68 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



or the land which I will not communicate to them — they not thinking or 

 believing for a moment that it is simply the difference in the soil that 

 makes the difference in the crop. 



On the other hand, while I have failed in every instance to grow 

 celery on my ground, they raise it without much difficulty. So, also, 

 with lettuce. We can raise it equally well in early spring, but upon the 

 advent of a few hot days mine shoots at once to seed ; but they can extend 

 their season long after I am obliged to cease cutting. 



With many other crops, we can each be assured of moderate success. 

 Yet, invariably that success is more or less marked in favor of one or the 

 other each year. While they grow larger crops of the {on their soil) al- 

 most worthless Red Burmuda sweet potato, the same variety (though not 

 half the quantity) grown on my soil is of very good quality. The Yellow 

 Nansemond is a failure with them, growing nothing but long roots, but 

 with me the quantity as well as the quality is as satisfactory as any part of 

 the State produces. 



Parsnips with them are an exceeding fine crop, but with me they do 

 not pay well. Yet I ran grow the carrot to perfection, while they get a 

 poor, if any crop at all. Late cabbage is their forte, early cabbage mine. 

 Early turnips and tomatoes, egg plants and peppers, are specialties with 

 me, while very late tomatoes and potatoes seem to be more successful with 

 them . 



Thus we see that it requires the closest attention to the matter as to 

 where we plant each variety, as well as each class of vegetables ; and 

 nothing but this close attention will assure success, and place money in 

 the pocket of the gardener. 



At the present time the business of seed-growing has become so 

 extensive, and competition among seedmen so great, that none but the 

 best seed need be planted, as they can now be obtained at prices that but 

 a few years ago were double, and in instances treble, what they are at 

 present. 



None need now to depend on the old-time "store seeds" — ten cents 

 a paper, three seeds, or thereabouts, in each, warranted (not) to grow — as 

 we have a great number of firms, even here in our own State, who send out 

 seeds of undoubted purity and of good quality, by the ounce or pound, 

 at prices which are within the means of the poorest. 



This growth of the seed-producing and distributing business, by mail 

 and otherwise, has had its effect in stimulating the farmer also to no longer 

 neglect his vegetable garden, but to make it a part and parcel of his daily 

 attention, enabling him, by adding its surplus to the butter and egg 

 account, to make it largely pay his bill for groceries, etc., at the store. It 

 has also not only served in a great measure to make his table more varied 

 with healthy food, and ever-changing variety, but has served in a great 

 measure to do away with the everlasting hog and hominy, which only pro- 

 duce fatty secretions to create animal heat; but, under the vegetable 

 regime, he is furnished food for the brain as well (at least, so scientists of 

 to-day tell us), and if there is a class of beings on earth at the present 

 time who need more brain or brain action, it certainly is the one that 



