FORCING VEGETABLES FOR EARLY MARKET 



ALINE of work that promises to de- 

 velop into an important industry 

 has been undertaken by a number of the 

 leading fruit growers situated along Lake 

 Erie in Essex county. It is the raising of 

 vegetables in greenhouses and under cot- 

 ton. By planting the vegetables early in 

 March it is possible to force them so that 

 they will be ready to market in June, when 

 vegetables are scarce and realize high prices. 

 In ordinary years cucumbers raised in this 

 way are ready to market about June i, which 

 is some six weeks earlier than the regular 

 crop. Tomatoes are ready about the second 

 week in June and can be sold until the regu- 

 lar crop comes in during the latter part of 

 July. ■' So strong 

 is the demand for 

 fruit raised in this 

 way," said Mr. H. 

 W. Dawson, the 

 well known commis - 

 sion dealer of To- 

 ronto, " I am satis 

 fied there is a good 

 opening for people 

 favorably situated 

 who will take up 

 this work. The 

 vegetables market- 



Messrs. Hillborn & McLachlan, of Leam- 

 ington, who were the first to take up this 

 work. Mr. Hillborn started seven years 

 ago with a small greenhouse ii x 24 feet in 

 area. He now has three greenhouses about 

 18 X 50 in area and 2,000 yards of cotton 

 frames. He is also using a large number 

 of glass frames. • This year Mr. Hillborn 

 has put up two new forcing houses 200 feet 

 long and 10 feet in width, and a third one 

 10 X 100 feet. 



" The idea that work of this nature might 

 be undertaken profitably." said Mr. Hill- 

 born to The Horticulturist representative. 

 " first came to me when I noticed the nature 

 of the soil in this section, much of which is 



Combination Greenliouse and Cotton Frames, No. 1. 



In Essex County, as described in this issue, the forcing of vegetables for the early markets is 

 becoming quite a business. The vegetables are started in greenhouses early in March. Later, they are 

 set out in cotton frames and sometimes are finally set out in the open. The forcing hou.ses here shown are 

 on the farm of Mr. J. D. Fraser, of Leamington, who hasundertaken this work on quite an extensive scale 



ed by Ontario growers at this season 

 have been of excellent quality and have 

 created a demand which is likely to grow. 

 The vegetables sold at this time do not meet 

 with much competition from American 

 growers, as the period comes between the 

 arrival of Florida crops and those from 

 Mississippi." 



NEW HOUSES ERECTED. 



An editorial representative of The Horti- 

 culturist visited Leamington recently, where 

 a number of these greenhouses and cotton 

 frames have been erected this spring. About 

 20 growers are raising vegetables this year. 

 Two years ago there were only four or five. 

 One of the largest plants is owned by 



a light sand, containing a large amount of 

 mineral deposit, including iron. This 

 causes a quick maturity of fruit and vege- 

 tables. My start was made on a small 

 scale, but the results obtained were suffi- 

 ciently encouraging to warrant me enlarg- 

 ing my operations. During the first two 

 years I was the only grower, finally one or 

 two others started, until two years ago there 

 were five ; this spring there has been a 

 marked increase in the number raising vege- 

 tables in this way." 



WHEN THE SEED IS STARTED. 

 " During early March," continued Mr. 

 Hillborn, " the seed of the tomatoes and cu- 

 cumbers is started in the greenhouses. 



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