Vegetable Growin: 



By Various 

 VEGETABLES FOR EXHIBITION. 



BY HAROLD B. VYSE, MORRISTOWN^ N. J. 



At this season of the year, or even several weeks 

 earlier would be better, the gardener must begin to 

 make preparations for starting onions and leeks. They 

 should be sown in flats and put in a gentle heat to start 

 with ; as soon as large enough to handle, they should 

 be pricked off into flats far enough apart that when 

 they are planted out in their permanent position, they 

 can be lifted with a small ball of earth without injury 

 to their roots. 



The ground should be well prepared as the onion is 

 a good feeder and likes rich ground ; tread the soil 

 down good and firm before planting, which can be 

 done as soon as all fear of frost has gone. 



In planting out leeks from the boxes, I would sug- 

 gest digging a trench about one foot deep ; put in a 

 good layer of well-rotted cow manure and dig it in, 

 leaving the trench open — it gives a much better chance 

 for earthing up and getting a longer leek than other- 

 wise would be the case if planted on the flat. 



Carrots and parsnips will be next on the list for 

 sowing, as soon as the weather permits. The ground 

 must be trenched about 2^ to 3 feet deep, if not pre- 

 viously done in the fall. It is, in my opinion, not 

 necessary to have the soil too rich, as it will have a 

 tendency to make the roots come forked and unshape- 

 ly, and also cause them to crack. A method very often 

 used to obtain length in parsnips and carrots is to take 

 an iron bar and drive a hole as far as possible in the 

 ground, fill it with some good soil, and sow the seeds, 

 covering with fine soil, and as soon as the plants are 

 fit to handle thin out to one plant. 



Celery, always a great feature on the exhibition ta- 

 ble, should have a good period of growth, and to get 

 good stufif it should be planted not later than the first 

 or second week in June, taking care for the first few 

 weeks to give plenty of water after planting. Where 

 the ground is flat I would suggest digging trenches 

 about 5 feet apart and put a good layer of cow manure 

 in the trench and dig well in. sufficiently deep not to 

 touch the roots of the growing plants ; they will soon 

 start and find out where it is. I think it a good plan to 

 give celery two or three waterings with manure water 

 before starting to earth it up, as it is difficult to feed 

 fterwards. 



Cauliflowers I consider one of the best and most 

 showy vegetables in a collection ; they should have 

 good looking after. I find one of the best to grow is 

 Suttons Autumn Mammoth. It succeeds well with me, 

 where all others have failed. I make a sowing about 

 the middle of !May and another in the early part of 

 June, and when ready to plant out they are transferred 

 to their growing quarters. I always put them on the 

 heaviest piece of ground I can find, and not too ruch 

 with manure. Having prepared the piece some weeks 

 ahead to let it settle and get down firm, if planted on loose 

 ground I find their heads are almost sure to come open 

 and unshapely. 



String beans are an uncertain crop to trust out of 

 doors, as frost may appear and spoil the lot, therefore. 

 I think where sufficient room is at command in frames 

 or a cool house, the best thing is to make a late sow- 

 ing inside, which will repay for the lalior and safetv 

 ensured therebv ; it is advisable to thin out the beans : 



Authorities. 



by allowing too many on a plant they come out small 

 and crooked. 



Tomatoes always make a good show ; one needs to 

 grow a late variety and have some good, green, well- 

 shaped fruit to pick before the frost comes, and keep 

 them in a cool place : they can be ripened in a week or 

 two by placing them in hay and putting in a warm place 

 to color. Keep a good watch to see that they are not 

 decaying. 



Turnips, beets and potatoes, I need make no com- 

 ment upon. If grown in the usual way upon good 

 ground an exhibitor is sure to select a good dish of 

 each, from the quantity grown in the average well- 

 cropped garden, especially if the gardener anticipates 

 making a hit at the forthcoming show. 



Cucumbers, where space permits in the greenhouse, 

 are easily produced where plenty of heat is at com- 

 mand. Seeds sown the first week in August and grown 

 on without a check, will ensure good fruit for the 

 show in October and November, and take one of the 

 first places in the collection. 



^ly selection for an exhibition of twelve varieties of 

 vegetables would be : Cauliflowers, celery, onions, 

 leeks, string beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, 

 Brussels sprouts, parsnips, carrots, turnips. Of course, 

 asparagus, mushrooms of globe artichokes are more 

 dainty vegetables, and. doubtless would stand more 

 chance in securing points for prize winning, but every 

 gardener has not the facility for producing them at that 

 season of the year. If so, I guess we should see a 

 keener competition at our shows. 



FANCY ASPARAGUS. 



Fancy asparagus of large size and fine flavor is very 

 much in demand and eagerly sought. It is universally 

 liked as one of the most palatable and wholesome early 

 vegetables, coming at a time when few new vegetables 

 are obtainable. 



Xo amount of coaxing in the form of manure or fer- 

 tilizer will enlarge the stalks to any marked extent : it 

 will increase the yield, but not the size of the individual 

 spears. I tried this and tried hard in the early days, 

 but spent money and labor in vain. After experiment- 

 ing on different lines I found that only the seed taken 

 from plants which have produced big stalks will repro- 

 duce themselves. This means that buying seed and 

 growing roots and planting them is a waste of money 

 if an asparagus field yielding from 60 to 75 per cent, of 

 stalks big enough for fancy grades is wanted. You 

 have to resort to breeding pedigree stock or inbreeding. 



Early in October, when the red berries are ripe on the 

 foliage of asparagus plants, is the time to gather in 

 the seed wanted. If you ow-n an asparagus patch you 

 will note that nearh- ever}' row^ has a few plants where 

 there are only two or three stalks in foliage, the latter 

 growing high as a young tree. Gather in the red 

 berries from these plants. Dry them in the sun, take 

 out the seed and preserve it in an air-tight tin box for 

 spring planting. 



Growing from seed, not in seed beds, but direct in 

 the fields, is practiced in France exclusively. I adopted 

 this plan several years ago with the most satisfactory 

 results. 



In making an asparagus plantation on lines as stated 

 above, select level land, preferably sandy loam, with 



