32 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



I always contended that a man was worth what he can pro- 

 duce, and he is not worth any more, I don't care whether it 

 is on a farm or anywhere else. Many of them get more. It 

 is pretty easy for market gardeners near the larger cities to 

 obtain help at the present time, there are so many immi- 

 grants coming over. We can get help that a few years ago 

 we did not use, but which we are finding out now are often 

 worth more than the men, — I mean the Italian women. 

 There are hundreds — perhaps thousands — that go outside 

 the city to work for market gardeners at the present time, 

 where fifteen years ago I doubt if there was hardly one. 

 They have learned to work upon the farm in their country, 

 and they are worth much more than the Italian men, when 

 you want any quick, handy work done. 



The lecturer spoke of manure. I never say anything 

 against fertilizers, because if it hadn't been for fertilizers I 

 don't know what we would pay for manure. I always think 

 that all they amount to is in carrying out the second or third 

 crop. You will find it so in the south ; where a few years 

 ago they raised fine crops on good land, to-day they can grow 

 but a very poor one. That is because they use fertilizers, 

 and cannot get anything else. I have no fear of the competi- 

 tion of the south with market gardeners of New England, 

 — not at all. We are gaining on them right along, and by 

 and by you will find we can produce crops in Massachusetts 

 as cheaply as they can produce them and send them up here, 

 running their chances of selling them for something or noth- 

 ing. 



The lecturer also spoke of diseases of crops. That is a 

 subject which has interested greenhouse men for a great 

 many years, and we have found there is only one way that 

 we can get rid of most of the diseases or germs in our soil, 

 which has boon used for a long time, and that is by steriliza- 

 tion. This is one of the greatest things, I think, for the 

 benefit of the market gardener and greenhouse man, that has 

 ever been introduced in the business. If you sterilize thor- 

 oughly, and heat the soil to a temperature of 212°, and heat 

 it all, you can grow the finest crops on it that you or I ever 



