2l6 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



been workers in the soil for a generation, how some of 

 the simplest methods of culture have not been practised 

 until we were nearly done with life's work. 



There are few of us but have had such experience, 

 personally, I must say that I never pass through a year 

 but I aai confounded to find that some operation can not 

 only be quicker done, but better done than we have been 

 in the habit of doing it. 



These improvements loom up from various causes, but 

 mainly from suggestions thrown out by our employees 

 in charge of special departments, a system which we do 

 all in our power to encourage. 



As a proof of the value of such improvements, which 

 have led to simplifying our operations, I will state the fact, 

 that though our area of green-house surface is now more 

 than double that which it was in 1870, and the land used in 

 our florist's business one third more, yet the number of 

 hands employed is less now than in 1870, and yet, at the 

 same time, the quality of our stock is infinitely better 

 now than then. 



Whether it is the higher price of labor in this country 

 that forces us into labor-saving expedients, or the inter- 

 change of opinions from the greater number of nationali- 

 ties centering here, that gives us broader views of cukure, 

 I am not prepared to state; but that America is now selling 

 nearly all the products of the green-house, garden, nur- 

 sery, and farm, lower than is done in Europe, admits of 

 no question; and if my homely suggestions in this matter 

 of firming the soil around newly planted seeds or plants, 

 will in any degree assist us in still holding to the front, I 

 shall be gratified. 



I have now been a writer for the horticultural press for 

 over thirty years, and am egotistical enough to believe 

 that many of my suggestions, born of a lifetime of active 



