VEGETABLE GARDENING 



CHAPTER I 

 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



VEGETABLE gardening, as usually defined, means the 

 culture of vegetables for table use. Under this head are 

 also included certain plants which botanically are fruits, 

 but are considered horticulturally as vegetables. Among 

 these are watermelons, muskmelons, and tomatoes. 



Vegetable growing may be grouped under some four 

 or five divisions, about as follows: Kitchen or Home 

 Gardening, Market Gardening, Trucking, and Greenhouse 

 Culture or Vegetable Forcing. 



Market Gardening. By market gardening we usually 

 mean the growing of vegetables for commercial purposes. 

 For success in market gardening or trucking, a good market, 

 large yields per acre, vegetables of good quality and ap- 

 pearance, well packed, and in the proper season, usually 

 the earlier the better, are essentials for success. This, 

 of course, means good land and good management on the 

 part of the grower. Celery, radishes, onions, etc., are 

 usually regarded as market crops. The vicinity of large 

 cities offers splendid opportunities for market gardening. 



Trucking. Trucking differs from market gardening 

 mainly in that it is carried on on a much larger scale, 

 more as field crops. Cabbage, tomatoes, sweet corn, 

 etc., are crops commonly grown as truck crops. Parts 

 of New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Penn- 

 sylvania are especially noted as trucking centers. 



