WITH THE VEGETABLE GROWERS. 



399 



while my profits were only $112 on the lot. 

 This means, of course, that the railroad got 

 more out of the consignment than I did. 



A HANDSOME PROFIT. 



" An evidence of the profits that can be 

 made from growing vegetables in this way 

 when carefully managed, is afforded by the 

 returns obtained by one grower last year 

 from one and a quarter acres of land. A 

 little cheap greenhouse costing only $30 was 

 erected in which a sufficient number of 

 tomato plants for one and a quarter acres 

 of ground were started. ' From this piece 

 of land the tomatoes sold realized $660. The 

 grower estimated that his total expense, in- 



Celery Gowing to Seed 



W. T. MACOUN, CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



Will you kindly let me know the cause of 

 celery going- to seed? Some asparagus I planted 

 in May did not come up, and I would greatly 

 like to know the probable reason. — (James 

 Fleming, Port Hope, Ont. 



It is probable that the cause of the celery 

 going to seed was that the plants were set 

 out too early and certain conditions of 

 weather, when the celery has a very long- 

 growing season, such as a check in their 

 growth due partly to dry weather, would 

 induce it to go to seed. Sometimes, also, 

 the cause is due to the seed itself. 



It frequently happens that when seed, 

 such as asparagus, is put in as late as May 

 it will not germinate the same year. I 

 would advise that the seed be left until next 

 year if possible. Perhaps, however, the 

 seed may have lost its germinating power 

 before it was planted. 



Ginseng Growing. — Let no person be 

 gulled by what is written from tim.e to time 

 in favor of ginseng growing. It cannot be 

 grown with profit ; the roots take too long 

 to mature, and the plants require a specially 

 prepared soil which would cost more than 

 the crop would be worth. — (R. Cameron, 

 Niagara Falls, Ont. 



eluding the cost of the greenhouse, did not 

 exceed $160, leaving a net profit of $500. 

 Of course, it must not be supposed that 

 every person can make a profit like this. 



" There is much to be learned in this work 

 which can only be gained by experience. 

 Unless care is taken, growers can easily lose 

 considerable sums of money in the growing 

 of vegetables instead of making any. As 

 this industry is likely to grow in value, X. 

 think it would be well for the Ontario De- 

 partment of Agriculture to carry on some 

 experiments to ascertain such points as the 

 best method of heating greenhouses, sys- 

 tems of ventilation, etc." 



Asparagus Bed 



U I T takes several years to get an aspara- 

 L gus bed established," said Mr. J. 

 Macnamara. a well known market gardener 

 of Bracondale. Ont., to a representative of 

 The Horticulturist a few days ago, '* I sow 

 the seed in a drill in late September or 

 October and let this grow for two seasons. 

 The following spring I transplant to rows 

 three feet apart and four inches apart in the 

 row. I allow this to stand four or five 

 years longer before I consider it sufficiently 

 established to allow me to take off a crop. 



" If well cultivated and liberally manured 

 asparagus makes rank growth, and when 

 established lasts for 12 or 15 years, and 

 sometimes 20 years. Eacb fall I cut oflf the 

 old tops and clean off the bed. Then I 

 plow the soil on top of the old row to give 

 protection and carry off the water. In the 

 early spring I add a coat of manure. 



" When cutting for market select only 

 good stout stems four or six inches in 

 length. They should be cut every second 

 day, or if the weather is warm, oftener. 

 Warm nights are conducive to quick 

 growth." 



I have been a reader of The Horticulturist for 

 years and like it well. — (Prank Metcalfe, Blyth, 

 Ont. 



