Part II.] MARKET GARDENING. 79 



them in the field. We score them and cut them out each way 

 with a butcher's knife; that has a tendency to make the close 

 root grow. When we transplant them the second time we like 

 to have them 3^ inches deep, the same as cabbage. 

 « A Member. Do you think it pays to pot tomato plants? 



Mr. Garrahan. Why, yes, if you're careful enough to water 

 them and don't get them stunted. 



A Member. How do you fertilize the tomato? 



Mr. Garrahan. That depends altogether on the soil condi- 

 tion of the crop or condition of the ground, or how it has been 

 handled previously. In most of our soil it is just simply acid 

 phosphate. There have been times when we applied a little 

 nitrate of soda early in the spring — a very small pinch — to 

 give them an early start if the weather happens to be cold at 

 that time. 



A Member. Do you use any potash? 



Mr. Garrahan. I think we have been putting on too much 

 potash, and I don't know but what most market gardeners put 

 on more fertilizer and manure than is necessary — every year, 

 year after year, 50 or 60 tons of manure to the acre, as some of 

 us do, and then fertilizer besides. I sometimes question whether 

 it is the right way to handle ground. 



A Member. Is there no demand for lettuce and spinach in 

 your market? 



Mr. Garrahan. The spinach demand is very limited. What 

 we raise is raised for a canning factory. We sell a little spinach, 

 but most of what we raise is for canning purposes. 



A Member. How is the lettuce market in the city of Wilkes 

 Barre? 



Mr. Garrahan. The lettuce market is good — leaf lettuce 

 mostly; there is some head lettuce, but not very much. 



A Member. What variety of leaf lettuce do you grow? 



Mr. Garrahan. Grand Rapids. 



A Member. Do you raise any carrots? 



Mr. Garrahan. Yes. 



A Member. What variety? 



Mr. Garrahan. Danvers. 



A Member. Any asparagus? 



