1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 359 



ness to a river or pond would be advantageous, because from 

 it a supply of water could be obtained. If not near a river 

 or pond, then a well could be driven which would answer 

 the purpose. The possession of these would add value to 

 the place. Ten acres well irrigated are worth more than 

 twenty acres without irrigation. 



The use of glass has also become very important in con- 

 nection with growing crops of this kind, and many of the 

 largest crops are grown almost entirely under glass. Hot- 

 houses and hot-beds are used. The heat in the former must 

 be furnished in cold weather by steam or hot water ; in the 

 latter, by hot manure. 



The man who undertakes this business must serve an 

 apprenticeship of several years, in order to become familiar 

 enough with it to enable him to carry on a market garden, 

 either for himself or for any one else, successfully. 



I have had many come to me and say that they would like 

 to work for me a year, that they might become familiar with 

 the business, or, in other words, learn the trade. 



I have told them that that would not be long enough time, 

 and that five or six years would be little enough. 



There is no class of men at the present time for which 

 there is so much demand as for market gardeners, and at 

 better wages than they could command in any mechanical or 

 professional pursuit, with the same time spent in fitting 

 themselves for their calling. It is a very healthy business. 

 There is great variety in it, and something is constantly 

 coming up that is new, and which will demand study and 

 earnest attention. 



I have followed it for twenty-five years, and have been 

 unusually successful ; yet I feel that I have many things to 

 learn, and that the business is at present but in its infancy. 



It is but a few years since hot-beds were introduced, and 

 but ten years since hot-houses were first used. They were 

 first heated by hot water, and later steam was used. Then 

 it was learned that irrigation would be a great benefit ; and 

 now the electric light is coming into use. I believe that it 

 has not only come, but that it has come to stay, because of 

 the very great benefit it will be in the growing of our kind 

 of crops during the short days of winter. It will be a very 



