THE CANADIAN HOKTTCITLTURIST. 



277 



THE BEST VEGETABLES. 



N. Y. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Among the most frequent of the 

 •questions asked by visitors, in looking 

 over our vegetable garden, is, " Which 

 is the best variety?" Kosv, best is a 

 word which covers many diverse quali- 

 ties, as those peculiar qualities which 

 render a vegetable the best for the 

 kitchen garden are often quite different 

 from those which would recommend it 

 to the market gardener. For example, 

 take the pea : in the kitchen gai-den we 

 desire a variety that matures its crop 

 gradually, and which furnishes its crop 

 in frequent pickings. In the mai'ket 

 garden, on the other hand, it is very 

 desirable to have a variety mature its 

 crop at once, so that the vines may be 

 quickly removed to give place to other 

 crops. 



In this Bulletin, therefore, we offer 

 a list of varieties suitable for the farm 

 garden, as gained from our experience. 



Commencing with lettuce ; a variety 

 which becomes early fit for use, is slow 

 in running to seed, which retains its 

 tenderness and sweetness well, and 

 foruis a large and compact head, is the 

 Large White Stone Summer. Quite a 

 number of other varieties combine these 

 qualities in scarcely less degree, such as 

 All the Year Round, White Chavigny, 

 and The Deacon. With those who like 

 novelty, the Prize Head, which is curled 

 and tinged with red. The Marvel, of a 

 rich, deep, glossy red, and the Golden 

 Spotted, will find admirers. 



In the pea, we would recommend for 

 first early, one of the popular " First 

 and Best " strains. The old Philadel- 

 phia, Kentish Invicta, or Daniel 

 O'Rourke, will often prove nearly or 

 quite as early. These are all smooth 

 peas, and though excellent for a begin- 

 ning, should soon give place to the 

 wrinkled sorts, first of which we would 

 name The American Wonder. Follow- 



ing this, a number of varieties may be 

 recommended, all of which are of 

 acknowledged excellence. The Cham- 

 pion of England, as an intermediate 

 pea, is scarcely excelled in quality and 

 productiveness, though it requires bush- 

 ing, which with some is an objection. 

 Among the excellent dwarf interme- 

 diates we may name Pride of the Mar- 

 ket, Stratagem, Market Garden, and 

 Hair's Dwarf Green Marrow. These 

 are sufficiently dwarf to succeed pretty 

 well without bushing, though it is 

 better to bush when convenient to do 

 so. For a late pea, McLean's Premier, 

 although a tall variety, possesses the 

 important quality of yielding its crop 

 very slowly. Last season it continued 

 to yield peas fit for the table for thii^ty- 

 three days in succession, in which 

 respect it was surpassed by no other 

 variety tested. 



In beets, we name the Egyptian for 

 both early and late use. It is very 

 early, excellent in quality, productive, 

 and keeps well. 



In carrots, the French Forcing seems 

 desirable for early use, and the '' half- 

 long " sorts, or the Long Orange may 

 be named for late or winter use. 



Among parsnips there is little choice. 

 To those who desire to use this vege- 

 table during the autumn months, the 

 Turnip-rooted is recommended, but for 

 spring use the Hollow Crown is in 

 season. 



Among turnips, the Purple Top 

 Strapleaf and Jersey Navet have proved 

 excellent for autumn or for early winter 

 use ; for late winter or spring use the 

 White or the Bloomsdale Ruta-Baga. 

 We mention these varieties because 

 they are nearly or quite free from the 

 strong bitter flavor, characteristic of so 

 many turnips and ruta-bagas. 



In onions we would recommend onion 

 sets for early crop. Among the earliest 

 varieties that may be grown from seed, 



