>proaehes tlie well-known Uonnd Leaf, bnt it certainly has the eliar- aeteristie o( not running to seed. IiOUild liOaf. — This is the variety so generally enlii- vated for winter nvse, being very hardy, standing our severest winters with little injury. Lariio Round Loaf Virollay. A heavy growing sort, resembling the 'Thiek- Leaved ; hardy. I'lic'kly. — Although this variety is usually sown in the spring and summer, it also stands well in winter, but gives less bulk per aere than the others named. SPINACH.— SVBSTlTrTKS FOR. As Spinaeh will not endure the hot suns of summer, it running up to seed at onee if sown in hoi weather, several ])lants aro used as substitntes, :ind tliougb tbese are not grown for nuirket. they are very ecmvenient in the family garden. One of these is the Swiss Chard, nuMiiioued under Beet, several forms of whieh are si>ld as Spinaeh Beet and Porpetnal Spinaeh. IVrhaps the best substitute for Spinaeh in the summer months is the Xew Zealand Spinach.— (7V//7i'^^/(^7im (wpansa). — A plant of the same I'haraeter tiud uses, but of a different genus, and used only in }>rivate gardens. It is a renuirk- VEGETABLEH — SPIXACH — SQUASH. 291 able plant, of low branching habit, growing with won- derful luxuriance duriyg hot weather, .single plantn often measuring six feet in diameter. "Jlic leaves are u:-;ed exactly as common Spinach ; it is best grown by sowing the seeds after the soil is well warmed, and trans- planting to three feet apart in very rich, warm soil. Orach. — (Alriplex horterms.) — Another plant of tljo same family, and its leaves are used in the same manner as Spinach. It succeeds best if sown where it is to grow — in j-ich, moist soil. "Sprouts," Kale or Borecole.— (/ym-mc^ oleracea. Var. SabeUica.) A form of the C'dh])iige grown in all respects like Spinach. It is erpially hardy and affords similar profits under like conditions. Like Spinach, it is now largely grown at Norfolk, Virginia, and in other places farther South. It is also grown in the North- ern States, but not to the same extent with Spinach, probably in the })roportiori of one to ten only; about half the quantity of seed is rerpjired for Sprouts a? for Spinach, or about four to six pounds per acre. The kinds used for market are the Dwarf Curled or German '* Sprouts," the Early Dwarf Curled, and Dwarf Green Curled Scotch, the first-named being that used to trans- plant the others, being gro.vn like Spinach. SQM ASK.— (CucvTlrlta Pepo, and C. maxima.) A class of vegetables embracing more marked distinc- tions in sorts, fitted for more varied uses, and to be found, during the extremes of the season, in a better state of perfection, than, perhaps, any other product of our gardens. Being of tropical origin, their growth is all consummated during summer ; yet the fruit of the ''winter varieties" may be kept, with a little care, until May. They are all of luxuriant and vigorous growth, 292 ■ GARDENING FOR PROFIT. and although they will grow readily on almost any soil, yet there is hardly anything cultivated that will so well repay generous treatment. Like all plants of this class, it is useless to sow until the weather has become settled and warm ; next to Lima Beans, Squashes should be the last vegetable planted. Light soils are best suited for their growth, and it is most economical of manure to prepare hills for the seeds in the ordinary manner, by incorporating two or three shovelfuls of well-rotted ma- nure with the soil for each hill ; for the bush varieties, the hills should be from three to four feet each way, and for the running sorts from six to eight feet. Eight or ten seeds should be sown in each hill, thinning out after they have attained their rough leaves, leaving three or four of the strongest plants. They are extensively grown for market, but are not sufficiently profitable for our highly cultivated gardens, and are therefore grown rather as a farm-gardeiL crop. They vary in profit, in our vicinity, of from $100 to $25 per acre. The early varieties are grown quite exten- sively in the vicinity of Norfolk, Charleston and Savan- nah, and shipped North, from two to four weeks earlier than they can be had here, and, like all sucli commodi- ties, bring three or four times the price of those grown in this vicinity, in quantities that glut the market. The varieties are very numerous, and from the facility with which they will cross, it is very difficult to retain the different kinds pure. SUMMER VARIETIES. Yellow and White Bush Scalloped.— (See figure 93.) These varieties are the two kinds that are considered the earliest, and are grown almost exclusively for market for first crop. From the hard texture of the rind, they are well fitted for shipping, and are grown exclusively at VEGETABLES — SQUASH. 293 the South for that purpose. Plant three to four feet apart in hills. Bush Summer Crook-lVeck. — A much esteemed vari- ety in private gcLrdens. Somewhat similar to the pre- ceding in growth, but rather more dAvarf. The fruit is orange yellow, covered with warty excrescences. It is considered the best yielder of the summer variuties. Boston Marrow. — This variety may bo termed second early, coming in about ten days after the bush and crook- Fii?. 93. WHITE BUSH SCALLOPED SQUASH. Fio-. 94. ESSEX HYBRID SQUASH. neck sorts. The skin, which is of an orange-yellow color, is very thin, the flesh being dry, fme-graincd, and of unsurpassed flavor. FALL AND WINTER VARIETIES. Essex Bfybrid, — (See figure 01.) Very fine-grained, rich and sweet, and a splendid keeper. The flesti is very thick and solid. As a Squash for winter keeping it is unsurpassed. Hubbard. — (See figure 95.) A general favorite, and more largely grown as a late sort than any other. It is of large size, often weighing from nine to ten pounds. 294 GARDENING FOE PROriT. Color, bliiisli-gToeii, occasionally niarkcd with brownish- orange or yellow. Flesli, fine-grained, dry, and of excel- Fi.U'. 0.").— nUBBAUD SQUASH. lent flavor. It can be had in nse from September to May. Plant in hills eight feet a])art. Marblohciul. — An excellent A;niety, introdnced by Mr. Gregory. The flcGh is rather lighter in color than that of the Hnbbard, but it resembles that variety in shape, although it has a harder shell. It is productive, of rich and excellent flavor, and a line keeper. Plant eight feet apart. Main mo til ('hill. — Grows to an immense size, often weighing 200 pounds. Excellent for all purposes. Plant nine feet apart. Winter frook-Xcck. — A variety largely grown in some of the Eastern States, where it is often ke})t the entire winter. Skin, reddish-pink when matured ; flesh, close- grained and swTet. Plant in hills nine feet apart. Vcffotable I^farrow. — A favorite English sort. The fruit is very variable m size, ranging from nine to eighteen vr/;i:TAi{LT:s — swkkt pi/jato. ;?95 inclies in leii<^tli by i'rom i's, the seed must be sown in hot-l)cds or forcing-})its, about ten weeks before the plants may be safely pur in the o[»en ground. Thus, m this dis- trict, we sow in the liot-bed about the first week in ^farch : in April the ]>lants are tit to be set init, at a distance o( I'oiir or live inches apart, in another hot -bed. They are grown there (proper attention being given to the hot-beds. asdiriH'ted under that head) until the middle of May, when it is safe to place them in the open ground. They are planted, for early im'o]>s, t>n light sandy soil, at*ji distance of three feet apart, in hills, in wliicli a good shovc^lful of rotted manure has been mixed. (h\ heavy soils, whieh are not suited for an early crop, they should be planted four feet apart. Some attach great importance io topinng the lt.\uiing shoo! of the Tonnito, so that it vrill branch, are'uinu" that bv this means we get an earlier VEGKTAJiLK.S — TOMAIO, 299 and lieavicr crop; nil our experience shows that little benefit is derived from tlie practice. Like all vegetables grown on so large a scale, and in such varying soil and climate, the Tomato sells in our markets at prices varying widely, from 80 down to 25 cents per bushel, the average price for those raised in the district, being about 75 cents per bushel. The quantity raised per acre is about 400 bushels. This may seem at first glance to be quite a profit- able crop for a farmoi* ; but every acre necessitates the use of at least 100 sashes, for, on the second transplanting, only about fifty p^.ants can be grown to a sash, and about 5,000 plants are required for an acre. On one occasion, liaving a very suitable soil, I grew about four acres of Tomatoes for three years, which realized me from $1,500 to $2,000 annually in receipts; but I discovered that the operation was a losing one, as, to raise 20,000 plants for my four acres, I had to make use of 400 sashes, in which, in rather less time and with far less labor than it took to grow the Tomato plants, Lettuce could have been grown that would have sold for at least $2 per sash. Thus I lost annually, in preparing for the Tomato plants, half the receipts of the crop even before they were planted out. But there are many parts of the country where Lettuce, thus forwarded, could not be sold, while Tomatoes could, which would materially change the aspect of the opera- tion. In the southeni sections of the countr}^ convenient to shipping. Tomatoes are largely grown for the Tiorthern markets, and sold there at prices highly remunerative to the grower. In many instances, in the Southern States, the cultivation of Tomatoes for market is carelessly done, the seed being sown in the open ground and the plants transplanted, as we do Cabbages. No doubt, by starting in January or February witli the hot-beds, or even cold frames, and planting out in March or April, they could be had at least two weeks earlier than they are now sent to us. In some localities thousands of acres of ^J'omatoes 300 (.GARDENING FOR PKOFIT. are now grown by I'lirmers, under contract for canning })virposes, often as Ioav as 30 cents per bushel, and, on suitable land, even thij low price will pay better than most farm crops, as there is usually no necessity for liaving the crop early for canning. 'J'here are always some one or more varieties, said to be earlier than others, sent out every spring, but it must be confessed that ihe varieties that we cultivated twenty years ago are not a day behind in earlincss those issued as '"vastly superior" in 188(!. To test them thoroughly, I planted twenty-live plants each of the four most popular sorts, under circumstances exactly similar in all respects; there was no ditference whatever in earlincss, and but little perceptible dilicrenee in i>roductiveness. In my opinion, the extreme point of earlincss in Toma- toes has been reached years ago, and uoav all further im- ITovemonts must be in point of size, snu)othness and so- lidity ; and that any one laying claim to having good varieties a specified number of days or weeks earlier than those we already liave, does so without having a knowledge of the subject, or with the desire to im]u>se on the public. The Tomato i^a plant reipiiringatall times a certain high temperature to ripen its fruit ; and though it may ripen in Georgia in May, in A^irginia in June, in Delaware in Jul}', or in New Jersey in August, it requires the sanu' ao'c'reii'ate anunint of heat to do the work. The same is true of nu^st fruits and vegetables ; Ave reach a certain point oi' earlincss with a given variety in a given locality, when the temperature tells us we must stop. If improve- ment in earlincss were progressive, we might have reason to expect that the Hadish or Lettuce, which matures with ns in t'.\e open ground here in May, would yet mature in April. I believe that our ordinary methods of saving Tomato and all other seeds, in fact, do much to prevent us from making any advance in procuring choice varieties ; if VEGETABLES — TOMATO. 301 we would only take the trouble to always select the first matured fruits, and the best specimens only, for seed, and so continue, there is no question whatever but it would amply repay the trouble. But the grower for market grudges to give up his first basket of fruit, that may realize him $5 or $('), for a few ounces of seed, know- ing that he can get plenty when his crop in not worth the gathering for market. But, depend upon it, he makes a mistake, for the seed from his first fruits would, perhaps, pay him a hundred times better, if used for sowing the next year, than any price he might get for it in the market. In private gardens, where space is often limited, a greater quantity of fruit will be obtained by elevating the branchco of the Tomato from the ground with brusii, such as is used for sticking Peas, or by tying to laths nailed against a board fence ; or, what is neater yet, the hoop training system as practised in France. But for market purposes, on a large scale, it vrould require too much labor. The followiiig, at this date, are the leading kinds : Mikado. — (See figure 96.) This is the second season that we have grown this variety, and I predict that it will be certain to become a standard sort. It is one of the earliest of the large IVjmatoes ; in color purplisli-red ; fruit produced in immense clusters, single fruits often weighing one pound and a half each. The Mikado is entirely distinct in foliage from any other Tomato, which allows it to always be distinguished. Acme. — Very early and handsome, fruit of medium size, perfectly smooth and regular, very solid, and a good keeper. Color distinct, being crimson with a pinkish tinge. In some markets the color would be a detriment ; in others, again, it would be considered no disadvantage. Paraxon. — The description of the Acme will answer for this, except that in the Paragon the color is of a ;02 GARDENING FOIi PROFIT. VEGETABLES — TOMATO. 303 bright, glossy ciiiuson, and entirely free from the pinki.sh tinge that charat'terizes the Acme. Perfection.— (See figure 97.) Color blood red. It is as early as the Canada Victor (one of the first to ripen), PET.FECTIOX" TOMATO. almost round in shape,, perfectly smooth, and very solid. Of the best quality and enormously productive. Canada Victor. — One of the earliest, of medium size, bright red, and very symmetrical in shape. Trophy. — Xo' Tomato ever introduced created the furore that this did when it was first brought out. It is unsurpassed in size, flavor, and productiveness, but is noAV superseded by others in earliness and smoothness. f'.cncral Grant, — The fruit of this is large and of good quality, and ripens evenly and thoroughly. Ilathaway's Excelsior. — An early variety, of medium size, smooth, very solid, and of excellent quality. Red and YcHow Plum Tomato. — Beautiful varieties, never exceeding two inches m length by one inch in diameter. Mainly used for pickling and preserving. 304 GAllUEi^ING rOK PROFIT. TURNIP. — [Brassica campestris.) The cultivation of the Turnip as an early crop for market purposes, sold bunched in the green state, is in all respects the same as detailed for Early Beets. The profits of the crop are also similar. Th.e Turnip, how- ever, for early crops, is rather more particular about soil than the Beet, and can best be produced early on light sandy or gravelly soils, highly enriched with manure. For late crops, soAvings may be made, for Kuta Bagas, from May to September, in the different sections of the country ; here, the finest roots are obtained by sowing about first week in June. For white and yellow varie- ties, as they como quicker to maturity, sowing should be delayed four or five weeks later. Here, we sow from the middle of July to the middle of August. Turnips, whether for early or late crops, should always be sown in drills, about fourteen or eighteen inches apart. In large quantities, they are sown by the machine, when one pound of seed will be enough for an acre. In the Northern States it is necessary to take them up on the approach of severe weather, when they are best pre- served during winter by being pitted, as recommended for other roots. The late crops of Turnips are by no means so profitable as the early, rarely realizing to the grower more than 175 per acre ; but like most other late crops of the garden or farm, they can be grown with less manure, are less perishable if not immediately sold, and are consequently grown by the farmer on his less valuable but more extensive grounds. Again let me reiterate the necessity for firming the soil around the seeds of the Turnip crop, sown in the dry, hot weather in August. Thousands of acres fail to germinate from no other cause, while in England in 1885 fully one-half of the crop seemed to me was lost, solely from lack of this pre- VEGETABLES — TURi^IP. 305 i^i- caution. There had been no rain, even to lay the dnsfc, for a period of eight weeks in summer — an experience almost unprecedented there, and no provision had been made for firming the soil over the seed, and as a con- sequence it was shriveled and dried, and failed to grow. We here h-Bve nearly always such hot, dry weather when Fig-. 98.— WHITE EGG TURNIPo Fig. 99.— EXTRA EARLY MILAN TURNIP. Turnips are sown for late crops, and hence the necessity of always firming the soil. The following are the leading varieties grown : White Effg". — (See figure 98.) This in shape, is nearly oval or egg, its flesh is firm and fine-grained, skin thin and smooth. The flavor is mild and sweet, rendering it 306 GAllDENIi^G J^'Oli rUOFlT. very desirable for table use, while its attractive appear- ance makes it a most saleable variety for market purposes. Extra Early lUilan, — (See figure 90. ) This is an early strap-leaved variety, coming into use a week or ten days before any of the ordinary early sorts. The bulbs are white, with a purple top, round and solid ; flesh pure white, sweet and crisp. Ked-Top Strap-Leaf. — A rapid grower and of mild Ihivor. The most popular variety for early use, grown either for the table or for stock. . IMirplc-Top M liite Globe.— (See figure 100.) A very heavy cropping, early variety, of globe shape. It has a Fis;. 100.— PUKPLE-TOP AVHTTR globe TIUMP. very handsome looking bulb, and is rapidly taking the lead over other varieties for market garden purposes. Amber Globe. — In great favor in the South. Attains a large size, flesh solid and sweet, hardy, and a good keeper. Golden Ball, — This has no superior for table use, being of excellent flavor, globe-shaped, and of a beautiful yel- low color. It IS a very rapid grower. Snowball. — A round, pure white variety, of superior flavor ; excellent for market. VEGETABLES — TURNIP. 807 Snow-WhitC— Olive-sliapecl, very hardy, quality the best. Seven-Top. — This is the variety so hirgely grown in the Southern States for Turnip sahid or greens. TURNIP.— RuTA Baga or Sv/edisk. Improved American (Purple-Top).— (See figure 101.) This is the leading variety ; very hardy and productive ; Fig. 101.— IMPKOVED AMERICAN PUlii'l.E-TOP KUTA BAGA. flesh yellow, solid, sweet, and fine flavored ; equally good for stock or table use ; the principal variety raised by~ market gardeners on Long Island, and the best of all yellow Turnips. In our trial grounds we find American-grown seed, of this variety, to yield better- shaped and cleaner Turnips than does imported seed. 308 GAKDEN^IKG FOR PROFIT. Shamrock* — One of the finest purple- top varieties in cultivation ; forms a handsome bulb, with small top and very few leaves ; an excellent keeper and good for stock or table use. Lar£^C White French. — A snperior variety for table or stock ; flesh firm, white and solid ; attains a large size, and has a very rich and sweet flavor ; a very popnlar variety. THYME, SAGE, SUMMER SAVORY, AND MAR- JORAM. I believe even yet the cultivation of Sweet Herbs, for market purposes, is but little known in this country, ex- cept in the vegetable gardens in the vicinity of New York ; there it is practised to an extent of perhaps 100 to 150 acres, a fair average profit of which would be about $250 per acre. Like the crops of Celery, Spinach, or Horseradish, they are grown only as second crops, that is, they are planted in Jul}^ after an early crop of Peas, Cabbages, Beets, or Onions has been sold off. The kinds are Thyme, Sage, Summer Savory, and Sweet Marjoram, tlie former two being grown in the ratio of ten acres to one of the others. The seed is sown in rows in April in rich mellow soil, carefully kept clean from weeds until the plants are fit to set out, which may be done any time that the ground is ready from middle of June until end of July. As the plants are usually small -and delicate, it is necessary that the ground be well fined down by harrowing with the disc harrow, or raking before planting. The distance apart, for all the kinds, is abont the same, namely, twelve inches between the rows, and eight or ten inches be- tween the plants ; the lines are marked out by the ^'^ marker." This is the ** marker" used for many other purposes ; in lining out the rows for Early Cab- SWEET HERBS — THYME — SAGE, ETC. 309 bages, for instance, every alternate line is planted, thus leaving them two feet ajiart, their proper dis- tance. (Sec Implements.) In eight or ten days after the herb crop has been planted, the ground is ^Mioed" lightly over by a steel rake, which disturbs the sur- face sufficiently to destroy the crop of weeds that are just beginning to germinate ; it is done in one-third of the time that it could be done by a hoe, and answers the purpose quite as well, as deep hoeing at this early stage of planting is perfectly useless. In ten or twelve days more, the same operation is repeated with the steel rake, which usually effectually destroys all weeds, the seeds of which are near enough to the surface to germinate. We use the steel rake in lieu of a hoe on all our crojos, im- mediately after planting, for, as before said, deej^ hoeing on plants of any kind ivhen neivly planted^ is quite un- necessary ,and by the steady application of the rake weeds are easily kept down, and it is great economy of labor never to alloiu them to start. By the middle of September the herb crop usually covers the ground com- pletely, looking like a field of clover. Allow this mass to grow for another month as it is, and you would not. increase the weight of leaves ; the plants would grow taller, keeping the green and marketable leaves on the top, but only yellow and withered ones and plenty of woody stems below. But by cutting out every alternate row (each plant making about two bunches), the remain- ing rows are allowed light and air, and in three or four weeks will have spread so as again to cover up the entire surface, from which half the crop has already leen gathered. AVe treat Sage in all respects the same as Thyme ; and I have seen both these herbs on rich soil not only meet when left two feet apart, but when every other row at two feet ajDart was cut out, almost meet again at four feet apart. By this metliod of cutting out every other row, fully a 810 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. double crop is taken, and of a quality superior to what it Avould be were it allowed to grow without being thus thinned out. About thirty years ago I w^as lucky enough to discover the importance of this plan of doubling our crops of herbs, and as I had not, in those days, begun to tell '' what I know about gardening," I kept my own counsel for some years before my neighbors discovered the plan. Herbs are regarded as a safe crop for the mar- ket gardener ; they are less perishable than anything else grown, for, if there be any interruption to their sale in a green state, they can, if necessary, be dried and boxed up and sold in the dry state, months after. The price now is from $6 to 110 per 1,000 bunches, and we always pre- fer to dry them rather than sell lower than $G per 1,000, experience telling us that the market will usually so reg- ulate itself as to handsomely pay for holding back the sale. The cost of getting the crop raised and marketed will average about $150 per acre, o.ne-half of the expense being in tying it in bunches. But with many of our in- dustrious German gardeners it does not cost half that, as the tying up is usually done by their wives and children. There are but few varieties among Herbs, but of Thyme there are several, and it is very important to plant only what is known as the " spreading variety ; " an upright sort, sometimes sold, is w^orthless as a market crop. The Sage, known as the Broad-leaved, is the best. I am often asked, by correspondents at a distance, in relation to the best way of selling herbs in New York City. I will here say, that there is no certain sale that I know of, unless they are in a green state. The season for selling is October, November and December ; and if shipped in open crates, so arranged by divisions of slats that not more than eight or nine inches of a layer would be together, they could be shipped at that cool season to distances requiring fifty or sixty houi's in the transit. The average receipts per acre is now about 1400. WHEN TO SOW IN THE SOUTH. 311 CHAPTER XYI, WHEN TO SOW AND PLANT IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. AVe have liundreds of letters each season making in- quiries on this subject. From the great variation in hit- itude, soils, shelter, etc., it is impossible to give accurate information on the subject, for the date that would answer for Charleston, South Carolina, or Jackson- ville, Fla., would not do for Norfolk, Va., or Knoxville, Tenn., but at the risk, in some few cases, of repeating in- structions already given, I will endeavor to approximate as nearly as possible to the dates at which vegetables should be sown and planted in the Southern States. The instructions for culture vary but little from what is practised at the North, so the reader is referred to each article under its proj)er head for cultural instructions. Asparagus. — Whether raised from seed or from plants, had better be started in the fall months, varying, accord- ing to latitude, from the 1st of October to the 1st of December, earlier, as at Norfolk, Virginia, to the latest date in South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. The plant is hardy, and consequently will have made roots enough to sustain itself through the cool season, if sown at these dates, and be ready for vigorous growth as soon as vegetation starts in spring. Beans; Kusll or Pole.— Are of tropical origin, and consequently belong to what are classed as '^tender" vegetables, and when wanted /or early crop, as nearly all Southern vegetables are, should not be sown until all danger from chilly weather is past — not before the night temperature will average fifty-five degrees. Perhaps one of the best rules is to delay sowing or planting in the open ground until such date as corn can be safely planted. 312 i;aki)MNinu for phofit. It(>el8* — Are of iuteriiiotliale luirdinoss ; not. sulUcicntly liiirily to be sown and wintered over like Aspariigus or ISpinaeli, yet hardy enough to be sown three or four weeks earlier than Beans or Corn. For cxanii)le, if (ho Corn-phiuting- season is Mareh in extreme iSouthern points, l>eets nuiy be sown at the same i>laee in February. CablKis^'C. — Is perhaps tlie most important of all Sonlh- crn en)ps raised for the Northern mjirket, and niueli — verynuieh— of the suecess of the erop depends upon when sown and the quality of seed used. Taking the latitude of Charleston, South Carolina, or Savannah, Georgia, as a basis, the usual time of sowing there, in the o})en ground, is from Oetober 5th to 15th, but even at the later date, the favorite variety, '' Karly Summer," may run to seed if tlie season is mi hi ; so we strongly advise to sow, at least a portion of the erop, ten days later — say from Oetober 20th to 30(h — and so shape the seed-beds that they ean be eovered u}) by "saslies" made of muslin, or tlie proteeting eloth ah-eady alluded to, on eold nights — exposing them, of eourse, to tlie light, on warm, bright days. ('aiilillowcr. — Same as for Cabbage. ('('lory. — IVung a Avinter vegetable, is never shipped from South to North, as it ean be grown mueli eheai)er North ; but there is a growing loeal demand for Celery at many Southern points. I'he seed, to produce plants, cannot safely be sown South in the spring for Celery- srrowinir, as in most instances, from the longer season, it wouUl run to seed, even if it eoukl be carried through the hot weather. My advic^e would be to sow at dilferent periods, say from the middle (vf June to the middle of August, using the protecting cloth *' sashes" already described, during the hot sunshine, say from a. u. to 4 v. M., watering them, wiien dry, in the afternoon after taking oil the sashes. As several thousand Celery plants WHEN TO SOW AT TUE SOUTH. 313 can bo grown under a three by six feet sash, it will repay the labor in such places as this, wlierc protection against the sun is a necessity. Collards. — Require to be sown about the same date as Spinach, which see. Corn. — Sweet Corn is a valuable crop in some sections South, to be sold in our Northern markets. It is one of the most tender plants. Thousands of acres are sacri- ficed every season by impatient cultivators, who, deluded by a few warm days in spring, plant too early. No date can be given with safety, only, as a rule, one will be safer to be a little behind his neighbor than before him. If the usual date is the 1st of the month, you will be certain to catch up if you wait until the 4th or 5th, as it is a crop easily checked even by a slight chill. It may be forwarded six or eight days by sow- ing in pieces of sod under sashes, as recommended for Cucumbers. Cucumbers, — Another ^^ tender" plant, requiring the same conditions for vigorous growth as Sweet Corn. It may be sown on pieces of inverted sod, cut in sections of three or four inches ; these, if placed in frames and cov- ered with the protecting cloth, or better still for this purpose, glass sashes, may be started two weeks sooner than they can be sown outside. In about a month after sowing (if not begun before the temperature would aver- age fifty-five degrees at night), they will have grown two or three inches and have matted the pieces of sod full of roots ; the temperature now sliould be ten degrees higher, and they may then be set in the open field and will give a crop at least a week earlier, which will well repay the extra labor. V^^ Plant. — The same rules may be applied to this, remembering, however, that this is an extra ^^ tender" plant, and at least five degrees higher will be necessary. 314 (iARDENING FOR I'liOVlT. iJrceiis, (liormaii or Sprouts. — Same as Spinach, which SCO. Lctiucc. — 'IMio .same rules as for Cabl^agc and Cauli- flower will n,|)|)ly iieju'ly as wc^ll to Lettuces. M<^loii, i^liisk and VValcr. — Same as for (hicumbors. Okra, or o/y/Ym //«/«/<'/x.) 'I'his is nniinly a crop of the Southern States. The j-oots ai'e usually started in Florida or South Carolina about J^'ebruary 1st, in c;()ld fr;irncs covered with glass, or in wnrni borders in the ojjcn air. ^IMk^ '^s(!ts" or '' draws" will usually l)e large enough to ha set out the iirst week in March in 1^'lorida or first of April in South (Carolina, and corres^ pondingly later as we move northward. Kadisll. — Same dates as for beets. WHEN TO SOW AT THE SOUTH. 315 Rhiiliarbi — Same date as for Asparagus. Turnips. — For fall sowing, the Sweet or Strap-leaved kinds of Turnip should be sown from September to Octo- ber, while the Ruta Bagas, requiring a longer time to mature, should be sown a month earlier. For ^'spring sowing," January to February for the extreme Southern States. Spinach. — A hardy vegetable, and a valuable crop in many sections of the South. May be sown from Septem- ber to October at Norfolk, Virginia, and from November to December at Charleston or Savannah ; but as it is slow to germinate in dry weather, see what is said in relation to it at page 101, under the head of the '' Use of the Feet in Sowing and Planting." At the extreme South Spinach is not much grown, as it does better in such latitudes as Virginia or Delaware. Squash. — Sa«ie as for Cucumber. Tomato* — A most important vegetable grown at the South for the Northern markets. It is usually set out by first raising the plants under glass, often in hot-beds, when great earliness is desired. The reader is referred to '' Construction of Hot-beds," which v/ill be necessary in most sections for the first sowing for the seedling plants. An ordinary three by six feet sash will raise from 1,500 to 2,000 seedling plants. These if sown, say, February 1st, will be large enough to transplant at three or four inches apart, again under the protection of sashes or of '^ sashes " of the protecting cloth, until fit to set out in the open field. As it is also a most tender plant, easily hurt by chill, the same rules apply here as for Cucumbers. 31G GAItDENING FOR PllOFlT. CilAPTEU XVII. PACKING OF VEGETABLES FOR SHIPPING. This is a matter for whicli it is not very easy to give directions, as tlie distance, season, and articles to bo packed will greatly determine the manner in which it is to bo done ; ])ut a few general directions may assist tho inoxpericncod. The mode of packing during spring and summer is almost entirely tho reverse of tliat practised during autumn or winier, for tlie reason that, when the temper- ature is higli, provision must be nuule in tlie package for tho admission of air to prevent tho articles from heating ; while in cold weather, when there is but little danger h'um heating, but more to be apprehended from frost, close ])ackages must be used accordingly. As early vegetables are always sliipped from a warm climate to a colder one, at a season which, of course, must be warm to mature tliem, open work bjiskets or slatted boxes must he used. If barrels are used, care must be taken that openings be made plentifully in the sides, so that air may bo admitted. For distances requir- ing a dehiy of more than forty-eight liours in the transit, for most articles, barrels are too large ; boxt^s or baskets, one-third the capacity of a Hour barrel (one bushel), being safer. Tho articles shipped in this manner from (Southern ports to Northern markets, are : Asparagus, lieans. Cucumbers, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Radishes, Tomatoes, and other summer crops. Bulky articles, siu;h as Cabbages, lieots, Sweet Corn, Water Melons, Turni[)S, !ire often shipped loose on Qio decks of steamers, sloops, etc. ; but oven then care must be taken that the heaps are not too large, else they may bo injured by heat- ing. IMie judgment of tlu; shipper must be exercised in respect to tho article to be shipped. Articles that lie PRESERVATION OF VEGETABLES IN WINTER. 317 close will require to be shipped in smaller packages tlian those that lie so loosely that the air can pass among them ; for example, Melons may be safely packed in a barrel, while if Tomatoes were so packed, they would be utterly destroyed. The winter or fall sliipping of vegetables is the reverse of the summer, for then we send from the North to the South, our colder and damper atmosphere being more congenial to the growth of late crops. Close packages are now used, but still not too large ; barrels being best suited to such articles as Beets, Carrots, Celery, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, or Turnips, while (Jabbages and Cauliflowers may be shipped in crates or in bulk. CHAPTER XVIII. PRESERVATION OF VEGETABLES IN WINTER. Our manner of preserving vegetable roots in winter is, I think, peculiar to this district, and is very simple and effective. After taking up such crops as Beets, Carrots, Horse- radish, Parsnips, Turnips, Potatoes, etc., in fall, they are put in temporary oblong heaps, on the surface of the ground on which they have been growing, and covered up with five or six inches of soil, which will keep off such slight frosts as are likely to occur, until time can be spared to store them in permanent winter quarters ; this is done in this section, usually, during the first part of December, in the following manner : A piece of ground as dry as possible is chosen ; if not naturally dry, provision must be made to carry off the luater, loiuer than the bottom of the pit. The pit is dug out from three to four feet deep, about six feet wide, and of the length required ; the roots 318 (JAIU)ENINO FOR PROFIT. jirc Uien packed in, in sections of jihont two feet wide across the ])it, and only to tlie hei<^-lit of tlie f^Tound level, ik'tween the sections, a space of liall' a foot is left, which is filled np with the soil level to the top ; this leaves the pit filled np in sections of two feet long, with roots, and hall" a foot of soil, and so on, nntil tlie whole is finished. The advantaj^e of tliis plan is, that it is merely a series of small pits, holding from three to live barrels of roots, which can be taken ont for market withont exposing the next section, as it is closed olf by the six inches of soil between. Also, we find that roots of all kinds keep more safely when in small bulk than when large nnmbers are thrown into one pit together. In covering, the top is rounded so as to throw olf the water, with a layer of from eighteen inches to two feet of soil. This way of preserving roots, with perhaps the excei)tion of Potatoes, is much preferable to keeping them in a cellar or root-house, as they not only keep fresher, retaining more of their natural flavor and color, but far fewer of them are lost by decay than when ex]^osed to the air and varying temperature of a cellar. Unmatured heads of (-aulillower, or Broccoli, however, are best matured in a light cellar or cold frame, by being planted in close together ; in this way, good heads may be had to January. For the keeping of Cab- bages, Celery, and Onions, see instructions in the chapter describing their culture. Mr. William Crozier, of North- port, L. I., Avho is co-author with me in the work **How the Farm Pays," has adopted this method of keeping ])otatoes with great success. It is the method almost exclusively in use in England and Scotland. INSECTS. 319 CHAPTER XIX. INSECTS. We have but little trouble with insects in our highly cultivated grounds ; Avhat with continued moving of the soil by plowing and harrowing every foot, from three to four times each season, incessant hoeing, and the digging up of the crops, we give these pests but little chance for a foot-hold. We are, however, occasionally troubled with Aphides, the *^ Green-fly," in our forcing-houses of Let- tuce. Another kind of aphis, closely allied to tlie green, assumes a bluish color when it attacks the Cabbage crop, either in frames or outside. A complete remedy for either pest, in its early stages, is tobacco stems steeped in water to give it about the color of strong tea, and ap- plied Avith a syringe or watering-pot, or tobacco dust, or, in fact, tobacco in any form that it can be applied. *' Jumping Jack," or the Turnip-fly, occasions rjome trouble with late sowings of Cabbages, Turnips, and Radishes, but we find an excellent preventive in diist- ins: lime over tlie beds as soon as the seeds be^in to germinate. It is of the utmost importance to use preve7i- tives in the case of insects, for if once they get a lodg- ment, it is almost useless to attempt their destruction. The striped Cucum.ber-bug, which, with us, attacks late sowings only, we have found to yield readily to a few ap- plications of bone dust, which serves the double purpose of disturbing the insect and encouraging the growth of the crop, l^ut our most formidable enemy of the insect tribe is that which attacks the roots of the Cabbage fam- ily, causing the destructive disease known as the '^club- root." There is a general misconception of the cause of this disease ; happily our peculiar location here gives me the means, I believe, of thoroughly disproving some ;j2() OA im»I':n I NO I mm:, i'i:')i'n'. of ihoHi'i nl)Hiir(l (lo/jfiujiM, MuiicIiih-rooL is ({iiiscd by " Uof^ niMiiiii'd," *' liciiA'v soil," " li;;li(, soil," clc. I do not don I )t. Iliiil il liiis .'I|)|m>!II'(mI I lioiis:iiid;i of liiiics iiiidcr jnsl siicli (•oiidi(,i\\v VJiriely oilier, does not, |,o IIS, iidniii. (d" IIm^ sii;^lil,e,M|, pji.i-licle of doiibl. On llio hIioi;(^ side, iiiul for neiirly ;i. mil(> inlniid, llierc luv re/^uliir deposits of oystci* siiell, mixed wilb the liind iilmost Jis wn find p(>bbl(»s in Ji ;»i'ji.V(>lly soil ; our tlieory is. Unit tlid in- H(M'I wliieb oee;isioiis llie «'liib root e.'inmd. exisi, in con- tiicl with the lime, wliieb, of (', is pn^sent in jjir^'n ninoiinl in ji, soil eonlninin;;' sncli n.bniKhince (d' oyst(>r Hbeli, lu^nsonin^' from this, \V(^ biivc (Midi'.'ivored to brin^ up soils delleieiil in shell, by h(Mivy (lr(\MHin;^"S (d' linu^ ; this !inswere(l, however, only tiMiiporjirily, n\\{\ we round ii> too (*xp(Misiv(^ to(tonliiine il. 'IMie inerejtsini;' ({(Miiniul for miiniir(»M in tln^ vicinity (d' N(>w ^'o^l^ liii,s nMid(U*(ul them of l;iJr \{^i\VH MC'ircc Mud hi;^li in pri('(\ ho tluit wo were neeessii :iie(l to beyiii I he iiS(* M, n.nd mm this wiis niilier new witli ns in our ni:irU(d <:;!ir(|(Mis. wv Uiiw inid llu^ ple;isiir«> of Houje vei'v interesi ill!'; (ii ;ibl<' lo ;!;(d. two ei'ops (d' (^j|.bb}l,f;'(VM siieeessivelv without li;i\ iie'' I hem in- INHlfiCT.S. 821 jiii'od l)V ('liil)-itM)(,, my fon^inMii sii^i-iiM(Mil wilh iiJkmI of nhoiit luill' nii iwi'o, lo ho |>l)Mitc(l willi ciii'ly VViiJvclicM < 'iil)l»i;'('. Oiic-luilf of (his hi^ pi'o- |)(>M('(I lo iiiniiiir(f }il llic I'lilc of .scNciil y-li vc Ioiim imt jmto uilli sl:ihi(> iii;iiiiii'(\ llic (iliici' hnH' wiih iloiii' of hoiic, iil IIk! niic (>r 'v*,()(H) pouiKJH per ji(*i'(* ; l.liiH wiis iic(M)r(liii^ly (ioiKi iti lli(i iisii.'il wiiy, hy s<»\viii me nd nearly (;weid/y ycai's' vvoj'kin;.,^ of that soil had shown IliaJ. this er<»p could m^ver he /^rowii two yearn siiecM^HHivcily ; hut expcu-i- mcnls to ho satisfaciory miiMt he done on a, scale <>r H(Mne ma,'jiiitiid(5, and aJthou;^h I lost some >|root is never seen in soils impregnated with shells. This v.ariety of soil is not common. I have never seen it anywhere ex- cept here, and, as. I have said, this peculiarity of location, most fortunately, gives a certain clue to the facts, and directly i)oints out the remedy, which, I tliink, we have found to be in the copious use of bone dust as manure. Another enemy of the Cabbage plant, and one that is sometimes even more destructive than the club-root, is the Cabbage Caterpillar. This insect is comparatively a new-comer, having been imported from Europe by way of Canada. It is produced by the small white butterfly that is seen hovering over the Cabbage patches in spring. It attacks the leaves of the plant, and is such a A^oracious feeder that it Avill (piickly destroy a whole plantation. I am frequently applied to for a remedy for tliis pest and others attacking Cabbages ; the best I know of are given in the chapters on ^'Cabbage Culture.'' Nothing is more diiheult and unsatisfactory than the attemi)t to defeat the ravages of insects in the open field, and I have yet to know of any being continuously successful, unless perhaps, the application of Pans Green for the destruction of the Potato Bug. In the long-cultivated gardens of New Jersey and Long Island we do not sutter much from the ravaoes of either of the above pests. The soil is so re- INSECTS. 323 peatedly turned over and disturbed that I presume the maggot is not left long enough at rest to develop itself in sufficient numbers to produce any great injury ; and the luxurious growth resultiug from the continued and heavy manuring, seems to be less inviting to the butterfly to deposit her eggs than the feebler growth of less fertile soils. Or, it may be that the increase of English sparrows is helping us in both these cases, by destroying tlie ily that produces the maggot, or the small white butterily that produces the caterpillar, or it may be that they feed on the caterpillar itself, as I know they do upon tlie rose-slug. At all events, the farmer will gain by en- couraging and caring for the sparrows. A few years ago the street trees of New York, Brooklyn and Jersey City were festooned by myriads of the "measuring worm ; ' now, since the advent of the sparrows, they are scarcely ever seen. The sparrows will live in any section of the country if properly housed and fed in winter, and if such care were general we should hear fewer complaints of insect ravages. True, the birds might exact wages for their services, in requiring a little grain, but of the two evils, better submit to that done by the birds than by the insects. I will relate an experiment to destroy the Cabbage Caterpillar, which occurred during this month in my im- mediate neio'hborhood. One of mv neiirhbors foi.nd that the pest was attacking his Cabbages ; he came to me and asked what I thought of his using slaked lime to dust over them. I told him I had but little faitli in it. But he was resolved to try it, and put it on at the rate of four or five barrels to the acre, carefully dusting it on each plant, This was about the 1st of June. On the l?th he came to me in triumph, saying that the remedy had been effectual, and that there was hardly a caterpillar to be seen. Unfortunately for the experiment, but fortu- nately for truth, another neighbor, whose Cabbage patch 324 GARDENIN^G FOR PROFIT. had been attacked at the same time, but had received no lime, was also entirely clear of the caterpillar ! The cure was traceable to another cause. We had had a deluging rain that swept off the caterpillars, and started the Cab- bages into luxuriant growth at the same time. Had the insect come m the legions it does in some j)laces, had there been no ram, and had the dry, hot weather con- tinued, the lime dust would probably have failed. Last summer, I had with great care nursed along in my greenhouses, for many weeks, a collection of rare varieties of German Stock Gillyflowers, a plant belonging to the same natural order (Cruciferae), as the Cabbage. Upwards of two thousand plants were set out in June, on rather poor soil ; by the middle of July they had made splendid plants, one foot across, and just as they were bursting into bloom we observed the little white butterfly moving amongst them, and knew what might be expected to follow. Lime dust, solutions of carbolic soap, whale oil soap, and sundry other things were used, all to no effect, and by middle of August, the plants were literally eaten up by the caterpillar. There is nothing more unpleasant than to tell any one suffering under a calamity that there is no effective remedy : but it is in- finitely better to do so than to delude them with a false one. I have been a worker of the soil since my boyhood, and every year's experience convinces me of the almost helplessness of remedies against insects or other blight- ing plagues that attack vegetation in the open field. It IS true that the amateur gardener may save his dozen or two of Cabbages or Roses by daily picking off or destroy- ing the insects ; but when it comes to broad acres, 1 much doubt if ever any remedy will be found to be prac- ticable, unless in rare instances, such as Pans Green, as as an antidote against the Potato Bug. We have one con- solation, m knowing that these pests are only periodical, and never continue so as to permanently destroy. CULTUliK OF SMALL FRUITS. 'SZO CHAPTER XX. CULTURE OF SMALL FRUITS. Complaint has been made that in the former editions of this work, no allusion was made to the culture of small fruits, which, in many sections, is as much a matter of interest to the market gardener as ls the culture of vege- tables, as, in many places the two have to be combined so as to supply the local demand. The most important of all the small fruits is THE STRAWBERRY. The same general rules for soils, drainage, manuring, etc., are generally applicable for Strawberry or other small fruit culture as for vegetable crops. Our method of obtaining a full crop of Strawberries by ^^pot layering,'' which we here give in detail, we have practised for the past fifteen years with unvarying success, and if we were growing Strawberries for market, no matter on how large a scale, we would follow no other method. To obtain a crop in June from the plants that were planted out the previous August, or in ten months from date of planting, the plants must be such as are layered in pots, and. the sooner they are planted out after the 15th of July the better, although, if not then convenient, they will pro- duce a crop the next season, even if planted as late as the middle of September ; but the sooner they are planted, the larger will be the crop. They may be set from pot layers either in beds of four rows each, twelve inches apart, and twelve inches between the plants, leaving two feet between the beds for a pathway ; or be set out in rows two feet apart, the plants in the rows twelve inches apart ; and if the plants are property set out (care beino- taken to firm the soil around the plants, which is best done by pressing the soil against each plant with the foot), not 320 r;Aiii>i:\i.v(; loi: I'lio! n. one in a thoiisjuj'l of SLniwborry phmls timi liavo fioon Htriick in potn, will fail io ^row. l'"or the flrnt three or lour vvcckB after plantin;^, nothing need be <]one except U) Jioe the beds, bo that all weeds arc kept down. lie careful to do this once in every ten dayn ; for if the weeds once get a ntart it will treble the lalior of keeping the ground clean. In about a nionih aftc^r planting they will begin to throw out runnerK, all of winch mus/y be pincJcad or cut off' an tkey appear, so that by the end of th(i growing neanon (iKt of November), each plant will have formed a complete bunh one foot or mon; in diame- ter, having the necessary matured '-crowns" for next Jun(}'s fruit. By the middle of December, the entire beds of Strawberry plants should be covered, np with salt meadow hay (straw, leaves or anything similar will do as well), to tiie de{)th of two or three inches, entirely cover- ing up the plants and soil, ho that nolhiiig is seen but the hay. l>y April, the plants so protected will show in- dications of growth, when the hay over eacli ])lant is pushed a little aside, to assist it in getting through the covering, so that by May, the fully developed })lant shows on tlio clean surface of the hay. '^Fhis '* mulching," as it is called, is indispensable to the best culture, as it pro- t(fcts the plants from cold in winter, keeps the fruit clean, keei)S the roots cool by shading them from the; hot sun in June, and, at the same time, saves nearly all further labor after being once }>iit on, as few weeds can ])ush through it. liy this method, we prefer to plant new beds ev(!ry y(!ar, though, if desired, the beds onc^j planted may be fruited for twr) or three years, as by the old plans ; but the fruit the first season, will always be the largest in size, if not greatest in quantity. Another advantage of this system is that, where the space is limited, there is ii;uirs. I};i7 two crops from (lie ^^roiiinl in oiio ycjii', if dcsircMl, and tIjL'j'c is also pleiily of i'lnm io croj) llio ^rouiid with Cab- ba;^c, Cauliflower, 0clei7, or oilier fall oi'op, afler llic crop of StrawbcrrioH has been gathered. 'IMu; phin of gelling the pot layers of Strawberries is very Binij)le. Just as soon as the fruit is gatliei-ed, if the heds ai'e well forked up belw(M;n the rows, the runners, or young ])hmlK, will begin Io grow, and in two weeks will be fit t;o layer in pots, "^riie pots (whieh are about two inches in diam- (;ter), arf^ filled willi the soil in winch tlie Slra\vb(!rri(!s are growing, and " [ilunged " or sunk to the level of the surface ; the Strawberry layer is then laid on the pot at its joint, being held in place with asinallsfcoiK!. Theslonenot only serves to kee)) the plant in its place, so that its roots will strike into the ))ol, but it also servers to mark where each pot is; for, b(;ing sunk to the level of the surfacr?, rains wash the soil around the pots, so that they could not well be sccmi unless marked by the stone. Jn ten or twelve days after the Strnwlicrry layc^rs have been put down, the pots will be filled with roots. They are then cut from tbe fiarent plant, placed closely together, and shaded and watered for a few days before being planted out. Strawberries for field culture are usually phinted from the ordinary layers, either in August and September in the fall, or in Mai'ch, A[)ril or May in the spring. They are usually plan led in rows, two to three feet apart, and nine to twelve inches between the planf:s. In planting, every plant should he well firmer], or great loss is almost certain to ensue, as iJie Strav/ berry is a plant always dif- ficult to transj)lant. They are usually worked by a hon:e cultivator, and generally two or three crops are taken before the beds are plowed under ; but the first (;rop given (which is in the second year aff/cr planting), is always the best . thnl is, the Strawberry beds set out in March, April, or May will give the best crop in June of 3^8 GARDEXIXG FOR PROFIT. the next year. The same care must be taken as in plant- ing the pot layers ; the ground must be kept clear of weeds, and the runners pinched or cut off to make fruit-" ing crowns. By the usual field method of culture, it- will be seen that there is a loss of one season in about three ; for in the year of planting of course no fruit is produced. Our own practice is to set aside enough to ])roduce early plants, so that pot layers can be obtained to set out by the 15th of July; thus a full crop of the finest fruit is had every season, and with less cost, we tliink ; for the only labor, after planting, is to keep the ground clean and pinch off the runners, from July to October, with the certainty of getting a full crop next June, or in less than a year from the time of planting, while by planting by ordinary layers, if set out in Au- gust, we have three months of fall culture, and six or seven months of the next summer's culture, before a crop is produced. Again, if the crop is continued to fruit the second or third year, every one who has had expe- rience with the nature of the plant knows that the labor of keeping the plants free from weeds is enormous ; while by the pot layering method of taking a fresh crop each year, much of such labor is dispensed with. There are hardly two sections of the country, 100 miles apart, where the same varieties of Strawberries are grown. We can only offer those grown in the vicinity of New York as our standard. The Henderson. — (See figure 102.) This new Strawberry originated with Mr. George Seymour, South Norwalk, Oonn., in 1883, "who named it in honor of the author of this work. It is doubtful if there is another Strawberry in cultivation having such a combination of good qualities as the ^* Henderson." The fruit is of the largest size, rich, glossy crimson in color, looking as if varnished, early and exceedingly productive, but its excelling merit is its exquisite flavor and aroma. Whether for family or mar- CULTURE OF SMALL FKUITS. 329 ket use, the '' Henderson " is almost certain to become a standard sort, and its strong and healthy growth will Fig. 103. — THE HENDEKSON STRAWBERRY. adapt it to almost every soil. It is a perfect-flowered variety, and, therefore, never fails to set its fruit. Crimson riuster.— (See 6gnre 103.) On the 10th of June, 1886, I examined this Strawberry on the grounds of the raiser, Mr. E. W. Durand, and found 3,000 plants that had been planted on the 15th of August, 1885, which, in less than ten months from the date of plantin/r, were producing a crop that would average fully a quart to each plant ; 3,000"quarts from the 3,000 plants, or at the rate of over 20.000 quarts per acre. The crop was so immense, and the size of the berries so large, that the pickers who were paid two cents per quart, averaged twenty- five quarts per hour, or 85.00 per day — a fact beyond question, and which could be attested by a dozen affidavits. At the first picking, every yard of row 330 (iAKDKNI N(4 lOK I'KOFIT. yielded a quart of fruit. When to tins exti'uordiiKiry produetion we udd the further faets, that this Strawberry is of the riehest crimson color, borne in immense cluKters (hence the name), and that it is one of the earliest as well as the latest — as its great vigor prolongs its season of fruiting — combined with its excellent quality, there is eveiy reason to think that it is bound to be the most valuable Strawberry ever raised by Mr. Durand. On the 10th of July, one montii after my first exami- nation, seventy (juarts of s])lendi(l fin it were gathered Fig. 103.— CKIMSON (JLUSTEU STRAWBERRY. from tlie 3,000 ])hints above referred to, and furthermore, to show it still ke[)t on fruiting, Mr. Durand sent me a large cluster of berries in all stages of development on the 30th of July ; something entirely unknown in a Strawberry that had already given an immense early croj). Mr. Durand siiys that the *' Crimson Cluster " is so completely a pistillate variety that the stamens can hardly be seen, yet he says it may be planted live miles away from any other Strawberry and yet never fail to produce enormous ci'ops. He furtlKU" says that he has gj'own it in frames under glass in early spring, where it cii/ii iM' OF sMAFJ. rKcns. X]l could not poswibly be iinprcgiuiiod with any otlior variety, with tho same results — an abundant eroj:). lie thinks that this fact, to a great extent, upsets the very prevalent notion that perfect stamens and pistils on the same plant are necessary to produce a croj) of fruit. Without having personnlly given the matter much atten- tion, I have long })elieved, from general observation, thjit there was more imjjortance given to the necessity for ** perfect flowers," as they are called, in strawberries than results wjirranted. i' I Fig. 104.— .TKHHEV QIJKKN 8THAWUEKKV, Jersey Queen.— (See figure 104.) This variety was sold for the first time in the fall of 1881, and is, perhaps, one of the very best late Strawberries thus far introduced. The size is immense, often measuring six inches in cir- cumference. Shape, roundish conical ; color, a beautiful scarlet crimson ; perfectly solid, and of excellent flavor. It is an enormous bearer, many plants averaging a (piart of first quality fruit. It is one of the latest Strawberries, 33;3 (Jaui)i:nin(J i-oii iMioirr Iho cro]) in iliis viciiiily beliif^ in j)cMriH'ti()n about (he '2')i\\ of June, while I he MV('rii|;'c' (iropof JStrawhcMrics is iit its best l)y tlio ITith of Jiiiu'. IUd>V<'lll. One of the eniTu'sl, most nbiiiKlanlly pro- (jiiclivc, of iiu'diimi size, oxcollont Ibivor, and lii^ht. sonr- lot ill color. IMmiiIs set out froni pol layers on Au<^ust r>lli, 18S(), Juid fruit ripe .luno r)tlj, ISSl, ten months from (hito of planlini;-. The plants aver;ii;e one (puirt of fruit eaeh. V\iX. U).").— SlIAia'lJCSS yrU.WVHKKKY. Sliarploss,— (See li,2:uro 105.) With theoxeoption of .Ici'sey Qu(HMi jind " Crimson Olustei," tho bir^n^st and one of the hea\iest berries of this eolh^etion. Tt is of lino Ihivor, a !j:ood bc^arer, a,nd lias iu)\v beeomea standard sort. DoMiiiii^. ()n(> of llu> best of tlio older sorts. It com- CULTUKK or SMALL FIMITS. :vx\ bines all the best (lUiilides, beiii^i;- liiri^'e, early, rich in color juul iluvor, iiiid jibiiiuhml ly prodiid ive. |»jirry. — One of \\w. (';irli(>si; lar^c hci-rics, of ^n*(^il. beauty, excellent (inaiity, |>rolilie, and one of the very hardiest and strongest growers. ^ ...■i wimmiM I'iir. lOi;. ;iii, .11. Mil, h HTRAwnKuity, ,Icw«'ll. — (Sec li.L,Mirc 101). ) A new va,riety, ori ixow. exclusion of the spade or digging fork, Avhenever it is practicable to do so. No digging in the ordinary way can pulverize the soil so thoroughly as can be done by the plow and harrow^, nor does trenching by the spade, much surpass in its results, that done by thorough sub- soiling. Figure 114 represents a plow now largely used by mar- ket gardeners and known as the Eoland Chilled Plov/. So superior are its pulverizing powers to those of the IMPLEMENTS. 345 spade that we know of no market gardener who would allow his ground to be dug, even if it were done free of cost. To avoid the frequent change of shares, and the extra cost of replacing them, a reversible, self-sharpening slip point (see figure 115), is now made. When the bottom ^--■MW'ik ^^ ^^^^^ point is worn, and the plow ^fc^\ ^^C^ tends to run out of the ground by rea- ^O ^on of the rounded point, the slip point Fig. xi.u.— ^^ix- Dn^i^^. 13 taken out and reversed, and thus doubles the length of its useful life. Miner's Gold Medal Subsoil Plow (figure 110), is the best subsoil plow we know of. It involves new princi- ples, and accomplishes the work of stirring, loosening and draining the soil beneath the furrow of the common Fig". 116.— miner's subsoil plow. plow, lifting and breaking (bnt not turning) the sub- soil to the depth of fifteen to twenty inches, as may be desired. On very stiff soils, we use the subsoiler once in two years ; in lighter soils not so often ; although if time would alwa^^s permit, there is no doubt but that it would be beneficial to use it whenever plowing is done. The Garden Harrow (figure 117) we find is well suited for garden work. It contains some forty teeth about ten inches long. Tliese are driven through tlie 340 GARDENIKG FOR PROFIT. Avoocl-work, leaving five or six inches of the sharpened end on the one side', and one and a half to two inches of the blunt end on the othei', as sho^Yn in figure 117. After Fiff. 117.— GARDEN HAEROTV. the ground has been thoroughly pulverized by the teeth of the harrow it is turned upside down and "backed/' Fig. 118.— DIGGING FORK. Fig. 119.— AMES' FIRST QUALITY. as we term it, the short blunt teeth further breaking up the soil, and smoothing it to a proper condition to receive the seeds or plants. IMPLEMENTS. 347 But there are many spots in the garden that it is im- practicable to plow, such as our frames, borders, and occasionally between rows where the space is too narrow for a horse to walk. Such places must be dug, and here Ave use the Digging Fork, represented by figure 118, in Fig. 120.— SKELETON PLOW, preference to the spade. Its prongs enter the soil more easily than the blade of the spade, and by striking the turned over soil with the back of the fork, it pulverizes it better than can be done by the blade of the spade. Still there are many operations in the garden, such as the digging up of roots, earthing up of Celery, etc., for which the spade is indispensable. For such purposes the Fi^, 121.— TRIi\>'GTILAR ADJUSTABLE HARROW. one represented by figure 119, and known as '^Ames' First Quality," we find the best. For stirring between narrow rows of Cabbage, Celery, etc., we use a small one-horse plow before using the cul- tivator. This is represented by figure 120, and is known 348 GARDEKIJs'G FOR PROFIT. as the Skeleton or Cabbage Plow. Following this, is our main implement for cultivating between rows, which is simply a Triangular Adjustable Harrow, represented by figure 121. Tliis imjilemeut, we prefer to any variety oi cultivator we have ever used, on ground where tliere are no weeds, as its teeth sink from three to four inches deep if kept sharpened ; when extra depth is wanted, a weight is put on to smk it deeper. Another excellent implement, which we have used to great advantage in our market gar- den^, is the Acme Harrow (figure 1:22), ^^hloh it will be ijjplemeinTS. 349 seen is of an entirely different construction from the harrow just described. As ii pulverizer or leveler we have found it one of the very best implcmonts we have ever used for these purposes ; for it is not only a harrow, but, under cei'tain conditions of the soil, it is to all intents and purposes a gang of small plows ; or, in other words, m a soft or light soil you can plow tlie ground just as thoroughly for six feet wide as you can do it with the ordinary plow eight inches wide. Although this imple- ment has been recommended especially for farm work, our own experience with it convinces us that it is equally valuable in the market garden. Still another excellent smoothing harrow is that kuown as the Disc, which con- sists of some sixty sharp discs, placed on revolving shafts so as to cut the soil to a depth of three inches by one Fig. 123.— DTSC HARROW. inch in width, which levels the ground as completely as can be done with a steel rake in the hands of an expert workman. The use of this implement has saved us an immeuse deal of labor, which previously was done by hand rakes. In all hoeing operations by hand, the Steel-Prong Hoe (figure 124), is used in preference to the old-fashioned blade hoe ; yet superior as this implement is to the blade hoe, it is not much more than twenty years since it came into general use. A man can do fully one- third more Avork with it, do it better, and with greater ease than with the blade hoe. True, it is not so good for cutting weeds, but weeds should never be seen in a garden, whether it be for pleasure or profit ; it is short- sighted economy to delay the destruction of weeds until 350 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. they start to grow. One man will hoe over in one day more ground where the weeds are just breaking through than six will do if they be allowed to grow six or eight inches in height, to say nothing of the injury done to the ground by feeding the weeds instead of the planted crops. Another benefit of this early extirpation of weeds is, that taken in this stage, thev, of course, never seed, Fig. 134. — PKONG HOR. Fig. 125. — STEEL RAKE. Fig. 126.— SCUFFLE HOB. and in a few years they are almost entirely destroyed, making the clearing a much simpler task each succeed- ing year. Another tool,, used in place of the hoe, is the Steel Eake (figure 125), which we use in various sizes, from eight inches to twenty inches m width. Nearly all our first 'Mioeing"is done with rakes. That is, the ground is raked over and leveled in from two to three davs after IMPLEMENTS. 351 planting. This destroys the germs of the weeds. In from five to ten da3^s, according to the state of the "weather, the ground is again gone over with the rakes. I am no believer in deep hoeing on newly planted or sown crops ; it is only when plants begin to grow that deep hoeing is beneficial. For using between narrow rows of crops jnst starting from the ground, the Push or Scuflie Hoe (figure 126), is a most effective tool. We use them from six to twelve inches wide. They require to be always about three in- ches narrower than the rows ; thus, in rows nine inches apart, we use the six-inch hoe. Another indispensable implement is the Roller (figure \2]'). It is of great im- portance, not only in breaking lumpy soil, but in firm- Fi,^-. 127.— GARDEN ROLLER, mg it properly around newly sown seeds ; besides, the ground leveled by the roller is much easier hoed than if the surface were uneven or irregular. The roller we use is made of hard wood, and is five or six feet long and nine inches in diameter. The roller is bored through its whole length, and through this hole is put a bar of two-inch round iron. This bar gives the necessary weight, and its projecting ends afford points to which to attach the handle. The Double Marker (home-made), figure 128, is used to mark six or eight lines at once, as may be required, the spaces between the teeth being twelve inches on one side, and nine inches on the other. Where rows are re- 35^ GARDENING FOR PROFIT. quired only of these widths, eyery row is, of course, planted. But many of our crops require wider rows ; thus, with a twelve-inch marker we plant our early Cab- bages at twenty-four inches apart, the intervening rows being planted with Lettuce at the same time ; or, with Fiji-. 128. -DOi'ULE MAiinsa. the narrow side of the marker, every row nine inches apart is planted with Onion sets ; or, in sucli a crop as Beets, every alternate row only is used, making the rows eiohteen inches part. This is the marker that has been Fig. 129.— RAPP'S ADJUSTABLE MARKER. in use for many years. Within the last year, however, a new implement, known as Rapp's Adjustable Ground Marker, has been offered, and a large number of thcni have been sold to the best market gardeners in our vicin- itv, all of whom, without exception, say that it effects a IMPLEMENTS, 353 great saving in time and labor, compared with the old marker so long in use. Happ's Marker is made of hard wood and iron. By means of thnmb-nuts it is adjustable in all its parts, as its name implies. Th: entire length of the hea ' is divided into inches, plainly marked ; thus tlie teeth may be set to nny desired gauge with accuracy, while the depth of the trenches is regulated by two iron feet. An important advantage possessed by this marker over the old one is, that by raising the handle slightly the weight of the machine is thrown on the feet, thus allowing a shallower trench to be dug, and relieving the operator of the necessity of carrying the machine, as here- tofore. This Marker, an illustration of which we give iWllll: Fiff. 130. — MABKET WAGON. in figure 129, can be obtained from most of the seed or implement houses. The Market Wagon (figure 130), is made after various patterns in different sections of the country. That shown in the engraving is the kind used by us, and is usually drawn by one heavy horse. It is strongly made, weighing about 1,400 pounds, and is capable of carrying from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. The '^Planet Jr." Combined Drill, Wheel Hoe, Cul^ tivator and Plow is really a most excellent and valu- able implement, combining in one, three implements, all nearly as effective as any of them would be separately. The change? are easily and quickly adjustable. We have 354: aAKDEiS^lNU Jj'OR PRUl'lT 5^r>^'f«?r^ Fi<;-. 133.— " iMi/VNKT jk," doutu.e whkel rroE, oui/nvATOR ako plow COM BIN HI). IMPT.KMKNTS, 355 used this implemonl I'oi- the; past two yvnv^ wilh <^n-oat satisfaction and prolit. Planet Jr. DouIjIo Wheel Hoe, Cultivator and Plow is on the same principle as the precedinp^, nearly ident- ical, excei)t wanting- the Seed Di'ill Attachment. The Asparagus Knilc (iignn; VV-l), is a tool iidendcd for cutting the Asparagus below the surface of the soil, Tifr. 133.— ASPARAGUS KNIFE. the saw teeth bein,^- used where there is dimger of injur- ing the edg(! of tiie knife. The Aspai-jigiis Buncher, shown in figure 134, is the only implement of the kind that wc know of, and while it is an improvement over the old pro- cess of tying by hand, it is not as perfect as it might be. The (hii'den Line Keel (ugm-e l^o), is best de- scribed by our cut.. The best size wc hcive used is one that will cai ry 150 feet of line. h'igure 13G represents a Horseradish (Irater, and this machine is perhaps as convenient to use as any that can be found. It is easily operated by o?ie [)ei'son. The cylinder is covered with heavy perforated tin, and the roots, first cleaned by scra|)ing, are held uj) agjiinst it and grated o(f in that way. Such a grater as we show will grate about fifteen pounds an hour. The Dibber (figure 137), is a very simple hut indis- pensable tool. It is of importance to have it made in the inanner represented here. It can be fornuid from a crooked piece of any hard wood, and shod with a sharp Fijj;'. 134. — AsrAit- AGU» BUNClllilt. Kif?. i;'5.— GAU')EN Ln;jiJ ItEilL. 35G GARDEi^lNG FOR PROFIT. iron point, which gives weight to it, besides it always keeps sharp. Dibbers are too often made from an old Fig. 13o. — HORSERADISH GRATER. spade or shovel handle, when they are awkward and un- handy affairs. Planting is un operation that often requires the most rapid movement to got the crop in at the proper time, and the best appliances in working are not to be disre- garded. With a Dibber of this style an expert planter with a boy to drop the plants, as we invariably practise, will plant from 6,000 to 10,000 per day, according to the kind of plants or the condition of the ground. I have on many oc- casions planted in one day three acres of Celery, holdmg about 90,000 plants with ten men, each of whom had a boy from ton to fourteen years of age, to drop the plants down before him. This plan of using boys is not generally adopted, "but I have repeatedly proved that, by thus di- j,.^ ^^^^ viding the labor, a boy and a man will do more dibber.* planting than two men would do if planting singly, and each carrying his own plants. impleme:n"ts. 357 Another valuable market garden tool is the Planet Jr. Horse Iloe and Cultivator. The frame will expand to twenty-four inches, or close to five inches, or it can be adapted to almost any width of row. The value of this tool is largely due to the peculiar shape of the teeth, which will be understood by referring to the engraving. ;358 (iAui)i:N iNd i''oi{ I'lfoiwi'. MONTHLY (:Al.h:NI)AR. M^lic siiccciss of .'ill ;i;Mn1(Mi oponiiioiiR (Icjx'TkIs upon prcp.'iriiioi'y indMSiircs ; for (liis rciiisoii Ux^ hci^Mimcr in i\\o. hiisiiu'ss ciMi he riiii('!i ItcncHl.cd by Ixuii^ riuiiiiidcd, :is lie. N■|'II1,^ CAMIX DA i;. ."{Ml foriiKMl, iiiid i/li(^ v.'iliii' of MKiMiiiv^ miicli fccliurdd by in- jil,l,(Mil ion l-o (,ii I'll i 111'; jind hrcn-kiiiL;- ii, up diirin^i; wiiil-or. SoindiMicH ih is injiinMl l»y I)ciii'>; ihiiily H(i}iil(ir(Ml, ho Muifc il< rr(50Z08 8oIi(l ; jiikI ;i;4":iJti, il' (.iintw n iiilo Imi'/jv lic-ijis, ;m(l Ict'l, iiiil.iirrHrd, il, l)urM.s by NJolctil- ll('il.^ill^^ /j,()liin by snow, il, is iin- Tioccssary lo remov(! if, even for I wo or lliree vvcudvs, bid, if ib(; wealber bas b(!en mild so llnil, I Ik; phiiilK undei* ibo hiisIk^h bii,v(» nol, been fro/en wben eovei'cd by siiow, llnsn tb(! snow Tnnst Ix! ebiared from llie ^dnsH as soon iiH ))i*;i('l,iejible. In llie ;^n-eeiilioiises, bol,-b(M|s, or forein<(- pils, wlKiH! arliliei.'il beiil, is nsetl, llie i-emoviil of llie snow from Ibe EX. 373 Cabbage, Maggot 156 Plants, What Cold They will Endure 140 Seed 161 Slug 155 Soil and Manures 147 Wire Worm . . - 156 Cabbages, Early 162 Early Flat Dutch 165 Early Jersey Wakefield. . . 163 Early Winningstadt 165 Henderson's Early Sum- mer.-.. 164 Premier 164 Cabbages, Late 165 American Drumhead Sa- voy 166 Felder Kraut 166 Fottler's Improved Bruns- wick 165 Mammoth Eock Red 167 Marbleliead Mammoth ... 166 Red Dutch 107 Selected Late FLit Dutch. 1G5 Turnip-rooted 212 Cardoon 169 Carrot -- l^p Danvers 172 Early i^rench Forcing 171 Early Half-long Scarlet Carentau... l'<2 Early Half-long Scarlet (Pointed Ptooted) 172 Kali-long Eed (Stump Rooted) 171 Large White Belgian 173 Long Orange, Improved.. 172 Yellow Belgian 173 Cauliflower 167 Extra Early Dwarf Erfurt 169 Extra Early Paris 169 Half Early Paris 169 Henderson's Early Snow- ball. 167 Large Late Algiers 169 Le Normand's Short- stemmed - 169 Nonpareil - 169 Celery 174 Close Planting 179 Dwarf Kinds'Pref erred... 179 Earthing up - 178 "Haudiing" -- 178 Planting Out 176 Profits of --- 184 Rust on 180 Shipping of 184 Sowing the Seed 174 Storing for Winter 180 Celerv, Storing in Trenches... 180 In Cellars 182 Celery, Varieties of 185 Boston Market 188 C; iant White SoUd 189 Henderson's Golden Dwarf 185 Henderson's Half-Dwarf . 187 Henderson's Rose 189 Major Clark's Pink 190 Saudringham 188 Turnip-rooted ISO White Plume 186 Celeriac 190 Dwarf Apple-shaped 190 Chervil, Turaip-rooted ... 173 Chives 191 Collards (Southern) 195 Corn Salad 191 Corn, Sweet .--- 195 Planting 196 Profitable Crop of 196 Corn, Sweet, Varieties of 197 Cory 197 Crosby's Early Sugar . 197 Early Marblehead 197 Early Minnesota 197 Egyptian 198 Henderson 197 Mammoth Sugar 198 Squantum Sugar 197 Stowell's Evergreen 198 Cress 193 Upland. 194 Yvater 192 Profits of 194 Cucumbers --- 199 FIov.^ to Plant 199 The Pickle Crop 201 Cucumbers, Varieties of 201 Burr 203 Early Cluster 202 Early Russian - 202 Green Prolific 203 Improved White Spine - . . 201 Nichols' Medium Green .. 202 Egg Plant 203 ^BlackPekin. 206 Long Purple 206 New York Improved 205 White-fruited - 206 Endive 206 Broad-leaved Batavian . . . 208 Green Curled 207 Moss Curled 207 Fetticus ---- 191 Garlic ---- 208 Gherkin, West India 203 Greens, Dwarf German 142 374 gaedeki^Ct for profit. Gumbo - 241 Horseradish 208 The Sets 209 Planting 209 Profits of - 212 Indian Cress 240 Jerusalem Artichoke 130 Kale or Borecole 142^, 291 Kohlrabi 212 Early White Vienna 213 Early Purple Vienna 213 Leek : 213 London Flag 214 Musselburgh 214 Lettuce 214 Forcing in Hot-beds 55 New ""York "Salad Patches"--- 216 Profits of 217 AU the Year Round 222 Lettuce, Varieties ol 219 Black-seeded Simpson 220 Black-seeded Tennis Ball- 220 Boston Market 221 Early Curled Simpson 219 Large White Summer Cab- bage 221 New York 221 Paris White Cos 222 Salamander £21 White-seeded Tennis Ball 221 Yellow-seeded Butter - - - . 221 Marjoram 308 Marjoram, Sweet 223 Marityuia 234 Melon, Musk 223 Cultureof 224 Profit of --- 2:34 Soil for 225 Insects Injurious to 226 Melon, Musk, Varieties of 227 Baltimore 228 Early Hackensack 227 (lolden Netted Gem — . . 228 Green Citron 230 Hackensack 228 Montreal Market 229 Melon, Water 230 Profits of 230 Melon, Water, Varieties of --- 231 Black Spanish 232 Citron 233 Gypsy 231 Ice Cream 231 Icing 232 Iceiiind 232 Kolb's Gem 231 Mammoth Iron-clad 231 Mouutaiu Sweet 231 Melon, Water, Rattlesnake-.- 231 Phinney's Early 231 Scaly Bark- - - -" 232 Mint 233 Mushroom 2VA Making the Bed 336 Making the Spawn 239 Preparing j\Iauure for 236 Spawning the Bed - 236 Mustard 234 Black 234 White - 234 Nasturtium 240 Dwai-f - 240 Tall 240 New Zealand Spinach . 290 Okra "Ml Onions 241 Harvesting '^9 Insects Injurious to 249 Fai*m Crop, As a - . - 243 Profits of 250 IVIaimres for 245 Planting 242 Preparing the Giound 2^16 Profits of 243 Sowing the Seed 247 Sowing in Fall . 243 Sets 242 Storing the Crop 249 Wee;ling the Crop 247 Onions, Varieties of 251 Bermuda 252 Extra Early Flat Red 252 Giant Rocca 253 Large Red Wethersfield -- 251 Large Red Italian Tri])oli- 254 LargeWhite Itahan Tripoli 245 Neopolitan Marzajola 253 Queen 253 Southport Large Yellow Globe I 251 Soutliport Red G lobe 252 Southport White Globe -- 252 Silver-skin - . . 253 White Portugal 253 Yellow Dutch 253 Yellow Globe Danvers 251 Onions, Potato " 254 Onions, Top 254 Orach 291 Oyster Plant 282 Parsley, in Winter 255 Parsley, Varieties of 256 Double Curled-- 256 Fern-leaved 256 Hamburgh 257 Henderson's Emerald 256 Plain 257 IXDEX. 3?5 Parsley, Tumip-rooted 257 Parsnip 257 Early Round 258 Ilijllow-crowned 258 The Student 258 Pea, Varieties of 258 Alaska 2f)l American Wonder 261 Black-eyed Marrowfat 264 Bliss' Abundance 263 Bliss' Everbearing 263 Champion of England 263 First of All .....^ 260 Improved Dan'l O'Rourke 261 Kentish Invicta 261 McLean's Advancer 261 Premium Gem 261 Stratagem 263 Pride of the Market 264 Telephone.-.. 263 Yorkshire Hero 263 "VVliite Marrowfat 264 Pepper, Varieties of 264 Bull Nose 264 Cranberry 2(55 (iolden Dawn 205 Large Bell 264 Long Red Cayenne 265 Mammoth 264 Ruby King 265 Squash . ." 265 Sweet Mountain 264 Tomato-shaped 265 Pepper Grass 193 Potato ... 265 Diseas'es of 266 Colorado Beetle 266 Tubers, Cut or Whole. -.. 270 Potatoes, Varieties of 267 Beauty of Hebron 267 Clark's No. 1 2(;9 Early Rose 267 Empire State 268 Pearl of Savoy 267 Perfect Peach Blow 269 Rochester Favorite 269 Rural Blush -. 269 St. Patrick 269 Triumph 269 Vanguard 267 White Elephant 268 Potato Onions 254 Pumpkin 274 Radish as a Succession Crop . . 275 Forcing 77 Radish, Varieties of 275 Beckert's Chartier 276 Chinese Rose-cclored, Winter 278 Radish, Early Round Dark Red 276 French Breakfast 277 Graj Summer Turnip 278 Long Black S])anish 278 Long Scarlet Shoit-top... 275 Olive-shaped 278 Red Forcing Tui-nip 279 Round Black Spanish 278 White-tipped Scarlet Tur- nip 277 Yellow Summer Turnip . . 278 Rhubarb 278 Forcing 279 Linnocus 281 St. Martins 281 Victoria 281 RutaBaga 307 Sage 308 Salsify 282 Salsify, Black 283 Savory, Sunmier 308 Scorzonera 283 Sea Kale 283 Blanching 284 Shallots - 285 Sorrel 285 Spinach 286 Profits of ---..... 287 Spmach, Varieties of 289 Large Round Leaf Viroflay 290 Long Standing 290 Norfolk Savoy-leaved 289 Prickly 290 Round Leaf. 290 Thick-leaved 290 Spinach, New Zealand 290 Spinach, Substitutes for 290 Sprouts 142, 291 Squash, Sumujcr Varieties 291 Boston Marrow 293 Bush Crookneck 293 Y e 1 1 o Av and White Bush Scallo-ed 2C2 Fall and Winter Varieties: Essex Hybrid 293 Hubbard 293 Mammoth ChiU 294 Marblehead 294 Vegetable ^Lirrow . . . 294 Winter Crookneck ... 294 Summer Savory 308 Swedes or Swedish Turaips. . . 307 Sweet Herbs 308 Sweet Marjoram .223, 308 Sweet Potato 295 Starting the Plants 297 Sets or Draws 296 Nansemond.. 297 Red Skinned 297 376 GAKDKXIXG i'OR PROi-IT. Sweet Potato, Yellow Skinned. 297 Swiss Chard (Sec Beet) 141 Thyme 808 Tomato 298 Earliness in 300 Prolitsof --- 299 Savii),£>- Seeds of 300 Tomato, Varieties of 301 Acme - 301 Canada Victor 303 General Grant 303 Hathaway's Excelsior 303 Mikado 301 Paragon 301 Perfection ..- 303 Plum, Red ind Yellow ... 303 Tomato, Trophy 303 Top Onions.- 254 Turnip, Varieties of ..- 304 Amber Globe 306 Extra Early Milan 306 Golden Ball 306 Purple-top Strap-leaf 306 Purple-top White Globe.. 306 Red-top Strap-leaf 306 Seven-top. 307 Snowball 306 Snow-white 307 Turnip, Ruta Baga Kinds 307 Improved American 307 Laro-e White French 308 Shamrock 308 Alphabetical Catalogue 0. Judd Co., David W. Judd, Pres '" *« / \ ■ > PUBLISHERS AND IMPORTERS OF ^-^=^13^ i„ , All Works pertaining to Rural Life. Agriculture, Horticulture, Etc. Allen, R. L. and L. F. New American Farm Book. . . , ...$2.50 American Farmer's Hand Book 2.5U Asparagus Culture, i^'iex.cioiii "^o Bamford, C. E. Silk Culture. Paper " '.^^^ Barry, P. The Fruit Garden. New ami Revis.cl Eciiiion g.QO Bommero Method of Making Manures '_25 Brackett. Farm Talk. Paper 50c, Cloth 75 Brill. Farin-Gardeniny and Seed-Growini;- 2 qq — Cauliflower! 20 Broom-Corn and Brooms. Paper 50 Curtis on Wheat Culture. Paper 5q Emerson and Flint. Manual of Agriculture 150 Farm Conveniences 150 Farming for Boys 125 Farming for Profit , 3.75 FitZ. Sweet Potato Culture. New and Enlarged Edition. Cloth....!' ^(iO Flax Culture. Paper 3q French. Farm Drainage 1 -q Fuller, A. S. Practical Forestry j'50 CregOry. On Cabba-ies ' 'go On Carrots, Mangolil Win tzels, etc 30 On Fertilizers' "" '^q On Or.ion Raising oq On Squashes oq 2 0. JUDD CO.'S ALPHABETICAL CATALOGUE. HacEan. Farmin<,'-witli Green Manures 1.00 Harris. lusocts Injurious to Vegetation. Plain $4. Col'd Engravinojs. 6 50 Harris, Joseph. Gaidcniiiu- for Young and old 1,25 — Talks on Manures*. New and Revised Eilition. .. 1.75 Henderson, Peter. 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Paper 50 Robinson. l*'acts for Fanners 5.00 Roe. I'lay and Piolit in my Garden 150 Roosevelt. Five Acies Too Much 1.50 Silos and Ensilage- New and Enlarged Edition 50 Starr. Farm Eehoes 1.00 Stewart, irrigation for the Farm, Garden and Orchard 1.50 Ten Acres Enough i."0 The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening. Vol. 1 .. 500 The Soil of the Farm 1 co Thomas. Farm Implements and Machinery 1..50 Tim Bunker Papers; or, Yankee Farming 1.50 Tobacco Culture. Paper 25 Treat, injurious insects of tlie Farm und Garden 2.00 Villes. School of Chemical Manures 1.25 High Farming without Manures 25 Artilieial Manures .. . 6.00 Waring. Book of the Farm 2.00 Draining for Profit and Health. . 1.50 Elements of Agriculture 1.00 Farmers' Vacation 3.00 Sanitary Drainage of Houses and Towns 2.00 Sanitary Condition in City and Country Dwellings 50 Warlngton. Chemistry of the Farm 1.00 WhSte. (gardening for the South 2.00 0. JFDD CO.'S ALPHABETICAL CATALOGUE. FRtJITS, FI.OWI'^KS, ETC. American Rose Culturist 30 American Weeds and Useful Plants . 1.75 BouSSingault. Kmal EcDHoiuy 1_(;0 ChorltOn. Cxruijc-Growcf's Guitle 75 CoHseir, Peter. yorL'luim, its culture :iik1 Maniir;irt;!rt; 3.(j0 Common Sea Weeds. Boards 50 Downing, i^'mit- ami l<'niil Trees of Aun-i-i'^a. New Edition 5.OO ltd ral Essays 3 00 Elliott. 11:111(1 Book lor Fniit-CJroweis. I^ipcr (iOc Cl(«ih 1.00 Every Woman her own Flower Garderrjer i.oo Fern Book for Everybody 50 Fuller, A. S. Gmpe Culinrist, 1.50 lllustraled Siniwbeny Ciiltiiiist 20 Small Fniil Culturist.. New Edition. 1.50 Fulton. Peach Culture. New and Revised Edition 1,50 Heinrich. ^Vindow Flower Gaiden 75 Henderson, Peter, liana Book or riants 3.00 Practical Floiicull lire 1.50 Hibberd, Shirley. The Amateur's Flower harden 2. .50 The Amateui's Grceniiouse aiul Conservatory. 2 50 ,_i^ The Amateur's Rose i5o(dc 2.50 Hoopes. Book of r:veri4reens 3.00 HusmannjProf.CeO. 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Practical Poultry Keeper. Paper 50 Kin*^. Bee-Keeper's Text Book I.no Lan*^Stroth. On the Honey and Hive Bee 2.00 Poultry. Bn'edinp:, Reariiiir, Feeding etc. Boards 50 Profits in Poultry and their Profitable Manage- ment. Most complete Work extant 1.00 Ouinby. Mysteries ofBee-Keeiiing Explained (Edited bvL. C. Root). 1..50 Renwick. Thermostatic incubator. Paper 36c. Clorh 5(» Root, A. l". A, B. 0, of Bee-Culture 1.25 Standard Excellence in Poultry i f>o Stoddard. An E-u-Farm. Revised and Enlargrd .';0 Wright. Illustrated Book of Poultry 8.00 Practical Poultry-Keeper 2.00 Practical Pigeon Keeper 1.50 O. JCDD CO. S ALPHABETICAL CATALOGUE. ARCHITECTURE, ETC. Allen, L. F. Rural Architect me .. 1.50 American Cottages 5.00 Ames. Alphabets 1.50 AtwOOd. Country and Siibiirl)aii Houses 150 Barn Plans and Out-Buildings 1 50 Bell. CarpeiitiylMade Easy 5.00 Bicknell. 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Mathematical Drawing Ifistrnmeuts 1.50 HuSSey. Home Building 2.50 N.irtonal Cottage Archilecliiie 4.00 Homes for Home Builders. Just Pul)lished. Fully Illusirated. 1.50 interiors and Interior Details T.50 La key. Village and Country Houses 5.00 Modern House Painting 5oo Monckton. National Carpenter and Joiner 5. CO National Stair Builder 5.00 Painter, Cilder, and Varnisher's Companion 1 so Palliser. American Cottage Homes ;i0() Model Homes 1.00 Useful Details 2.00 Plummer. carpenters' and Builders' Cnide 75 Powell'. Foundations and Founiiation Walls 2.00 Reed. Cottage Houses 1.25 House Plans for Everybody 1,50 Dwellings... 3.00 0. JUDJ) CO. S ALPHABETICAL CATALOGUE. Through the Yellowstone Park on Horseback. By GliN. ^^^^ *0 so- \N ''^. %. .<^' -^^ o • u ^^ v .^^.. C' i.f^T-. o 0^ ^^ "> , -> -v ■r ■''■%, I ^ <, %. ^-^ c $^^^ ^, .A^' -^ ^' •^o 0^' -^y. <^\^ s\^ L^ -X.. ci- *■ " P- " X ' -^^ ^^' ,^^^' S"^ % 3 •^. low -' < ^-^ ' <■ - ^ .<^'' -SS' •n^ .-3 .^ <^. v\' -Z^. -^ .-A S ^ -I '^ - '^. ^ n ., . ■* oO^ -P -i^^ ^ -^ oo^ V- V -^^ 3 'O fj s "^ <= / -/. '>^t'j5^>' k'^ '^'^- ■^' ^ ,- — KT - ■> . #\v'^J^_S " .Oo. CO' 0^ o^'' /„ '^c^