278 Effective Farming 



passing that way sees little but empty rooms and an unin- 

 teresting establishment. One half does not know how the 

 other half lives. 



150. Market-gardening and truck-farming. These terms 

 require some explanation. In market-gardening the growing 

 of vegetables is conducted near the market where they are to 

 be sold. The gardens are near cities on high-priced land and 

 the produce is hauled to market by team or motor truck. 

 Under these conditions the acre returns must be large in order 

 to pay interest on the value of the land and other capital 

 invested. In truck-farming the vegetables are grown on 

 farms somewhat remote from the market and the produce 

 is shipped by train or boat. The land is usually low in value 

 compared with market-gardens and is chosen because of its 

 adaptability to vegetable-growing. Market-gardening and 

 truck-farming often overlap. For example, a market-gardener 

 may at times find it more profitable to ship his produce to a 

 distant market than to sell it near home, or a truck-farmer 

 may find that at times he can develop a home market for at 

 least a portion of his produce. 



151. Soils for vegetables. The best soils for most vege- 

 table crops are sandy or sandy loams. Vegetables usually do 

 well on such soils, if the ground is properly fertilized and other- 

 wise cared for. The soils are easy to work and seldom become 

 sticky; they can be worked soon after a rain; and they are 

 warm. All of these points are important. Vegetable-growing 

 requires that the soil be worked frequently. Sticky soils are 

 to be avoided, as they are not only difficult to get into good 

 tilth, but the particles will adhere to many of the vegetables 

 and may lessen their value. To be able to work a soil soon 

 after a rain is a decided advantage to a gardener. A warm 

 soil is of prime importance in the production of vegetables. 

 If sufficiently watered and fertilized, such a soil will produce 

 vegetables quickly, which tends to make them succulent and 

 of better quality than if they are a long time developing. A 



