PROFITS OF MARKET GARDENING. 21 



lands, even at a value of from $1,000 to 85,000 per 

 acre, we can (and do) profitably grow and supply the 

 majority of towns within fifty miles around New York 

 with fresh vegetables. In these cases, no doubt, the 

 consumer pays full double the price that the raiser 

 receives, for they generally pass through the hands 

 of two classes of "middlemen" before they reach the 

 consumer, besides which, there are extra charges for 

 packing, shipping and freight. Thus the consumer 

 in a country town, where land often is not as much 

 in value per acre as it is here per lot, pays twice 

 the value for his partially stale vegetables or fruits, 

 which he receives rarely sooner than twenty-four hours 

 after they are gathered. 



In most of such towns market gardening, carried 

 on after our manner, would unquestionably be highly 

 remunerative ; for if these articles were offered to the 

 consumer fresh from the gardens, he would certainly 

 be willing to pay more for his home-grown products 

 than for the bruised and battered ones that are freighted 

 from the metropolis. Take, for example, the article 

 of Celery, which pays us very well at two cents per 

 root. There is hardly a city or town in the coun- 

 try, except New Ycrk, but where it sells for twice, 

 and in some cases six times, that price per root ; yet 

 the great bulk of this article sold in Philadelphia is 

 sent from New York, for which the consumer must 

 pay at least double the price paid here, for it is a 

 bulkv and expensive article to pack and ship, and 

 must of a necessity pay a profit both to the agent 

 here and in Philadelphia, which of course comes out 

 of the pocket of the consumer. This is only one of 

 many such articles of which the culture is imper- 

 fectly understood, and which the great market of New 

 York is looked to for a supply. 



The following will show the rate of receipts and 



