ANNUAL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 223 



Now, if this branch of horticulture be of so much importance, may I 

 not ask your indulgence while I name a few of the conditions of suc- 

 cess or failure in growing vegetables. The object of the writer is not 

 to instruct the professional gardner who grows vegetables for city 

 market, where early vegetables are forced by the use of green houses,. 

 hot beds, cold frames, screens, etc., but for the more common class,. 

 who realize the necessity for vegetables, but use so little intelligence 

 in growing them. There are two methods of growing vegetables, by 

 one we are liable to fail, by the other we are almost sure to fail. One 

 way. and a very common way, too, is to plow- a square plat of ground 

 in early spring and plant the seeds, that have been begged of neighbors, 

 in raised beds and high ridges, that are liable to wash away with the 

 first heavy rain, or be lost in weeds ; being planted in such poor shape 

 that a hoe is the only tool that can be used, and it is often so dull and 

 rusty that a few rounds and the poor man, in despair, concludes he is 

 too busy to hoe such a patch, but his heroic wife comes to the rescue; 

 but after a long and painful struggle finds her strength inadequate for 

 the task, and consequently surrenders to the weeds, which, like bad 

 habits, must be conquered as soon as they appear, or the task is almost 

 hopeless. 



The other method is to select a rich well drained piece of land, 

 plow it deep about the first of September that it may have the benefit 

 of the fall rains. If not naturally rich, fertilize it. Be careful in the 

 selection of seeds, the best seeds are always the cheapest, although 

 the market value may seem high. Pack seeds away from frost and 

 mice. Plant a few onion, radish and lettuce seeds quite late in the fall. 

 In early si)riug, as soon as the ground will work well, harrow until free 

 of clods; then plant the precious seeds in long straight rows, giving 

 room to cultivate by horse power. 



We should not be content with what vegetables are necessary for 

 our tables, but plant for the market, for our horses, cows, sheep, pigs 

 and poultry, for they are all fond of them, or can be trained to like 

 them much easier thati our boys are trained to like the taste and use of 

 tobacco ; the vegetables serve as a nutriment, and are valuable to all as 

 a variety in food; tobacco is injurious to body, mind, morals and 

 etiquette. Among the most profitable vegetable crops for stock are 

 the mangel wurtzels, sugar beet, rutabagas, carrots, cow peas and 

 squashes. Forty to sixty tons of mangels and rutabagas can be grown 

 on an acre with very little labor. If close attention is given while 

 plants are starting the crop is almost a certainty, wet or dry, and are- 



