4 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



and in securing them at such seasons that they contend 

 with the least competition. The chief skill required is 

 that of the vegetable -grower; for the business of mar- 

 keting is delegated. In the latter business, much effort 

 must be given to the hunting out of special customers 

 and markets: here the skill of the marketman is nearly 

 as important as the skill of the vegetable -grower. 



The growing of vegetables for home use requires 

 different abilities than the growing for market. Here 

 quality and a uniform and constant supply are the 

 desiderata; in the market growing, quantity and attrac- 

 tiveness, and a bountiful supply at stated times or sea- 

 sons, are the desiderata. The home -use garden should 

 receive the more minute and skilful care to develop the 

 utmost excellence in the product. The more discrimi- 

 nating the home, the greater is the skill required of the 

 gardener. There is as much skill required in securing 

 a well -grown melon or cauliflower as in raising a violet 

 or chrysanthemum. 



Vegetable -gardening for money is not an easy busi- 

 ness. In fact, nothing is easy if it is worth the having. 

 The competition is great. The margin of profit is small. 

 There are risks incident to season, diseases, insects, glut 

 in markets. Many of the products are quickly perish- 

 able. Quality generally counts for less in vegetables 

 than in fruits. Most vegetables are culinary subjects, 

 not luxuries; and the prices are therefore not high. 

 Nearly every person who has a bit of ground grows a 

 few vegetables. In most cases, earliness of crop is a 

 prime requisite ; and to secure the crop very early 

 requires the closest attention to all the details of the 



