'25G 



NEW-YORK FARMER AND 



vegetable; is governed by Covent Garden Market, | Mr. W. seems to have quite forgotten, that %vith some 



and that the prices there are beyond the reach of the 



greater part of the inhabitants. It is well known that 



nearly all kinds of vegetables arc cheaper in England, 



by one half, than in New York ; and particularly "hat 



are there called garden luxuries. 



In page 7G0, of Loudon's Gardoner's Magazine, it 

 is stated, "that on the 2Gth of January last, a supply 

 of all common vegetables, in Covent Garden Market, 

 were abundant and cheap. Fine white Brocoli, at 

 from Is to 2s per bunch, of 6 to 8 heads. Purple 

 Brocoli at the same price per bunch, of eight to ten 

 heads. Sea Kale from Is to 4s per punnet, or dish. 

 Asparagus plentiful and cheap, from Is to 3s per hun- 

 dred. Onions from 2s to 3s 6d per bushel. Savoy 

 I abb age from Is Cd to 3s per dozen heads." On the 

 .ighth of March, "Green, purple, and Cape Brocoli, 

 ,s stated as low as 9d per bunch. Artichokes from 

 js Cd to 2s 6d per palf seive, (of from nine to ten 

 {marts.) Brussel's sprouts Is per seive, (over half a 

 Lushel.) Red Radishes from Is to Is 6d per dozen 

 hands, (24 to 30 in a hand.) Musnrooms from 9d to 

 l5d per bottle. Coleworts from Is 6d to 2s Cd per 

 "ozen bunches. It is alsostated that Brussel's sprouts 

 /vcre brought in, in such abundance, that a cartload 

 was thrown down in the market, and lett there by the 

 owner, who could find no purchasers ai any price." 

 This profusion was in the month of March, and in the 

 midst of a city containing nearly a million and a half 

 of inhabitants. 



In my last communication, you omitted an extract 

 in which was mentioned upwards of thirty kinds of 

 Beans, cultivated in England. The reader, by pe- 

 rusing the works there alluded to, may be convinced 

 that many of the kinds of kidney beans are not much 

 known here, and they are to be obtained in England 

 eight or nine months of the year. If it were neces- 

 sary I could enlarge on this subject, but I trust the 

 candid reader is convinced already, of the absurdity 

 of making comparisons between the two countries, to 

 'he prejudice of England. I have. already ptoved that 

 a regular succession of vegetabks may be obtained 

 from the natural ground in England, in every month 

 of the year. Mr. W. acknowledges, page 232, that 

 "our winter here, for two or three months, checks the 

 progress of every vegetable substance ;" but I think 

 very few of our citizens will agree with him, that this 

 is "absolutelyan advantage of the American climate." 

 •What kind of appetite," says Mr. W., "could they 



people, (the English in particular, | suitable vegeta- 

 bles are indispensable with certain dishes of moat.-— 

 An Englishman in his native country, considers aleji 

 of mutton, for instance, but half a dish, without tur- 

 nips, which may be obtained there at any time of the 

 year. If Mr. Wilson's remarks about "six months 

 gloom of clouds, rains, and fogs, with all their exhil- 

 orating auxiliaries,*' are intended for England, I can 

 assure him that they do not apply to that country, nor 

 are they over blessed with that intense heat, which 

 renders many of our fruits and vegetables hero un- 

 wholesome, by engendering such immense quantities 

 of lice, worms, caterpillars, and other insects in our 

 gardens, and such swarms of flies, bugs, and musqui- 

 toes, about our dwellings. It is however, evident, 

 that whatever the climate of England may be, it is ca- 

 pable of producing an abundant supply of upwards of 

 thirty varieties of garden luxuries, that are scarcely 

 known by the inhabitants of this part of America. 



I am at a loss to account for Mr. Wiison's remarks 

 about gardeners. He has repeatedly told us that we 

 may obtain our vegetables, "not by any superior art 

 or skill in Horticulture, on the part of the cultivator; 

 the favourableness of the climate rendering no other 

 degree of either necessary, than such as is exercised 

 in the cultivation of a field of corn." 



He now informs us, page 232, that, "those men of 

 more affluence and taste, who have their places cul- 

 tivated on a more refined scale, have invariably to 

 depend on the services of Europeans." And "that 

 they, (the Europeans,) have done, and are still doing 

 a great deal of good, in tho introduction of new and 

 superior kinds of fruit and vegetables." Can this be 

 possible, when Mr. Wilson has assured us, that the 

 horse-bean is the only esculent vegetable in the 

 known world, that refuses to yield an abundant pro- 

 duce in America ? Can such men be capable of intro- 

 ducing vegetables that hitherto have refused to grow 

 here, with no other skill than such as is required in 

 field cultivation ? It is well known that our markets, 

 in the Spring of the year, (which is the most profita- 

 ble time for gardeners, and the most difficult time to 

 raise vegetables,) are supplied almost altogether, bv 

 European gardeners ; and yet we are told that thesv. 

 men have much to learn of the natives ; very few of 

 whom, until of late years, have scarcely attempted to 

 raise many kinds of early vegetables at all. 



Before I take my leave, Mr. Editor, I would ask 



possess, who would wish to see our markets constant- j Mr. Wilson who those "vain boasting foreigners" are 

 ly stocked with such a variety and prafusion, as fill that he alludes to. Not havingssecn any of their wjj- 



them to overflowing during the summer and, fall 

 months ?" — and, "that no appetite, short of downright 



tings, 1 am at a loss to know who they can be; does 

 Ire mean himself for one; I It does not become anv 



gorrnandizjog, could crave more." These remarks one to boast, who lived upwards of twenty years in 



rerriind us qf the lajle of the Fox and the Grapes, 



the tffttintry before he became- paluraTiiceTi, ahd c^hlcl 



