206 GARDEN AfcD FARM TOPICS. 



In Lettuce, the Black-seeded Simpson, the White Sum- 

 mer Cabbage, and the Salamander now lead all the out- 

 door varieties; in Muskmelons, the Hackensack, of which 

 many thousands of acres are grown for the New York mar- 

 ket, is almost exclusively planted. In Pease, a great im- 

 provement is developed in the dwarf variety known as 

 American Wonder, though for general early crop the 

 Improved Dan O'Rourke is best. Potatoes vary so much 

 in different localities, that it is difficult to say which of the 

 new sorts are most valued. We find, however, that in our 

 general trade more of Beauty of Hebron is planted than 

 any other of the new sorts. In Radishes, the new Round 

 Dark Red is now the main favorite, while next in order 

 comes the " White-tipped Scarlet Turnip." In Spinach, 

 the Savoy and the new Thick Leaved are the best for gen- 

 eral crop; though we find that the Savoy should not be 

 sown in spring, as it runs too quickly to seed. Though 

 every year brings out new claimants for favor in Tomatoes, 

 it is my conviction that we have not advanced one day in 

 earliness (unless in such varieties as Keyes's Prolific and 

 Little Gem, which are of poor quality) in twenty-five years, 

 although we have now many varieties somewhat im- 

 proved in quality. The varieties now most popular 

 with New York market gardeners are Acme and Par- 

 agon, though, from the unusual advertising given to the 

 Trophy, the general cultivation of that is greater than 

 any other; but, as it is usually found now, it is far 

 inferior to many others, besides being one of the latest 

 varieties. 



Quite a number of our market gardeners are now get- 

 ting to grow Strawberries in conjunction with their vege- 

 table crops, by following the pot layering system, by 

 which a crop is obtained in less than a year from the 

 time of planting. We have ourselves grown, for the past 



