MARKET GARDENING 217 



and to such perfection that one is not wholly dependent 

 upon stable manure, which is very expensive, especially 

 when hauled a long distance. 



In treating of the various market-garden crops in this 

 chapter, the limited space will prevent our going into 

 minute details, therefore only the most essential points 

 will be touched upon. 



The Soil. 



For the most successful market gardening a variety 

 of soils is a great advantage. For peas, beans, corn, 

 squashes, melons, etc., rather light, warm land is best, 

 while for celery, cabbages, cauliflowers, etc., a deep, 

 moist, clay loam will give the best crops; yet a deep, 

 moist loam, facing south, thoroughly underdrained, will 

 grow almost any crop if properly fitted and cultivated. 

 Even a sandy loam, well fitted with plant food and or- 

 ganic matter, may be made to grow any crop except, 

 perhaps, celery. 



Glass Structures Needed. 



While one may grow many market-garden crops with 

 profit without glass, it will be found more profitable to 

 have a few hot-bed sash (Fig. 77) or a small green- 

 house (Fig. 78) under which to start plants to be trans- 

 planted early to the open ground, and thus compete 

 more advantageously with the Southern growers or 

 those more favorably located near by. 



Thus cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, celery, pepper, and 

 other plants may be started under glass and grown to a 

 considerable size, and when put out of doors will mature 

 the crop in a much shorter time than if the seed were 

 planted in the field. The first cost of cold frames and 

 hot-beds is less than that of greenhouses, and they are 

 much less expensive to run, though both require close at- 

 tention and skill to make them successful and profitable. 



