new or recently introduced. 85 



the information which we can procure, and we hope that our ef- 

 forts will be the means of awakening still greater attention on this 

 important subject. This article, which we shall annually intro- 

 duce, will contain all that we can collect in relation to new and 

 superior varieties of vegetables, and we shall feel gratified if, by 

 our labors, we add one superior variety every season to our al- 

 ready cultivated kinds, or displace an old sort by the introduction, 

 into general growth, of one of more excellent merits. 



The proper cultivation of vegetables, as well as fruits or flow- 

 ers, can only be understood by some theoretical knowledge, aid- 

 ed by constant practice: too many are apt to imagine that the 

 growth of vegetables is so simple in its nature, that the most un- 

 informed on all subjects upon gardening, even those who can 

 scarcely tell a cabbage from a cauliflower, can cultivate a vegeta- 

 ble garden. But let not any be led away with this idea. It is 

 true, that if the seed of a plant is good, when committed to the 

 earth, under ordinary circumstances it will grow, and with even 

 moderate attention it will "arrive at some degree of perfection. 

 This, however, is not understanding the cultivation of vegeta- 

 bles. The system of cropping — the application of proper ma- 

 nures — the choice of seed — the merits of a variety — and, finally, 

 the routine of cultivation, are particulars which can only be gath- 

 ered by experience, assisted by some knowledge of soils and 

 manures, and of the vegetable system. This misunderstanding 

 of what constitutes the art of culture has led many into errors, 

 which have been continued from prejudice, until it is almost im- 

 possible for them to grope their way out. Mr. Bridgeman of 

 New York, in his Gardenerh Assistant^ has done much to re- 

 move some of the errors and prejudices of cultivators, and we 

 hope that what we shall contribute will hid in furtherance of the 

 same object. But we leave this digression, into which we have 

 been led by a consideration of the subject, and turn to our re- 

 marks upon the new or more recent varieties of vegetables in- 

 troduced. 



Carrot. — The old long Orange has been so long and almost 

 exclusively cultivated in this country, that the introduction of an 

 entirely new sort would be quite a novelty. The Altringham, 

 and scarlet Studley, have been more or less grown during the 

 three or four past years; but still they are not generally known, 

 or their qualities properly appreciated, particularly the former. 

 In England, where immense crops ol carrots are raised, the Al- 

 tringham is preferred to all others for cattle, producing a heavier 

 and better crop. In truth, it is nearly exclusively cultivated; 

 single roots have been grown, weighing nine pounds. We hope 

 to see it take the place of the long Orange for field culture, where 

 it produces a much more profitable crop. The scarlet Studley 

 is also a fine variety, which deserves to be extensively grown. 



