256 AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



First, he must make his land rich and keep it rich. Much 

 of his success depends upon getting his crops on the 

 market ahead of his competitors. To do this, his crops 

 must grow rapidly, and crops grow rapidly only in rich soil. 

 Then, too, land conveniently situated for market gardening 

 is nearly always costly. Hence the largest yield ought to 

 be gotten from the smallest area of land. The largest 

 yield can of course be secured from the richest land. 



Second, the gardener must cultivate his rich land most 

 carefully and economically. " He crowds his land with 

 products that must grow apace. Therefore he, least of 

 all growers, can afford to have any of his soil go to feed 

 weeds, to have his land wash, or to have his growing 

 crops suffer for lack of timely and wise cultivation. To 

 cultivate his land economically, the gardener must use the 

 best tools, the best machines, and the best methods. 



Third, to get the best results he must grow perfect 

 vegetables. To do this, he must add to good tillage a 

 knowledge of the common plant diseases and of the ways 

 of insects and bacterial pests ; he must know how and when 

 to spray, how and when to treat his seed, how and when to 

 poison, how and when to trap his insect foes and to destroy 

 their hiding places. 



Fourth, not only must the gardener grow perfect vege- 

 tables, but he must put them on the market in perfect 

 condition and in attractive shape. Who cares to buy 

 wilted, bruised, spoiling vegetables ? Gathering, bun- 

 dling, crating, and shipping are all to be watched care- 

 fully. Baskets should be neat and attractive, crates 

 clean and snug, barrels well packed and well headed. 

 Careful attention to all these details brings a rich return. 



