218 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 



being unfitted for. the warm weather at which this sowing 

 would mature. 



The crop planted out in March, matures by the end of 

 May or 1st of June, and as soon as it is cut off, the 

 ground is plowed or dug over, and the plants from the 

 March sowings are set. Another sowing is made for 

 plants to succeed these again, and so on during the entire 

 season, the rule being to sow seed at each time of plant- 

 ing. Four crops of Lettuce are usually taken from June 

 to October, or nearly a crop each month. 



The plants are set about a foot apart each way, and 

 will average one cent per head, so that the four crops 

 give a return of nearly $2,000 per acre. This seems like an 

 immense return for an acre, but though the net profits 

 are respectable, there are some serious disadvantages 

 attending the cultivation. Few, or none, of these men are 

 owners of the land in New York City, nor in hardly any 

 instance have they a lease. They are tenants at will, and 

 pay a yearly rental, in some instances, of $250 per acre. 

 Many of our country readers may think that an extra 

 cipher has been added to the amount, but they must 

 recollect that the value of some of these " salad patches," 

 as they are called, is $8,000 per city lot, or over $100,000 

 per acre, so that the paltry rental of $250 per acre hardly 

 pays the interest on the amount of taxes. The following 

 figures were given me by one of the best and largest grow- 

 ers, whose patch was two acres : 



Kent.- .-..$4-00 



Manure 250 



Labor of three men for six months 750 



Horse keep and incidentals ... . - 450 



81,850 



Four crops Lettuce, estimated at $4,000 



Expenditures - 1,850 



Annual profits for two acres $2,150 



This was in 1874 ; it is probable that now the profits 

 would be quite one-third less. 



