QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 41 



ing them one each on the north and south side of the hill, the tops meeting 

 over the seed. This plan is used by some of the most successful growera 

 in the Gulf States. 



About 3000 plants are required to plant an acre. These plants should 

 produce an average of three to four fruits, weighing two to three pounds 

 each. Our selected seeds are always taken from fruit weighing eight ♦.o 

 ten pounds each ; we have had them of thirteen pounds in weight. Com- 

 mission merchants in Philadelphia pay the market gardener about, on an 

 average, one-and-a-half cents per fruit. The highest prices are eight and 

 ten cents per fruit. 



Florida fruit arrives in Philadelphia the latter part of November, and 

 commands $6 to $8 per barrel crate. Earlier in the Autumn the market 

 is supplied by fruit from Jersey. Towards Christmas the price of Florida 

 egg plant rises to $10 per barrel crate and then declines by April to $6 to 

 $8, and by May to 85, after which they are likely to arrive in a damaged 

 condition and be worthless. Egg plant fruit can be grated and canned 

 for "Winter use. 



233. Q. Why don't I succeed with lettuce ? Lettuce. 

 A. To have fine lettuce in early Spring, sow in seed-bed from com- 

 mencement to middle of Autumn. During Winter protect the plants by 



a box covered with window or other sash, or with litter, as they stand on 

 the ground. Early in the Spring transplant some into rich ground. The 

 others force under the sash. Or in early Spring sow in a hotbed and 

 transplant, but Autumn-sown plants are best. For a later supply, sow in 

 drills when the cherry is in bloom ; when up a few inches thin out, leav- 

 ing plants at proper distances ; this is a better plan than transplanting 

 late in the season. For this purpose use Bloomsdale Reliable, Landreths' 

 Forcing, Virginia Solid Header and Heat-resisting varieties, which we have 

 selected as standard sorts by reason of their ability to resist heat and the 

 longer time they are in condition for the table than some other kinds 

 which shoot to seed as soon as the head is formed. 



234. Q. How should asparagus be planted ? Asparagus. 

 A. This plant succeeds best on sandy soil, though reclaimed marsh 



land, when freed from water, is admirably adapted to its culture ; the 

 lighter the soil the earlier the plants shoot in the Spring. Of whatever ♦' 



character the ground may be, it should be well cleared of trash or other 

 incumbrances, and in a good state of cultivation. The land is prepared 

 by opening deep trenches six or eight feet apart, by passing a two-horse 

 plow twice to each furrow, throwing a furrow slice to the right and left, 

 and finally cleaning and deepening the furrow by a third passage of the 

 plow. The roots are planted in the bottom of the furrow, at eighteen 

 inches apart, and covered by an inch of soil. 



Stable manure may be applied in the furrow before the roots are placed, 

 or on top of the roots after they are covered. 



North of the latitude of Washington, Spring planting, when the apple 

 is in bloom, is considered to give the best results, but south of Washing- 



