PREFACE 



In the preparation of this volume the author has had 

 a twofold purpose, first, to meet the demands of instruc- 

 tors desiring a textbook on vegetable gardening and, 

 second, to present in an organized form data of value to 

 all classes of vegetable growers. The work relates to 

 the culture rather than to the systematic study of vege- 

 tables, although some attention is given to a description 

 and classification of the more important garden crops. 

 A special effort is made to state the fundamental princi- 

 ples involved in the various operations of vegetable gar- 

 dening, while at the same time methods are discussed 

 fully, and frequent reference is made to the practice of 

 vegetable growers in various sections of the United 

 States and Canada. 



Numerous bulletins of the agricultural experiment sta- 

 tions and of the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 and books and periodicals relating to garden topics, were 

 consulted during the preparation of the manuscript, and 

 many references are cited throughout the volume. The 

 general plan of the book is in accordance with the recom- 

 mendations of the Association of American Agricultural 

 Colleges and Experiment Stations. It is hoped that the 

 data gleaned from the author's experience as a commer- 

 cial grower of vegetables, from a study of many success- 

 ful market gardens and truck farms, and from the litera- 

 ture of the subject, will be useful to students as well as 

 to practical gardeners. 



Most of the photographs were made by the author, 

 although many friends assisted in securing the necessary 

 illustrative material. All the drawings have been pre- 

 pared by Mr. B. F. Williamson from sketches or photo- 

 graphs furnished by the author. Special acknowledg- 



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