PREFACE xxiii 



Generally, for thinning the term means when the 

 young plants have developed three or four true leaves 

 and are growing well. For transplanting, six or more 

 true leaves are usually necessary. 



The list of vegetables given in the book I have en- 

 deavored to make complete, including in it all which 

 are likely to be grown in our climate, even by the 

 experimenter. Besides the well-known vegetables and 

 herbs, I have added to the list not only those plants 

 which, while little known, are yet earned by American 

 seedsmen, but also some which are not yet offered here. 

 Of these, some may never be known in America beyond 

 a few individual importers of curious seeds, but others 

 are deserving of our notice. 



And I cannot help adding here a plea for a wider 

 trial of the little-known vegetables. It is too much to 

 expect that the American farmer will ever add more 

 than one or two to his very limited list of poorly -grown 

 garden truck; I appeal more to vegetable-gardeners 

 who do their work for the fun as well as the benefit of 

 it. The best vegetables in our country are grown, not 

 on farms nor even in large market-gardens, but in the 

 thousands of small home gardens that surround our 

 cities. From these gardens to the simple home table go 

 dishes fit for the traditional king, but the owners of 

 these gardens are still somewhat limited by national 

 habit and local knowledge. If by making plain the cul- 

 ture of the less-known vegetables this book aids in 



