IV PREFACE. 



policy, and by using foresight and good 

 judgment. 



True as this is in all occupations, there 

 is none, perhaps, to which the rule will 

 apply with more certainty than that of 

 market-gardening. Almost every vegeta- 

 ble which we use has been produced, by 

 skill and care, from an inferior, wild- 

 growing plant, and there is a constant 

 tendency to revert or fall back to that ori- 

 ginal condition ; a result which we prevent 

 only by the diligent use of skillful treat- 

 ment. Thus it is with the potato, the 

 tomato, asparagus, rhubarb, celery; and 

 when we come to fruits, we find the same 

 rule applying to the apple, peach, plum, 

 pear, and others. The regular processes 

 of nature have been changed by man for 

 his own purpose, and plants, trees, and 



