REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 317 



could place vegetables in a merchantable condition on almost any market in 

 this part of the country at any season of the year. We are favored in one 

 respect in raising vegetables over some localities, and that is the washing of 

 them. Our vegetables present a better appearance right from the ground 

 than those that have been washed. They look cleaner and more natural. 



The work of market gardening commences with the new year. The gardener 

 should study his catalogue carefully during the long winter evenings. 



Look up all the new varieties of vegetables, vines, shrubs and trees and scru- 

 tinize them very closely, for generally there is but one in a thousand that 

 amounts to anything. He then should make out complete lists of all seeds 

 and other articles which will be needed for the entire season. A liberal amount 

 of seeds is quite essential in case re-sowing is necessary where insects destroy 

 or in case of dry weather or seed lacking vitality enough to grow a sufficient 

 number of plants to insure a good crop. Many gardeners waste time enough 

 cultivating waste ground occasioned by the above failures, where something 

 might be growing with the crop when ready for market to pay their running 

 expenses. This is an important matter in market gardening — not a foot of land 

 should lay idle. A surplus amount of seed is also necessary for second crop, 

 such as turnips, beets, after early peas and lettuce, turnips, after early pota- 

 toes, late rose, early sweet corn. It is quite often the case that the second 

 crop is much better than the first. The locality where seed is grown is an 

 important matter to the gardeners of this locality. Seed should be thoroughly 

 acclimated to our climate. The first work in the spring is the preparing of a 

 hot bed with a sufficient capacity for growing such plants as are necessary for 

 early planting. I shall not undertake to say anything about raisiug early 

 vegetables under glass, although it is an important matter in market gardening. 

 Then comes the work of fertilizing, where it is applied before plowing, also 

 pruning in the orchard and among the grapes and currants. This kind of work 

 and much more can be done, and should be done, before the time comes to plow 

 and sow, for at this time a gardener is very busy. He should plan and lay out 

 his garden so as to have it convenient for cultivation, handy to get at early 

 vegatables and convenient for second cropping if desirable. He should be sup- 

 plied with good tools and adapted to the business. A seed drill is indispensable. 

 I would recommend either the Planet Jr. or Mathews. His tools should be 

 always well cared for, kept perfectly clean and bright, and housed during the 

 winter season After plowing and harrowing comes the planting and setting of 

 plants. In planting corn to obviate the cut worms I have planted a hill of 

 beans between the hills of corn with good success ; the worm will eat the beans 

 in preference to the corn and by the time the beans are gone the corn will be 

 out of the way of the worm. Cull beans may be used for this. In planting 

 melons, cucumbers or squashes I consider it better to mulch or top-dress the 

 hill with manure than to manure the hill, as it answers two purposes: First to 

 keep the ground moist; and second as a fertilizer. This method will show for 

 itself in such a season as this. Thorough cultivation is the great secret of 

 success; with the gardener close and careful attention is very necessary. Plants 

 should be hoed and thinned at the proper time so as not to impede the growth. 

 Marketing produce is no small matter. To be a successful gardener, he should 

 be a good salesman, always courteous, polite, honorable and good natured. He 

 should take into consideration that it always takes two to make a bargain. 

 The purchaser trying to buy as cheaply as possible, while on the other hand the 

 gardener wants the full market price and a little more if he can get it. He 



