4 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



Considering, then, how little it costs to raise a plant, surely 

 we can afford to scrap every one that is not up to our desired 

 standard and pin our faith only to the best, and none but the 

 best. The grower who raises his own plants can do this, but 

 there are some to whom it is not convenient to raise their early 

 plants, and these have to depend upon others. This certainly 

 is a handicap, but in these days of keen enterprise there are 

 plenty of reputable houses which lay themselves out to supply 

 this need at reasonable rates, though it is a mistake to look for 

 them among those whose prices are the lowest. We may be 

 prejudiced, but we confess to doubts concerning " cheap offers," 

 for we have lived long enough to know that we usually get what 

 we pay for, but not a ha'pennyworth more. No prudent man 



PlG. 3. Three-span Tomato House 



will risk the possible loss of pounds upon his crops for the sake of 

 the few shillings extra he may have to pay for carefully grown 

 plants. 



This careful selection of plants is a point we feel as a bounden 

 duty to press well home. It is the foundation of success the 

 whole structure depends upon it. We do not say that it is 

 impossible to obtain good crops from what were weakly plants 

 indeed, we have done it ourselves but this is not sure, and it is 

 taking unnecessary risks, savouring more of the spirit of a gamble 

 than of a well-reasoned business transaction. 



Having already in Vol. I dealt with the raising of plants up 

 to planting size, we do not feel called upon here to repeat 

 ourselves, but go on to treat of tomatoes growing from the time 

 of planting. 



