300 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



peas, to be treated like string beans, add much to table variety. 

 And finally, every garden should have a few hills of muskmelons 

 and watermelons as delicacies. There is no fear of their cross- 

 ing with squash or cucumber. 



These newer kinds of vegetables add to the interest of the 

 garden, first by giving variety to the table, and next by keeping 

 the gardener awake to the work that plant-breeders are doing 

 for his benefit. The progressive gardener will grow at least 

 one new plant, or a new variety of a well-known plant, every 

 year. 



The list of vegetable varieties given at the end of this article 

 is intended as a partial guide for buying. Unfortunately, after 

 a few years such a guide becomes antiquated. But w^hen new 

 it names standard varieties which can be bought of most New 

 England seedsmen. Further, it shows at all times the various 

 classes into which can be divided such plants as beans, corn 

 and radish. 



Having finished the plan and decided what varieties shall be 

 used, the next important piece of work is ordering the seeds. 

 Generally speaking, it is safe to calculate from the data given 

 in most seedsmen's catalogues, and from the space to be covered 

 in the garden, the amounts of seed necessary. For example, the 

 catalogue will state that a quart of bush beans will sow 100 

 feet of drill; and that of pole beans, a quart of limas will 

 plant 100 hills, and of smaller sorts, 200 hills. Knowing how 

 many feet and hills we wish to plant, the quantity to order is 

 readily calculated. 



But where shall the seeds be bought? Unless previous testing 

 has proved the local grocer to carry reliable seeds he is usually 

 the last one to depend on. To be sure, his seeds come in an 

 attractive show-case, and in envelopes with gaudy pictures; but 

 on the average these seeds had better be avoided. Buy prefer- 

 ably of a man who makes seed-handling a large part of his 

 business, and whose living, therefore, depends on the excellence 

 of his stock. If there is no such man at hand there are several 

 such in each city who publish excellent catalogues and who can 

 safely be dealt with by parcel post. Your farm journal will 

 name for you some of these men. They usually pay postage on 

 all seeds except the bulky packages of beans, peas and corn. 

 It is insurance to deal with such men. 



