120 PRIZE GARDENING 



there had been put in the crate two quarts extra of 

 cherries. What was I to do with them? My sister 

 said : "Sell them. They are so beautiful, surely some- 

 one would be glad to buy them." So I stopped at a 

 cottage where some people were sitting on the veranda. 

 They were pleased with the cherries and bought them. 

 As soon as their neighbors saw us with 1*he crate they 

 rushed out with dishes all eager to buy fruit and dis- 

 appointed because we had none. I /old them I would 

 bring some to-morrow. 



This was the beginning of a fine trade in small 

 fruits. I had at that time a succession of pears, apples, 

 grapes and quinces. I added to my stock all desirable 

 varieties of raspberries, some blackberries, currants, 

 plums and forty grapevines. I bought novelties as 

 they appeared. I took care of the garden myself as 

 far as I was able. By and by one of my customers 

 asked if I would plant a vegetable garden for her. 

 "Why, yes, certainly." Soon there was another and 

 another, and I had more orders than I could fill. The 

 fruit and vegetables were picked fresh each morning 

 and put up in the neatest possible manner. I dressed 

 nicely and drove in a new carriage. My customers 

 were delighted with the fruit and very proud of me. 

 I have kept steadily at the work all these years and 

 instead of being something degrading, as I at first 

 fancied it to be, my labor has proved to be a great 

 pleasure, and I have found many friends among edu- 

 cated and wealthy people. More than that, I found 

 what is best of all — good health. 



Cabbage, lettuce and tomato seed were planted in 

 hotbeds. I cut the bottoms from pasteboard boxes 

 about six inches square and placed them on trays, 

 covers of cracker boxes being used. In these I put 

 earth and well-rotted manure, then planted melons, 

 cucumbers, summer squash and peppers and placed 



