316 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



September Meeting. 



Market gardening was treated by Chas. E. Whitney, of Norton township. 



Prof. Bailey, of the Agricultural College, describes market gardening as 

 intensive agriculture, and the raising of wheat, corn, oats, cattle, horses, and 

 sheep as extensive agriculture, and says extensive agriculture is easily illus- 

 trated, but intensive agriculture or market gardening we can only approach. 



Have any of you ever thought that market gardening was anything but a 

 one horse business, engaged in by only those too poor to engage in any other ? 

 The market gardeners of the east or those near large cities in our own State 

 claim that it is necessary for a gardener to have at least 8300 capital per acre, 

 and that more profit is realized from one acre with $300 capital than from two 

 acres with the same capital. It takes a man with brains and muscle as well 

 as capital to make this business a success. 



We must acknowledge that market gardening is a business beyond compre- 

 hension, when we take into consideration the amount of its products that are 

 displayed so tastefully and abundantly in front of every store and in front of 

 counters, in every city, village and four corners in this State and in every State 

 in the Union. The sale of these products is foremost in every man's trade. 

 Why ? Because there is a great demand for them and there is money in the 

 handling. The dealer places on the outside and in the most conspicuous places 

 that which will attract the most attention and for which there is the most 

 demand. Look at the amount of money that must necessarily be paid to rail- 

 road companies, express companies, transportation companies and transfer 

 companies to distribute these products from one State to another, from one 

 city to another or from the smaller cities, towns and villages for consumption. 

 Look at the vast number of men it must necessarily give employment to. 

 Then do you wonder that in illustrating this subject we can only approach 

 it? 



The demand for fresh and seasonable fruit and vegetables has increased 

 wonderfully in the last few years. It is but a short time since we have seen 

 these products displayed for sale in only larger cities and villages. Now you 

 will see them everywhere. People have learned that plenty of fruit and vegeta- 

 bles make stronger boys and girls than dainties from confectioner's and baker 

 shops. That they create fewer doctor's bills and that they make more muscle 

 for the laborer with which to perform his work. 



Market gardening in this locality is but in its infancy. Some of our garden- 

 ers have practiced what is termed high culture, not cropping more than twice 

 in a single season. Perhaps this is due to our cheap lands and spacious gar- 

 dens. But why can not this famous business be conducted in this locality on a 

 larger scale. Why can not we furnish vegetables for the world as well as small 

 fruits ? We certainly can raise a quality that is unsurpassed, all have the soil 

 which is a far better soil than that of the famous gardens of Arlington, near 

 Boston. Their soil in its original state was sandy plains, destitute of vegeta- 

 tion and was known as "Poverty Plains." Now the gardens on these same 

 desert plains are noted for being the most famous, prolific, and profitable gar- 

 dens in the United States. 



With our present railroad facilities and those which we soon will have we 



