64 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



be of a loose, porous nature, to allow perfect drainage. Leaf 

 mold is nature's seed bed, and probably the best substitute is 

 made by using sods and well-rotted manure. We usually put 

 down about a foot of sods, then add one-half foot of manure, 

 and so on until we have suflScient for our own needs. In about 

 a year's time the sods will be thoroughly rotted. The pile is 

 then turned, and, after the addition of lime, is ready for use. 



All our early plants are raised in flats, as we can produce 

 better plants by use of flats than by putting them in beds. We 

 prefer to transplant the seedlings before the rough leaf appears. 

 It has been my experience that we get a more uniform stand of 

 plants by using them when quite young. A little practical 

 experience is necessary in order to grow good plants. It is hard 

 to say, without being on the job, just when to ventilate or how 

 much water to apply, and watering and ventilating are the im- 

 portant points in plant raising. As a rule, the beginner is liable 

 to coddle his plants too much; as a result he will have a lot of 

 weak, poorly rooted plants. One should avoid extremes of heat 

 or cold while the plants are young, aiming to develop a slow, 

 steady growth. The greatest loss in plant raising is caused by 

 the damping-off fungus. This disease usually attacks the seed- 

 lings, causing the stems to turn black and rot off. Since using 

 sterilized soil we have had little trouble with this disease. The 

 plants are left in the greenhouse until they have struck root; 

 they are then shifted to cold frames. Most of our frames are 

 steam heated, which has proved perfectly satisfactory, and is 

 much cheaper than protection by straw mats. 



There is no better test of one's ability as a market gardener 

 than the quality of the plants he raises. If he is painstaking 

 enough to grow a supply of strong, healthy plants, it is a safe 

 bet that his field operations will be equally successful. 



The asparagus we grow is the Palmetto variety. It is planted 

 2 by 4 feet and 5 or 6 inches deep. Success, to my mind, de- 

 pends upon the selection of a well-drained soil supplied with 

 abundant plant food, and the use of well-grown plants from 

 high-grade seed. It is a mistake to start an asparagus bed on 

 poor ground. The future of the bed will depend a great deal 

 upon the condition of the soil when the field is set. If possible, 

 choose a field where onions, or a similar crop, has been raised 



