STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 249 



capable of conducting his business in a systematic manner. He 

 should be a close observer, and enterprising enough to keep out 

 of old ruts and avail himself of the advantages of all improve- 

 ments in methods, implements, seeds, and plants, that come to hi& 

 knowledge. He should be shrewd in business transactions, but 

 not mean or dishonest, that he may be able to hold the best cus- 

 tomers and secure the best prices in the markets for his products, 

 "While it is not absolutely essential that he should have served 

 an apprenticeship of several years at the business, he should be 

 capable of directing his help in all of the operations, and have 

 so much of the positive in his management that every employe 

 will expect a prompt discharge whenever he shows a disposition 

 to shirk duty. Such a man, even with but little money capital 

 at his command, will be very likely to succeed, even if not very 

 well acquainted with the business, for he would quickly acquire 

 the requisite knowledge, and if he had capital it would enable 

 him to secure the most desirable location and provide himself 

 with the best seeds and implements. A poor man, or one with 

 limited capital, may, under certain circumstances, succeed at 

 market gardening, if he does not at first attempt too much and 

 get swamped. Every man who contemplates engaging in the 

 business should first w^eigli well all the circumstances that 

 have a bearing upon it, and if 'he finds that he can cope with 

 them, he may as safely engage in that as any other occupation. 

 Some of the most essential requisites for success are soil adapted 

 for the purpose, a good and convenient market, and capital enough 

 to provide teams, implements, seeds, etc. The most profitable 

 gardening is a combination of fruits and vegetables. The most 

 profitable productions of the vegetable garden are usually perish- 

 able and bulky; therefore the market should be so convenient 

 that it may be reached early in the day, while the fruits and 

 vegetables are fresh and while the consumers are out in search of 

 them. Vegetables coming to the market after the consumers 

 have secured their day's supply, must generally be sold to deal- 

 ers to hold over for the next day, or to be shipped to distant 

 markets, and as they will calculate upon a large profit and 

 allow for deterioration in value as they grow stale, the producer 

 will realize but little from his sales unless there should be great 

 scarcity in the market. The earliest vegetables of the season 

 usually meet with the most ready sale and bring the highest 

 prices; therefore it is desirable to have the garden in a location 

 where the soil and aspect are favorable for bringing the vegetables. 

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