STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 69 



is obliged to till the soil for his sustenance, for every year makes more 

 plainly manifest the fact that " cultivating zuith brains" pays. 



The past season has been a peculiar one. The winter previous being 

 an open one, with hardly any frost, added to which was a continuously 

 wet spring, the consequence was, the soil was in a sodden, lifeless con- 

 dition, which rendered the sowing of seeds very difficult, and their 

 germination very uncertain. 



Then the drying winds and hot sun, when they did appear, baked 

 the ground into lumps, rendering it very difficult to properly cultivate 

 the growing crops. Therefore there were more vacancies than usual in 

 the rows, and the plants also were not uniform in their growth, and this 

 peculiarity existed all summer and season through. 



In giving a list of vegetables, I give those only which have done 

 best with me. I wish it understood, however, that I have and do culti- 

 vate, for my own satisfaction, quite all of the newer varieties, but only 

 adopt them as I become satisfied that they are superior to the older 

 varieties. 



Beans, Bush. — I plant almost the whole crop with Black Seeded 

 Wax, as their unusual excellence of quality, and the color of the pod, 

 causes them to sell at larger prices than any other ; besides which, they 

 are very productive and quite early. I hope ere long to see the White 

 Seeded Wax as productive as the Black, thereby doing away with the 

 objectionable color of the seed of the latter variety. For extremely early 

 I prefer a few of the Early Fejee, and for pickling late, the Refugee. 



Pole Beans. — The large White Lima is best for table, but for 

 marketing for profit the Small Lima is best. Next to that, the Dutch 

 Case Knife. 



Beets. — For hot beds to transplant, and for first early out of doors. 

 Black Egyptian is best ; but for main early crop I still prefer the old 

 Bassano, to follow with Deering's or Early Blood Turnip rooted. For 

 winter, the Long Smooth Red is best with me. 



Broccoli. — White Cape does fairly. 



Cabbage. — I find nothing so profitable for early as Winningstadt, as 

 it begins to form its head almost as soon as any other, and can be used 

 (as the head is solid from the start) about as soon as any. This variety 

 is followed by Fottler's, set at same time. For late there is nothing 

 better than Premium Flat Dutch. 



Carrots. — For marketing, bunched, the Early Horn is best. Long 

 Orange for general crop. For this crop deep plowing is very necessary, 

 and beware of long or not thoroughly rotted manure, if you wish smooth 

 roots. But you can put on as much uld manure as you think necessary ; 

 then, just to see how it will work, put on as much more. The same 

 remarks will apply to i)arsnips as well. 



Cauliflower will do well if you have moist ground or have conve- 

 niences for flowing any ground at intervals. But if these contlitions do 

 not exist, don' t plant it, for you will probably be disappointed. For early, 

 perhaps Early ^Paris is best; but for late, plant Lenormand's Short 

 Stemmed. Culture — Plant in shallow trenches, and as the plants grow 



