Hints on Vegetable and Fruit Farming. 17 



The cultivation of seeds is frequently productive of much 

 profit, especially of Onion-SEED, and Mangold- and TuRNIP- 

 SEEDS, which are grown very advantageously by market-garden 

 farmers and by farmers. Mangold-seed is grown from seed 

 drilled in a seed-bed at the rate of 1 cwt. per acre, which will 

 give plants enough for 6 acres. The plants are left in the 

 seed-bed till early in April, when they are transplanted in 

 rows 20 inches apart, with intervals of 20 inches between each 

 plant, in the rows. Cutting is done in September before the 

 seed is fully ripe, as it will run out if it is allowed to become 

 too ripe. The seed-stalks are bound up in small sheaves and 

 are thrashed by a machine. An average crop of seed is about 

 18 cwt. per acre. Prices run from 285. to 6O5. per cwt. 



Seed-Peas are also grown in parts of Kent, Essex, and other 

 counties to great advantage. These are generally grown for 

 seedsmen, who find the seed and pay so much per quarter for 

 the produce. In a few cases farmers grow seed-peas on their 

 own account. There is a demand in America for good sorts of 

 peas for podding, which farmers may just as well supply as the 

 seedsmen. 



Turnip-Seeds of different sorts are grown from plants trans- 

 planted from a seed-bed in November, and set at about the 

 same distance as the mangold-plants. The stalks are cut in 

 July. An average yield is 25 bushels per acre, and the price 

 runs from 145. to 255. per bushel. 



Radish-seed is generally obtained from seed sown in the 

 spring, with the surplus plants hoed out. An average crop is 

 22 bushels per acre, and the price is about 205. per bushel. 

 It is a bulky, troublesome crop to harvest. 



There are other seeds that might be grown by the farmer, and 

 other vegetables and herbs that could be cultivated. POTATOES 

 have not been alluded to, as they are already largely grown by 

 farmers. Market-garden farmers do not, as a rule, grow many 

 potatoes. When they do grow them they generally plant early 

 sorts, and send them to market directly they are fit to dig. 

 Turnips also bring high prices in some seasons, and there would 

 be no difficulty in getting an acre or two sown with White 

 Dutch or Early Stone turnips in March for market, if prices were 

 good ; there would be no loss here, as they would come in for 

 the sheep if they could not be sold. Various small things 

 might be raised in farm-gardens which would bring in ready 

 money and be very profitable. These cultures should not be 

 despised because they are trifling and insignificant. Parsley, 

 mint, thyme, beet, asparagus, and other herbs and vegetables are 

 among these things. Those that have been enumerated above 

 are the most important, and most suitable for cultivation upon 



B 5 



