Market-garden Farm Competition, 1879. 
839 
to the crop, set at the least at 250 dozen bunches per acre, and the 
prices Avhich were then ruling, viz., at from 9s. to 12s. per dozen 
bunches, the gross return of this crop must have been consider- 
ably above 100/. per acre. Later on, when all the coleworts 
had gone and cabbages were cabbages, Mr. Gay was cutting 
large quantities from one of the best pieces that was seen 
in the travels of the Judges, and the gross return was at least 
80/. per acre. All the peas which had followed the earliest 
hardy greens looked remarkably well at the first visit. These, 
as well as some that were put in later, were decidedly the best 
that were seen. The earliest peas were Sangster's William I., 
and Sangster's Improved No. I., and the seed cost from 16s. 
to 24s. per acre, two bushels being drilled per acre, about 
two feet to two feet four inches apart. After these, the Fill- 
basket, Fortyfold, or Veitch's Perfection followed in succession. 
An average crop of peas is about 150 bushels per acre, and the 
average price obtained in market is about 2s. per bushel, or 15/. 
per acre. It is not a very remunerative crop, as the expenses of 
> picking are heavy ; but it only occupies the land for a short 
time, and serves as a good preparation for other crops. Onions 
are largely grown upon this market-garden, chiefly after winter 
greens, savoys, and sprouting broccoli, and looked very promising. 
Mr. Gay sows 50 lbs. of onion seed broadcast, so that the plants 
were exceedingly close together, as they were intended for pulling 
early for bunching, and some later on for pickling. Though the 
elements had been unpropitious for carrots, there was a capital 
plant both of Harrison's Early Market, and Carter's Early Short- 
horn for pulling or " bunching " in June, in ordinary seasons. 
About 12 lbs. of seed are sown broadcast per acre. Six pounds of 
parsnip seed, of the sort known as the Hollow Crown, had been 
drilled per acre in rows 15 inches apart, and had given an excel- 
lent and regular plant. Scarlet-runners also were remarkably 
good ; but the French beans showed that they wanted heat. Mr. 
Gay contemplated ploughing these up at first, and fortunately 
held his hand, as they improved wonderfully in June and bid 
fair to give a remunerative yield. This, it must be said, was 
the only crop that was at all under the mark in the whole of this 
occupation, and it took up a very small portion of it. 
Upon a detached part of this holding, a quarter of a mile 
from the homestead, small things are cultivated. There were 
lemon thyme, mint, sage, parsley, quite ornamental with its 
beautifully curled leaves, which was making 3s. 6f/. per lb. in 
the London markets, perfectly shaped little Paris Cos lettuces, 
and other " sallets," all in a most flourishing state. Rhubarb 
also, beet, and red cabbages, for pickling, thrived amazingly ; 
