48 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



more persevering and observant rivals reap substantial 

 rewards from the discovery of varieties which for certain 

 qualities have enabled them to command a ready sale, 

 while the others have been wringing their hands or 

 grieving about the decadence of trade. 



It might be thought needless to dwell upon this, but 

 experience shows that the neglect of selection is too 

 general, especially amongst the smaller growers, who 

 should be particularly concerned in utilising every chance 

 which might increase their returns. Obviously, it 

 would be folly to discard proved sorts in favour of 

 every variety brought into notice as a novelty. Still, a 

 close watch should be kept for any improvement that 

 gives promise of real value, and it pays any grower to 

 test for himself a limited number of the best. The 

 money value of a substantial advance upon varieties in 

 general cultivation to a grower who is successful in 

 procuring a large supply before others have found out 

 its qualities, often means the making of a business. To 

 every man who has had any experience in growing, 

 buying, or selling, garden produce of all kinds, the 

 knowledge must come that it is only possible to get 

 " out of the rut " by raising something that is better in 

 quality, more attractive, earlier, or cheaper, than the 

 goods offered by his near or distant rivals. If this fact 

 be not recognised, and the knowledge acted upon 

 consistently and constantly, no competitor in the race 

 of modern business-life can hope to gain a forward place. 



There is too much " looking over the hedge," i.e. 

 imitation rather than originality. A man notices that 

 his neighbour has some crop which he grows largely 

 and well ; it is cleared away regularly with little waste 

 or unsold remainders, and all the results seem very 

 satisfactory, as the producer does not complain about 

 ruinously low prices, or does so with all the evidence 

 of prosperity about him that belies his grumbling. The 



