No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. '" 243 



average being |151, and Allegheny County, with an average of $103, 

 ranks fifth. The average value per acre in Queens County, Long 

 Island, was |143; Essex County, Massachusetts, |114; Los Angeles, 

 California, $1)1; Monmouth County, New Jersey, |68; and Baltimore 

 County, Maryland, |58. 



Although some counties have established a reputation for fairly 

 high receipts per acre, the average in all communities is much lower 

 than it should be. The average in Queens County, New York, is 

 |143 per acre, but the most skillful gardeners in this county average 

 a thousand or more dollars per acre. Numerous examples could be 

 given of men whoso annual receipts range from |500 to $1000 or 

 more per acre. Mr. M. L. Ruetenik, a gardener of remarkable skill, 

 operating near Cleveland, Ohio, sold $32,000 worth of products in 

 1906 from 18 acres of land, two acres of which is covered with 

 glass. 



A FEW AIMS. 



The most successful market gardeners have high and definite 

 aims. They are not satisfied with average results. They strive to 

 secure maximum profits from every plat of ground cultivated. In 

 order to accomplish this, it is necessary to consider the following 

 factors: 1st, yield; 2nd, quality; 3rd, earliness; 4th, marketing and 

 market problems; 5th, principles relating to the business side of 

 market gardening. These factors are not necessarily arranged in 

 order of importance. The character of the vegetable grown, the 

 market to be supplied and other local conditions determine the 

 relative importance of these factors. 



I have often observed that truckers who obtain large yields are 

 generally if not always prosperous. Quality need not necessarily 

 be sacrificed for quantity. With vegetables, quality and quantity 

 usually go together. This is not true to the same extent with fruits, 

 for the largest and best producing apples, pears and peaches are 

 often the most inferior. But quality in vegetables is generally 

 secured by rapid growth and quick maturity, and growth cannot be 

 secured without high fertility, and high fertility is conducive to 

 large crops. It is important to secure quality to as great an extent 

 as possible by the selection of proper varieties, and then to supply 

 every condition which will influence yield. A large class of gar- 

 deners fail to realize satisfactory profits because yields are too 

 small. The aims of many gardeners are too low so far as yields are 

 concerned. Many potato growers are highly pleased with 150 to 

 200 bushels of tubers per acre while others average 300 and are 

 striving for 400 or more. These men with high aims are an inspir- 

 ation and a benedirtion to all classes of cultivators. 



Quality never counted for so much in getting good prices as today. 

 It is not many years since vegetables lacking uniformity in every 

 particular sold for prices that meant profit to the grower. But 

 dealers and consumers everywhere now demand the best, and keen 

 competition crowds much of the inferior produce to the dump heaps 

 before reaching the consumer. By the term quality is meant not 

 only flavor but also appearance which is a most important factor 

 in making satisfactory sales. Attractiveness is gained by desirable 

 size, form, color and uniformity in all these particulars. 



Earliness is not always important. Some New Jersey gardeners 

 find mid-summer or even late vegetables to be the most profitable. 



