50 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1871. 



and of excellent flavor. The Gen. Grant ripens evenly and is also 

 solid and of good flavor. A late variety called the Charter Oak is 

 said by those who have tested it to combine more of these qualities 

 than any other variety. 



The attainment of the highest success in kitchen gardening requires 

 the exercise of the soundest judgment, wliile a knowledge more or 

 less extensive of almost the whole round of the sciences, if not essen- 

 tial, is of the utmost advantage. A practical knowledge of many of 

 them is at least indispensable — a knowledge of the composition of 

 soils and to wliat particular crops different soils are adapted. The 

 value and strength of this or that fertilizer and the best method of 

 application — kAowledge of the habits of the arch enemies of all plant 

 life and the most effectual tactics to employ in the warfare against the 

 whole tribe of insects. 



But as in the moral law the whole essence of the decalogue is 

 epitomized in two commandments on whicli " hang all the law and the 

 prophets," so may the principles of the gardener's art be reduced to 

 two simple ]>ropositions viz : quick germination and rapid (jrowth. 

 How these two results may be best obtained is the problem to be 

 solved. Good soil deeply ploughed and well pulverized and good fer- 

 tilizers properly aj^plied are important items. Much depends also on 

 the right selection of seed and a choice of proper time for planting. 

 Every Horticulturist who believes that " success is a duty " will of 

 course so far as practicable rely upon home productions for his seed, 

 and for this purpose he will select from the product of each plant as 

 Ihey successively mature the earliest, largest and fairest specimens. 

 The smaller the seeds planted, the finer should be the pulverization 

 of the soil and this for two reasons, — they must be jilanted near the 

 surface or they will not germinate or will do so out of season, and the 

 mould should be of sufficient fineness to admit the warmth of the sun 

 and yet retain sufficient moisture. A difference must be made however 

 among the smaller seeds as to depth in planting. The hard coated 

 seeds require more moisture and consequently more depth. The lettuce 

 could hardly germinate at the depth required by the beet. 



It would be interesting and instructive if the contributors to this 

 department, or to any of the several departments who have met with 

 success in the culture of any particular crop, would prepare state- 

 ments giving the result of their experience and observation. These 



