A GENERAL VIEW 3 



cations. It is an intensive type of gardening of greater 

 importance than is generally appreciated. 



6. Ideals. In the production of vegetables for the 

 home table the gardener should aim to secure (i) a 

 variety of products, (2) the highest quality and (3) a 

 supply as uniform and constant as possible at different 

 seasons of the year. 



In commercial gardening the following points must be 

 considered: (i) Quality. Markets are becoming more 

 discriminating every year. Consumers are urgent in 

 their demands for quality, and it is important for growers 

 to realize that prices and profits are largely dependent 

 upon quality. This is especially true when vegetables 

 are placed upon large city markets in competition with 

 shipments from all parts of the country. The best qual- 

 ity is secured by the selection of proper varieties and the 

 furnishing of ideal cultural conditions. Quick maturity 

 is usually favorable to the best quality. This is espe- 

 cially true of the most succulent vegetables, as radish, 

 turnip, beet, onion, lettuce, cabbage, celery and spinach. 

 Vegetables of the finest edible quality are generally 

 grown in moist, fertile soils, physically adapted to each 

 class. (2) Yields. Large yields are essential to maxi- 

 mum profits. Some varieties of high quality are not good 

 yielders. The grower is fortunate if quality and quantity 

 can be secured in the same variety. There are many ex- 

 amples of quality being sacrificed for quantity by the 

 selection of varieties of high yielding power. In produc- 

 ing vegetables for local markets that are not very dis- 

 criminating this course may be justifiable, although it 

 doubtless limits consumption. Whatever the variety, the 

 commercial grower should endeavor to secure maximum 

 yields at minimum outlay. The net returns from a given 

 area of land should determine the extent to which 

 methods can be intensified. If cheap land is available it 

 may be more profitable and less difficult to follow ex- 



