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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
March  20,  1902. 
The  Business  of  Market  Gardener. 
(GVnitinucd  from  page  223.) 
I  have  dwelt  at  considerable  length  on  the  marketing  ques¬ 
tion,  becau.se  it, is  the  beginner  who  is  usually  bent  on  reforming 
procedure,  thinking  to  accomplish  something  much  better  tlian 
older  and  more  experienced  men  have  succeeded  in  doing.  What, 
however,  is  of  greater  importance,  is  the  decision  to  be  arrived 
at  as  to  what  particular  branch  or  branches  of  market  gardening 
IS  to  be  followed.  This  should  be  largely  influenced  by  circum¬ 
stances.  such  as  the  capital  available,  previous  experience,  and 
the  particular  bent  of  the  individual.  I  ought,  perhaps,  to  have 
made  it  individuals,  as  it  frequently,  bapiiens  two  or  more  men 
join  forces;  but  these  partnerships  do  not  always  work  well,  and 
frequently  end  in  an  early  dissolution.  According  to  my  experi 
ence,  the  most  capital  is  required  by  those  who  meditate  build 
mg  glazed  houses  extensively.  Starting  with  two  or  three 
fairly  long  houses,  costing,  say,  about  £200,  does  not  look  like 
making  a  fortune  within  a  reasonable  period.  It  is  true,  we  hear 
of  instances  where  men  have  annually  added  more  glass  out  of  the 
profits  made  with  those  first  erected,  and  are  told  by  builders’  can¬ 
vassers  for  orders  that  houses  will  pay  for  themselves  in  a  single 
season.  A  grain  of  salt  should,  however,  be  taken  with  such 
tales,  tliough  much  might  be  done  towards  gradually  enlarging 
by  those  who  have  an  income  or  enough  to  live  upon  derived  from 
other  sources.  A  few  small  houses  can  be  turned  to  good  account 
by  those  who  contemplate,  or  are  fairly  certain  of  obtaining,  a 
good  retail  sale  for  bedding  and  other  pot  plants.  Tomatoes, 
and  the  like,  and  who  also  anticipate  getting  a  fair  share  of 
local  orders  for  bouquets,  memorial  ivreaths,  and  the  like,  but 
they  do  not  count  for  much  when  growing  solely  or  principally 
for  the  markets  is  concerned.  It  cost  £1,500  to  start  a  mode¬ 
rately  la^e  market  garden  with  houses  in  this  district  (Frome), 
and  another  £300  at  least  would  have  been  required  if  a  dwelling 
house  had  to  be  provided.  It  is  true  the  land,  being  in  close 
proximity  to  a  town,  was  expensive,  but  this  cannot  well  be 
avoided  by  those  who  are  anxious  to  do  a  retail  as  well  as  a  whole¬ 
sale  trade. 
Nearness  to  towns  has  its  advantages  and  disadvantages. 
Ihe  advantage  of  haying  a  good  water  supply  cannot  well  be 
over-estimated.  Placing  reliance  on  what  can  be  caught  and 
stored  is  but  a  poor  reed  to  lean  upon.  It  is  true  the  tanks, 
thanks  to  a  great  roof  area,  fill  rapidly  in  w'et  weather,  but  a,s  a 
rule,  w_hen  most  water  is  required  the  rainfall  is  of  the  lightest, 
and  a  few  thousand  gallons  stored  in  tanks  are  soon  exhausted, 
binking  wells  and  providing  a  pumping  apparatus  to  force  the 
water  into  a  raised  tank  to  get  the  pressure  for  quick  delivery 
IS  both  expensive,  and  at  times  also  unrehable,  and  personally 
1  much  prefer  an  unlimited  supply  of  “town”  water  at  7d.  to 
yd.  per  l,000gals  by  meter  to  the  other  alternative.  Nearness  to 
a  town  means  more  local  orders  than  can  be  obtained  in  the 
country,  also  cheaper  manure ;  and  nearness  to  a  railway  station 
IS  equally  desirable.  Moreover,  in  the  country  land  is  much 
crmaper,  and  the  rates  and  taxes  are  considerably  lower  and 
labour  is  not  so  expensive.  Let  me  warn  those  who  start  near 
to  towns  against  doing  so  with  only  a  little,  if  any  more  land 
than  they  intend  to  cover  with  buildings  of  various  kinds.  One 
or  two  acres  of  land  adjoining  will  always  be  found  of  the 
greatest  assistance,  especially  if  Chrysanthemums,  Roses,  bulbs 
and  other  popular  flowers  in  pots  or  boxes  by  the  thousands  are 
to  be  prepared  for  the  houses  in  winter.  Breadths  of  Violets, 
^rnations.  Sweet  Peas,  Gypsophila,  Grasses,  Strawberries,  and 
the  like  are  also  profitable,  and  the  extra  land  affords  a  good 
opportunity  for  changing  soils— one  of  the  best  aids  to  successful 
Tomato  culture.  If  land  is  rented  it  should  always  be  made  a 
Signed  condition  that  the  occupier  is  to  have  the  option  of  buvine: 
at  a  stated  price  when  prepared  so  to  do ;  otherwise  building  on 
It  IS  a^ risky  proceeding.  It  is  very  satisfactory  being  located 
on  one  s  own  freehold,  but  this  sometimes  means  locking  up  a 
certain  amount  of  capital  badly  wanted  elsewhere.  With  regard 
to  the  work  of  constructing  houses,  I  can  only  express  the  opinion 
that  local  builders  use  inferior  material  and  are  slower  and  dearer 
all  round  than  are  the  orthodox  horticultural  builders.  Remem¬ 
ber  that  slow  construction  may  mean  the  loss  of  the  best  part  of 
a  season,  quite  spoiling  the  first  year’s  returns 
Before  erecting  houses  it  should  first  be  decided  what  is  to  be 
grown  in  them,  due  regard  being  paid  to  the  possibility  of  a 
change  proving  necessai^  later  on  Tomatoes  have  been  largely 
responsible  for  much  of  the  house-building  that  has  been  started 
in  the  majority  of  market  gardens,  and  luckily  these  can  be 
grown  successfully  in  houses  that  are  .suitable  for  either  Grape 
Peach  Cucumber,  or  plant  culture,  and  the  plans  may  be  made 
accordingly.  The  earliest  crops  of  Tomatoes  may  be  grown  in 
sp^-roofed  houses,  about  I2ft  wide,  and  the  same  class  of  houses 
If  thoroughly  well  heated,  answer  admirably  for  Cucumbers! 
These  houses  are  also  good  for  Melons  and  for  forcing  bulbs, 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  Spiraeas,  and  Strawberries.  Fourteen-feet- 
wide  span-roofed  houses  are  good  for  second  early  Tomatoes  Figs 
Peaches  and  Nectarines,  trained  over  the  roof:  early  Grapes,’ 
^Ims,  Ferns,  Chrysanthemums,  Arums,  Roses,  Carnations,  and 
Cyclamens— the  two  last  on  temporary  standings.  Houses  (span- 
roofed  still  the  best),  20ft  to  30ft  wide,  wnth  glazed  sides  froirn 
choice,  are  good  for  main  crop  Tomatoes,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines- 
on  cross  trellises  or  tall  trees  in  pots.  Grape  Vines,  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  large  Palms,  and  for  forcing  bulbs  generally. 
Maidenhair  Fern  is  also  profitably  grown  in  comparatively  large- 
houses.  While  the  soil  is  fresh  and  the  houses  new.  Tomatoes- 
ivould  appear  to  give  the  best  returns,  but  both  soil  and  houses- 
become  sick  of  Tomatoes  in  time,  and  it  is  then  when  a  change 
of  crops  is  desirable.  Wliy  not  change  the  soil  ?  some  of  my- 
garclening  friends  will  say.  That  is  easier  suggested  than  carried? 
oiit ;  changing  the  soil  in  houses  125ft  or  more  in  length  and' 
14ft  to  30ft  wide  being  a  very  large  order  indeed,  and  quite  a 
different  matter  to  changing  the  soil  in  the  small  houses  found  in¬ 
most  private  gardens.  So  also  is  growing  Tomatoes  by  the- 
thousand  plants  very  different  to  cultivating  a  few  dozen,  and 
those  who  base  their  calculations  on  what  they  have  done  Avith- 
these  small  numbers  of  plants  are  sooner  or  later  bound  to  be 
disappointed  when  balancing  accounts.  The  personal  attention 
bestowed  upon  a  few  plants  cannot  often  be  given  to  hundreds  or 
thousands,  as  the  case  may  be.  It  will  also  be  found  that 
directly  any  kind  of  plants,  and  Tomatoes  in  particular,  are 
groAvn  in  near  proximity  on  a  large  scale,  it  is  then  Avhen  diseases- 
and  insect  pests  have  to  be  reckoned  Avith.  Get  rid  of  one  and 
another  quickly  takes  its  place.  As  Mr.  Nicholson,  late  of  Kew 
Gardens,  once  sugge.sted  to  me  in  a  conAmrsation  on  the  subject, 
these  diseases  and  pests  are  “  Nature’s  provision  against  over¬ 
production,”  and  it  is  Amry  certain  but  for  the  troubles  in  the 
form  of  diseases  rather  than  insect  pe.sts.  Tomatoes  would  be  so- 
very  plentiful  on  the  markets  as  to  render  them  quite; 
unprofitable.— W.  Iggtjlden. 
ITo  be  continued.) 
The  Awakening  of  the  Anricula. 
The  time  of  the  arousing  of  the  florists’  Auricula  from  its 
AA'inter’s  rest  has  come.  The  rest  appears  to  me  to  have  been 
shorter  than  usual,  as  the  plants  retained  their  leaves  right  up- 
to  the  first  week  in  December,  and  that  in  a  cold  house  on  a  north 
aspect.  It  may  be  said  of  the  Auricula,  as  the  Rev.  F.  D. 
Horner  points  out  in  one  of  his  admirable  papers,  that  there  are 
two  seasons  of  rest,  and  tAA’o  of  activity.  The  tAvo  restful  periods 
are  the  depth  of  winter  and  the  height  of  summer ;  very  opposite 
in  themselves.  “  The  appearance  of  the  plant  at  each  is  very 
different,  but  its  condition  is  much  the  same — one  of  rest.  In 
December  its  quietude  is  that  of  preparation  for  the  transforma^ 
tion  scene  and  full  disjAlay  of  spring ;  and  though  scarcely  a. 
movement  is  perceptible  in  the  few  stout,  short  leaves  that  form 
its  frost-proof  winter  habit,  yet  it  is  busy  within  these  leafy 
curtains  in  forming  the  leaves  and  flower  buds  of  its  blooming 
period.  Just  as  the  Tulip  bulb,  also  in  its  time  of  rest,  is 
invisibly  to  our  short,  slow  sight  making  a  like  preparation 
Avithin  its  folded  heart.”  There  is  no  actual  suspension  of  vital 
force. 
It  used  to  be  the  practice  to  top-dress  the  plants  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  removing  the  surface  soil,  which  was  regarded 
as  exhausted,  and  replacing  it  by  something  new,  fresh  and  rich. 
Well  established  and  well  rooted  plants,  potted  in  June  or  July 
in  a  suitable  Auricula  compost,  Avill  have  filled  the  surface  soil 
AAoth  their  fine  roots,  and  there  may  be  some  risk  in  disturbing 
them.  If  the  pots  are  not  full  of  roots,  it  may  be  assumed  that 
the  plants  have  not  exhausted  the  food  supply  of  the  soil  in 
which  they  are  growing,  and  top-dressing  is  unnecessary.  But 
if  there  is  a  suspicion  the  surface  soil  is  sour  and  soddened,  then, 
it  should  be  removed  ;  but  as  there  would  be  reason  to  fear  the 
soil  throughout  was  in  the  same  condition  through  imperfect, 
drainage,  it  Avould  probably  be  the  best  course  to  repot  the  plant, 
reducing  the  ball  of  soil  about  the  roots  as  little  as  possible,  and’ 
repotting  it  in  a  pot  only  just  large  enough  to  take  it. 
Clean  surroundings  and  fresh  air  are  two  important  considera¬ 
tions  just  when  growth  is  commencing  at  this  season  of  the 
year.  In  giving  air  to  the  house  or  pit  in  which  the  plants  are 
staged,  it  is  well  to  take  care  that  cold  blasts  do  not  fall  directly 
upon  them.  A  little  forethought  can  prevent  that.  During 
March  and  April  there  is  likely  to  be  a  prevalence  of  cutting 
easterly  and  north-easterly  winds,  and  the  plants  should  be 
guarded  from  such.  If  the  house  be  entirely  cold,  and  the 
Aveather  dull  and  sunless,  it  may  be  kept  close  altogether  while 
piercing  northerly  winds  abound.  In  brighter  weather  some  air 
becomes  necessai-y.  It  is,  no  doubt,  a  great  advantage  to  give 
the  Auricula  as  equable  a  temperature  as  possible  during  the 
winter  and  early  spring  months.  That  is  why  it  is  the  leading 
exhibitors  of  the  edged  and  self  show  sections  have  their  plants 
in  houses  to  which  a  gentle  fire  heat  can  be  applied  if  necessary. 
Not  that  anything  in  the  way  of  forcing  is  attempted,  that  would 
be  fatal  to  the  plants  in  all  probability ;  warmth  is  called  into 
use  only  to  continue  the  plants  in  comfort,  free  from  changes  of: 
temperature  as  far  as  possible. — R.  Dean. 
