April, 1909 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



81 



paeonies, dielytras and German iris. Un- 

 cover the bulb beds about the middle of 



^^he month. Prune hardy roses. Plants 



^Hhat are injured by winter frosts should 



^B> headed back. 



^B.When all frost is out of the ground 



PA 



and the weather is fairly dry, the lawn 

 should be rolled. Give it an application 

 of some complete chemical fertilizer. 

 Trim the grass edges evenly. Rake and 

 clean up the garden, lawn, walks and 

 drives generally. 



French Market Gardens and Gardeners 



John S. Pearce, Superintendent of Parks, London, Ontario 



MONG the exhibits by the French 

 market gardeners at the Anglo- 

 French exhibition recently held in 

 London, England, the display of vegeta- 

 bles, especially salad vegetables, at- 

 tracted a great deal of attention. These 

 market gardens are situated in the vicini- 

 ly of Paris, and the methods of culture 

 and arrangement are far in advance and 

 ahead of any other country. The vege- 

 tables are grown there so extensively 

 ind with such perfection that not only 

 is the city better supplied than any other, 

 but also very large quantities are shipped 

 to England, Austria, and as far as St. 

 ■Petersburg in Russia. 

 ^H It is claimed that the metropolitan 

 l^^^rench gardeners have so developed 

 ^^Bieir methods that families live comforta- 

 rB^ly on the out-put of plantings as small 



' as one and two acres. To such an ex- 

 ' . . . 



tent IS this work earned on that there 



are 1200 of these metropolitan truck gar- 

 dens within a radius of six miles from the 

 fortifications of Paris. Very few of these 

 gardens are greater in area than two 

 acres, and the average sales from each 

 are not far from $1600 every year. 



According to the last census in the 

 United States, the average returns from 

 an acre of vegetables in similar gardens 

 is $42, and the average value of vege- 

 table crops in Queen's county. Long Ls- 

 land, one of the best garden districts in 

 New York, is only $140 an acre, not one- 

 tenth of the results obtained by the 

 French gardens. We have no records 

 for this country. 



The secret of this success is largely 

 due to the French methods of soil treat- 

 ment. One important feature of this 

 treatment consists in continually working 

 the top soil and mixing it with composted 

 manures. Close planting, judicious rota- 



tion and faithful hand labor are largely 

 instrumental in insuring this success. 



Some idea of the value of this land 

 may be gathered when we say, that suita- 

 ble land, close to or near Paris — a .two- 

 acre truck garden with house — is valued 

 at $10,000 to $12,000, with a rental value 

 of at least $500. Another feature due to 

 the success of these gardens is irrigation 

 plants. 



It is true that labor in France is much 

 cheaper than with us. Workmen re- 

 ceive about sixty cents a day with board. 

 Without board, the wages range from 

 $1 to $1.20 a day. It is stated that 

 the average income of these intensive 

 workers, after deducting living and gar- 

 den expenses and interest on investment, 

 averages $500. A close crop rotation is 

 maintained throughout the entire year, 

 but the actual profits are gained largely 

 in winter and the early spring. 



The most important and profitable 

 vegetable grown is lettuce, of which it 

 is estimated that 100,000,000 of heads are 

 yearly raised about Paris, the surplus of 

 which is shipped away, after being care- 

 fully wrapped in paper and crated. Be- 

 sides lettuce a great variety of salads and 

 greens, as well as carrots, radishes and 

 cauliflower are constantly grown. 



This would give our readers some idea 

 of the intensive methods carried on by 

 French market gardeners. It would be 

 well if the market gardeners in this 

 country paid more attention to culture, 

 good seeds, good management and thor- 

 ough care in the handling and shipping 

 and selling of their products. The pro- 

 fits of market gardening, as in all other 

 industries, consists in what you can pro- 

 duce o\er and above cost. 



Starting a Cannery 



I propose installing a small cannery on 

 my ranch. Is the Modern Canner of St. 

 Jacobs, Ont. of any repute? I would ask 

 also if this kind of a venture is known to ba 

 a paying one.— W. A. S., Winnipeg. 



We used the Modern Canner last year 

 with very good success canning toma- 

 toes, beets, cauliflower, apples, pears and 

 any little odds and ends. For any can- 

 ning which does not require a heat higher 

 than 212 degrees F., I found this very 

 useful and prefer it to any other one that 

 I have seen so far. As to the venture 

 being a paying one, it depends upon the 

 business management of the operator. 

 We found that it paid us very well last 

 year. For one who wishes to can for 

 home use or a local trade, I have no hesi- 

 tancy in recommending the Modern Can- 

 ner. — H. S. Peart, Director, Horticultur- 

 al Experiment Station, Jordan Harbor, 

 Ont. 



A question was re-eived from "Sub- 

 scriber," Orillia, regarding greenhouse 

 heating. Kindly send name, and a reply 

 will be sent bv mail. 



■ 



Tonutoc* Grown at Victoria, Britiih Columbia -Sii Specimen! Weighed Five Poundt 



PholOKiapli kindly furniHhed by Mr. H. Uucklc, Victoria. 



Read our Special Seed Offer. 



