^4 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



largest items of expense in connection with the business is the team- 

 ing of the product, and the manure necessary to secure a crop. 



The land should be of various qualities, and a gentle slope to the 

 south and west is much preferable, because on it the crop will 

 mature earlier, and it is easier to irrigate it. Nearuess to a river 

 or pond would be advantageous, because from it a supply of water 

 could be obtained. If not near a river or pond, then a well could 

 be driven which would answer the purpose. The possession of 

 these Avould add value to the place. Ten acres well irrigated are 

 worth more than twenty acres without irrigation. 



The use of glass has also become very important in connection 

 with growing crops of this kind, and many of the largest crops are 

 grown almost entirely under glass. Hot-houses and hot-beds are 

 used. The heat in the former must be furnished in cold weather by 

 steam or hot water, in the latter by hot manure. 



The man who undertakes this business must serve an apprentice- 

 ship of several years, in order to become familiar enough with it to 

 enable him to carry on a market garden, either for himself or for 

 any one else, successfully. 



I have had many come to me and say that they would like to work 

 for me a year, that they might become familiar with the business, 

 or, in other words, learn the trade. 



I have told them that that would not be long enough time, and 

 that five or six years would be little enough. 



There is no class of men at the present time for which there is so 

 much demand as for market gardeners, and at better wages than 

 they could command in any mechanical or professional pursuit, 

 with the same time spent in fitting themselves for their calling. It 

 is a very healthy business. There is a great variety in it, and 

 something is constantly coming up that is new, and which will 

 demand study and earnest attention. 



I have followed it for twenty-five years, and have been unusually 

 successful ; yet I feel that I have many things to learn, and that 

 the business is at present but in its infancy. 



It is but a few years since hot-beds were introduced, and but ten 

 years since hot-houses were first used. They were first heated by 

 hot water, and later steam was used. Then it was learned that 

 irrigation would be a great^benefit ; and now the electric light is 

 coming into use. I believe that it has not ouly come, but that it 

 has come to stay, because of the very great benefit it will be in 



