MARKET-GARDENING. 7 



agricultural and horticultural journals, contain complete il- 

 lustrations of all leading vegetables, implements, etc. A 

 repetition of them here would only increase the size of the 

 volume without materially adding to its usefulness. 



In giving directions for sowing, planting, etc., the dates 

 are for the latitude of New York City, and should be va- 

 ried according as the situation is north or south of that 

 point. 



MARKET-GARDENING. 



This term as generally used applies to the growing of 

 vegetables for market in so-called market-gardens. These 

 are usually tracts of land lying adjacent to the larger 

 cities, and comprise from five to fifteen acres. It is im- 

 portant that the market-gardener should be near to market 

 for various reasons. His crops are mostly sold in the 

 green state ; many of them, being forced under glass, are 

 consequently of a very perishable nature and are easily 

 damaged by rough handling ; hence by carting to market 

 in wagons, and being handled only by himself, or those in 

 his immediate employ, his produce is not subjected to such 

 severe treatment as is often given to articles of freight by 

 railroad or steamboat employes. Moreover, from the very 

 perishable nature of many garden vegetables, they can not 

 be long packed in bulk without heating, hence the quicker 

 they are sold and consumed after gathering the better. 



Another very important point is the facility for obtain- 

 ing manure from the stables in the city, which by their 

 system of planting must be used in immense quantities. 

 There may be some readers of this book who, having 

 land near large villages, where there is generally a good 

 market, may desire to pay some attention to this business. 

 To such I would say, the manner of sowing, cultivating, 

 etc., is very similar to the directions herein given for the 

 farm-garden. 



