x PREFACE 



gardener is of the same opinion as myself.'" I asked to 

 see the gardener. He replied that he had not one now, 

 but wanted one. I replied, "Yes, you certainly do 

 want one." ... I then told him what I thought, and 

 wondered how often our nurserymen and seedsmen are 

 blamed for our incompetency." 



This instance of the loss of a summer's work from 

 mere ignorance of proper planting distances, is but an 

 illustration of one of- the several ways in which a crop 

 of vegetables may be, if not ruined, at least greatly 

 lessened. In the culture of almost every vegetable there 

 is some point to be observed which is essential to real 

 success. The deep planting of one seed is as necessary 

 as the shallow planting of another; the tenderness and 

 hardiness of plants must be understood and considered. 

 Besides these there are many points of knowledge 

 brought out by recent investigations as for instance 

 in the fertilization or protection of the crop which aid 

 in increasing the normal yield. In spite of the evident 

 need, these items have never before been brought to- 

 gether in convenient form, thoroughly covering not 

 merely classes of vegetables, but all the separate kinds. 



This book is intended, therefore, for seedsmen and 

 their customers, that both may get full benefit from the 

 seeds, the latter in good crops, the former in continued 

 custom. 



That seedsmen have long recognized the need of 

 such a book is evident from their catalogues, in which 



