,,farm ,,gardening ,,with ,,hints ,,on ,,cheap ,,manuring ,quick ,cash ,crops and ,how to ,grow ,them ,compiled and ,published1 #ahih by ,,johnson ,,stokes1 ,seed ,growers and ,merchants #bag and #bai ,market ,st41 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,copyright1 #ahih1 by ,johnson ,stokes ,illustration3 ,hilling ,celery1 as practised by ,philadelphia ,market ,gardeners4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,page4 ,making the ,soil ,rich #i ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,choice of ,location #bd ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,vegetables ,suited to ,farm ,culture ,everywhere #bg ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,vegetables ,suited to ,farm ,culture in ,some ,locations #ge ,,chapter ,v4 ,sashes and ,bedding ,plants #aai ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,the ,strawberry #aba ,,preface4 ,farmers in the thickly populated ,eastern and ,middle ,states1 or1 in fact1 east of the ,mississippi ,river1 cannot grow grains nor fatten beeves with the same profit as before the opening of the great ,west4 ,dairying still returns fair profits1 but there is a widespread demand for cash crops adapted to farm culture1 especially where railroads furnish quick access to towns and cities4 ,in response to this demand1 we beg to offer a short list of farm vegetables that can be grown with greater profit than grain1 with hints about growing them4 ,there is no real line dividing the vegetables of the market garden from those of the farm garden1 but it may be assumed in a somewhat arbitrary way that those which do not yield at the gross rate of #bej per acre per year will not pay for the intense culture of high-priced land1 although they will pay handsome profits in broad-acred operations under horse culture4 ,before offering a list of money crops to farmers we shall have a word to say in the following pages about economic manuring4 ,larger cash receipts and smaller cash expenditures will result in better bank balances4 ,,johnson ,,stokes4 ,,philadelphia1 ,january #a1 #ahih4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,making ,,the ,,soil ,,rich4 ,everybody understands that the soil becomes impoverished by continued cropping1 if no return be made in the form of manure or fertilizer4 ,this impoverishment is sometimes real1 while sometimes it is more apparent than real1 owing to the exhaustion of only one or two elements of fertility4 ,farmers have learned a great deal about agricultural chemistry since the introduction of artificial fertilizers4 ,they know that while plants demand many things for their growth1 there are but three elements which are in danger of being exhausted in ordinary cropping4 ,these three things are nitrogen1 phosphoric acid and potash4 ,lime4--,lime is used on the land not for its direct results as a fertilizer1 but because it has the ability to break up combinations already existing in the soil and set free the plant food that previously was in an insoluble form4 ,lime sometimes produces almost marvelous results2 at other times no visible effects whatever4 ,hence1 it is not a fertilizer1 though in actual practice it is sometimes a fertilizing agent of great value4 ,land that has been much manured or long in sod is likely to be benefited by lime4 ,artificial manures1 on the other hand1 furnish real plant food in soluble form1 and may be expected to produce crops invariably1 year after year1 if the soil be sufficiently moist4 ,when a fertilizer contains nitrogen1 phosphoric acid and potash it is said to be complete4 ,when any element is missing the fertilizer is said to be incomplete4 ,ground bone1 wood ashes1 ,south ,carolina rock1 kainit1 etc41 are examples of incomplete fertilizers4 ,barnyard ,manure4--,barnyard manure is the best of all known fertilizers4 ,not only is it complete in character1 but it has the highly valuable property of bulk4 ,it is rich in humus or humus-forming materials4 ,it opens and ventilates the soil1 and improves its mechanical condition to a remarkable degree4 ,humus is a name for decaying organic matter4 ,american market gardeners deem it entirely safe to use fifty to seventy-five tons of barnyard manure to the acre of ground in their intensive cultural operations4 ,american farmers seldom apply more than ten or fifteen tons of such manure to the acre in the open field4 ,the manufacture of artificial fertilizers had its origin in the fact that cultivators could not get enough manure from natural sources1 and1 hence1 were compelled to go into the market and buy nitrogen1 phosphoric acid and potash in other forms4 ,closer ,economy4--,with the increase of competition and consequent fall of prices a closer economy in cost of production is necessary4 ,prices have fallen most in respect to commodities that will bear long-distance freight transit and less in respect to the more perishable products of the soil4 ,hence1 farmers have widely turned attention to small fruits and vegetables for money crops1 instead of grains1 and are now studying how to fertilize these crops in the most effective and economical manner4 ,it is very evident that while great quantities of fertility are demanded by the new crops1 there is no such margin of profit in their culture as to warrant wasteful methods1 and no losses of home-produced fertility can be tolerated4 ,as to ,saving ,manure4--,a penny saved is a penny earned4 ,a half ton of manure saved is a dollar earned2 and1 conversely1 a half ton of manure wasted is a dollar wasted4 ,in many ,american barnyards much of the manure is lost1 partly by leaching and partly by escape of ammonia4 ,it is estimated that as much as a third of the natural manure produced in this country is practically thrown away4 ,the ,cornell ,station has announced that a pile of horse manure exposed to the weather will lose half of its value in six months4 ,the ,kansas ,station reaches nearly the same conclusion about farmyard manure4 ,manure stored under cover may lose from #ad to #cj per cent4 of its nitrogen 7ammonia72 and as this element is the most expensive of all to buy1 it is evident that the loss is a very serious one1 and one that should be avoided if possible4 ,general ,principles of ,storage4--,having pointed out the fact that on many farms there is a loss of a large amount of excellent manure1 it is now in order to name a remedy4 ,the compass of this book is so limited that it is necessary to go straight to the point1 omitting a detailed account of the chemical processes involved4 ,the best-known method of keeping all the manure produced by farm animals is storage under a closed shed1 supplemented with chemical preservatives4 ,the shed need not cover the barnyard1 but merely the manure pile4 ,the preservatives cost little money1 and eventually go to the soil in the form of excellent fertilizers4 ,not a cent paid for them need be lost4 ,the manure shed should be large enough to work in with comfort2 large enough to permit the heap or heaps of manure to be turned1 worked over and shifted from place to place4 ,a clay or earth floor will answer every purpose1 and the shed may be of the cheapest character1 provided it will turn the rain4 ,the floor of the manure shed should slope inward from all directions1 and the drainage around the shed should be outward1 so that no rain-water or snow-water can enter4 ,in theory1 it may be best to put fresh manure on the land as quickly as possible4 ,all leaching is then received by the soil1 and little is lost1 except through the air4 ,in practice1 this plan is not always a good one4 ,it costs more to make ten trips to the field than one trip1 and valuable time is wasted4 ,it is quite out of the question to haul out manure every day or even every week4 ,besides1 it is necessary in actual practice1 especially in gardening or truck farming1 to cover a whole piece of ground at one time1 so that it may be plowed and seeded for the coming crop4 ,the ground is usually available only a short time before this preparation1 having1 perhaps1 been occupied by something else4 ,it is desirable1 moreover1 that the manure when applied shall be ready for immediate service as plant food1 which is not the case with the raw product4 ,fresh manure is but sparingly digestible by plant roots4 ,quicker cash results will be secured by applying prepared manure to the soil than by applying the product fresh from the stable4 ,the manure shed has already been mentioned4 ,a few dollars will build it4 ,sometimes a half barrel is sunken in the centre of the manure shed1 and the drainage from the manure heaps collected there1 and returned to the tops of the heaps4 ,it is occasionally necessary to add water1 when turning manure1 to secure the desired degree of dampness and a gentle fermentation4 ,this fermentation will cause the litter to fall to pieces1 and will convert it into quickly-available plant food4 ,no one who has never tried it will expect the generous heaps which will follow systematic and persevering efforts to accumulate and stack up the available manure materials on any farm4 ,preservatives4--,the best-known common preservatives of manure in storage are gypsum1 kainit and acid phosphate4 ,gypsum or land plaster holds ammonia1 and is thus of the highest value as a preservative4 ,gypsum must be moist to be effective1 and1 hence1 should be used regularly upon the fresh manure4 ,kainit1 which is a low-grade sulphate of potash1 checks fermentation1 and hence prevents loss of ammonia4 ,it contains much salt1 and attracts and holds moisture4 ,it should not be used under the feet of animals4 ,acid phosphate contains much gypsum1 and unites with ammonia that would otherwise escape4 ,the ,geneva 7,n4 ,y47 ,station recommends the use of one of the following per day3 ,per ,horse4 ,per ,cow4 ,per ,pig4 ,per ,sheep4 ,pounds4 ,pounds4 ,ounces4 ,ounces4 ,gypsum #a-a_/b #a-c_/d #d-a_/b #c-a_/b ,acid phosphate #a #a-a_/h #c #b-a_/b ,kainit #a-a_/h #a-a_/d #d #c-a_/d ,the advantage of using kainit and acid phosphate are that they add potash and phosphoric acid respectively1 in which barnyard manure is likely to be deficient4 ,in some soils the potash will be preferable2 in others1 phosphoric acid will do more good4 ,value of ,manure of ,each ,kind of ,animal4--,it has been figured out that the average value of horse manure per year is #bg per animal2 cattle1 #ai2 hogs1 #ab2 and sheep1 #b4 ,but these are not the only sources of manure on the farm4 ,the hen-house will annually yield manure to the value of #be to #ej cents per fowl1 if intelligently cared for4 ,the outhouse will produce fertility to the amount of #aj to #ej per year1 according to the size of the family1 the precautions as to loss by leaching1 and the care given4 ,the kitchen slops1 including the scraps1 are worth #aj to #be per year1 if properly composted4 ,the wood ashes have a distinct and high fertilizing value2 but not in the hen-house1 where they are worse than wasted4 ,and even coal ashes can be turned to account4 ,professor ,roberts has suggested #bej per year as a conservative estimate of the value of the manure produced during seven winter months on a farm carrying four horses1 twenty cows1 fifty sheep and ten pigs4 ,the estimated value may be made much higher in cases where farmers are willing to use thought and labor in preparation and preservation of home-made manures4 ,solid ,manure and ,liquid ,manure4--,the urine is the most valuable portion of the excretion of animals1 according to the tables of the agricultural chemists4 ,it is especially rich in nitrogen1 and1 hence1 its strong odor under fermentation4 ,it is also rich in potash4 ,its place is on the manure heap1 not in a ditch leading to a brook4 ,if it collects in quantities beyond the absorbing power of the manure pile1 it should go on the compost heap or else be diluted and at once put upon the land4 ,when to ,fertilize4--,the land is a good bank in which to deposit money in the form of manure2 but there are certain portions of the year when the land bank declares no dividends4 ,it is safe to put manure upon an unfrozen soil at any time1 but the best1 the quickest1 and the largest results are obtained by manuring during the growing season1 preferably just before planting the crop4 ,small applications1 often repeated1 are preferable to large1 though rare1 applications4 ,plants1 like animals1 consume small amounts of food each day1 and cannot take a year's food at a single meal4 ,humus4--,humus1 often referred to by agricultural writers1 is a name for decaying organic matter in the soil4 ,green crops turned under1 grass roots1 stubble1 leaves1 long manure1 etc41 form humus4 ,the term is a comprehensive one4 ,humus is a dark-colored substance1 abundant in all rich ground4 ,a lump of manure that has been lying in the ground for a year or two has become1 practically1 a mass of humus4 ,minute ,soil ,workers4--,in all good soils there are myriads of small organisms1 whose duty is to destroy organic matter and convert it into soil1 or into humus1 or into plant food4 ,this explains the superiority of good1 moist soil as compared to coal ashes for making compost heaps4 ,coal ashes are worth sifting1 if the work can be done automatically2 that is1 by simply pouring the ashes upon a sloping wire screen4 ,the coarse portion of the ashes1 if not worth reburning1 will at least make good walks1 drives or road beds1 while the fine portions make excellent absorbents to put under hen roosts4 ,illustration3 ,some of the many ,forms of ,bacteria4 7,magnified74 ,hen manure and the product of the outhouse1 whether containing sifted ashes or not1 should go speedily into a heap of moist earth1 for this earth will furnish the organisms to quickly convert the excreta into valuable soil4 ,sifted coal ashes usually contain some fertility on account of wood1 garbage1 etc41 burned in the kitchen stove1 but have value mainly as absorbents4 ,moist loam1 on the other hand1 teems with life1 and has the wonderful ability not merely to hide organic matter1 but to actually change its character1 converting it into soil that retains none of its original characteristics4 ,what was malodorous manure1 offensive to smell and touch1 is changed into an odorless1 dark-colored material that leaves no stain upon the hands1 and which is plant food of the best and most available character4 ,economy in ,manuring4--,true economy in manuring demands a comprehension of these simple matters4 ,the methods are inexpensive1 and are within the reach of every tiller of the soil4 ,the whole matter may be summed up in a few words1 as follows3 ,waste nothing1 permit no fermentation or leaching1 use preservatives1 and learn the true art of making composts1 including the functions of the minute organisms just described4 ,no better use can be made of rainy days in summer or winter than in caring for manure2 turning the piles1 making compact stacks1 adding needed moisture and preservatives1 shaking out all lumps and putting undecayed portions into the centre of the heap4 ,ton after ton of the best kind of fertilizer can be accumulated on every farm in this manner1 including not only what is now lost through careless handling1 but also a large amount of good material that is now entirely overlooked on many farms4 ,all rubbish1 all litter1 all dirt1 has a fertilizing value4 ,if certain waste products must go to the bonfire1 the ashes can at least be saved and used during the next growing season4 ,it is sometimes better to burn weeds and certain tough vines than to attempt to compost them2 but the ashes should not be wasted4 ,it is the saving of many little things that counts in the yearly total4 ,labor is money1 but it is better to invest labor at home than to go to the fertilizer-maker for supplies and pay out cash4 ,the ,fertilizer ,man4--,the fertilizer man will always be with us1 because he has a true place in the economy of the farm and garden4 ,we must go to him for the preservatives already mentioned--for gypsum1 for kainit and for acid phosphate2 and also for complete fertilizers4 ,these articles are all comparatively cheap4 ,the fertilizer man can make but modest profits upon them4 ,the purchase of high-grade goods from well-known and honest makers is to be commended1 for it is strictly economical4 ,the thing to be avoided is the blind buying of fertilizers from unknown or irresponsible makers or agents4 ,this is worse than buying a cat in a bag1 and results in great waste of good money4 ,wood ,ashes4--,wood ashes is rich in potash1 and is particularly valuable with potatoes1 fruits of all kinds1 etc4 ,but it is a great error to mix wood ashes with fresh manure of any kind1 especially with hen manure1 as the escape of ammonia is hastened and much value is lost4 ,natural and ,artificial ,manures4--,where the home supply of manure is insufficient for a piece of ground1 necessitating the addition of artificial manure1 it is universally conceded to be good practice to stretch the natural product over the whole tract and then to go over the whole tract with an artificial fertilizer4 ,irrigation4,a--,in connection with a review of the home sources of manure the item of irrigation must not be overlooked1 for it is thoroughly well established that water is a carrier of appreciable amounts of fertilizing materials4 ,in ,european countries large areas of pasture and mowing lands are fertilized by water alone1 the irrigation being regarded as of great value on this account1 aside from the fact that it supplies moisture to the grass roots4 ,most streams in the ,united ,states contain more or less sewage1 and in respect to irrigation are valuable on that account4 ,footnote ,a3 ,the reader is referred to our new book on this subject4 ,it is entitled1 ,irrigation by ,cheap ,modern ,methods4 ,see illustration next page1 also pages #hc and #abe4--;,johnson ,stokes4 ,waste ,products4--,many waste or by-products1 available for use as fertilizers1 come from time to time within the reach of the farmer or gardener1 especially to those living near towns or railroads4 ,the average market house1 be it said with regret1 is none too clean1 and refuse in considerable amounts could be had there for the trouble of sweeping4 ,cattle cars often contain several inches of valuable droppings1 to be had for next to nothing4 ,street-scrapings are worth the trouble of hauling1 if the distance is short4 ,the manure lost on the highways is very great in amount1 and may be worth the cost of collection4 ,there will some day be a machine for gathering this manure from the roads by horse-power1 as it would amply repay the expense of driving such a machine along every much-used highway4 ,illustration3 ,an ,illustration from ,johnson ,stokes' ,new ,book--,irrigation by ,cheap ,modern ,methods4 ,value of ,manure4--,dr4 ,beal figures the values per ton of the several farm-made manures as follows3 ,hen manure1 #g4jg2 sheep1 #c4cj2 pigs1 #c4bi2 horses1 #b4ba2 cows1 #b4jb4 ,illustration3 ,bacteroid ,tubercles on ,red ,clover ,root4 ,drawn from ,nature4 ,these figures are based on the assumption that the animals are well fed1 and that no leaching of the manure is allowed1 with gypsum used as a preservative1 and good care exercised in all respects4 ,it must not be supposed that all manure has such value1 or that any manure will retain such value under careless treatment4 ,green ,manuring4--,the system of green manuring1 as formerly understood and practiced1 had two purposes in view4 ,one was to supply the soil with needed humus2 the other to furnish winter protection and prevent washing4 ,the practice is a very old one and has much to commend it4 ,not only do plant roots draw up fertility from considerable depths1 to be afterward deposited in the superficial soil when the growing crop is turned down by the plow1 but the process favors chemical changes in the soil by the admission of air and sunlight and by the decomposition of leaves1 stems and roots4 ,but nothing whatever in the way of new fertility is added by turning down a rye crop1 for instance4 ,illustration3 ,crimson or ,scarlet ,clover1 a ,nitrogen ,gatherer4 ,cultivating the ,legumes4--,the present system of green manuring contemplates something in addition to what was formerly gained1 for agricultural sciences now recognizes the fact that nitrogen1 the most expensive element of fertility1 can be taken from the air and added to the plant food in the soil by means of certain plants which have the peculiar habit of regularly forming little tubercles or lumps on their feeding roots4 ,these lumps are to be found on plants in perfect health1 and are not parasitical in any hostile sense4 ,the lumps are filled with small living organisms called bacteria1 and1 hence1 have been called bacteroid tubercles4 ,the minute tenants slowly but surely secrete nitrogen1 and put it in a form adapted to plant growth4 ,the plants which bear these root lumps belong to a group called legumes1 of which clover1 peas1 beans1 vetches1 etc41 are familiar examples4 ,curiously enough1 nearly all the leguminous plants are thus fitted by nature by means of the root lumps to act as soil enrichers1 and these plants have1 therefore1 assumed the highest agricultural significance4 ,it is well known that such crops as cowpeas1 crimson or scarlet clover1 common red and pea vine or sapling clover1 ,soja beans1 vetches1 etc41 can be used to add nitrogen to the soil in commercial quantities4 ,the gain of new material1 expressed in money1 has been estimated as high as #be per acre4 ,this1 therefore1 is the avenue through which the farmer can most economically supply nitrogen to his land4 ,if he will exercise all the economy heretofore suggested in the care of natural manures1 and will grow legumes1 he will not have much occasion to buy nitrogen in the market4 ,grass vs4 ,clover4--,an idea of the great fertilizing value of the leguminous plants as compared with grasses may be obtained by a study of the following analyses from ,u4 ,s4 ,farmers' ,bulletin ,no4 #af1 by ,dr4 ,e4 ,w4 ,allen1 on ,leguminous ,plants for ,green ,manuring and for ,feeding3 ,fertilizing ,value in ,crop4 ,assumed ,per ,acre4 ,yield4 ,per ,acre4 ,nitrogen4 ,phos4 ,acid4 ,potash4 ,hay from ,tons4 ,pounds4 ,pounds4 ,pounds4 ,red top 7a grass7 #b #bc4j #g4b #bj4d ,timothy 7a grass7 #b #be4b #aj4f #ah4j ,red ,clover 7a legume7 #c #fb4a #aa4d #ff4j ,alfalfa 7a legume7 #c #fe4g #ae4c #ej4d ,cowpea 7a legume7 #c #eh4e #ae4f #dd4a ,soja bean 7a legume7 #c #fi4f #bj4a #cb4d ,nitrogen1 ,phosphoric ,acid1 ,potash4--,we have just noted the cheapest source of nitrogen4 ,it can be collected by root tubercles at less than the commercial rate of #ad to #ag cents per pound4 ,phosphoric acid can be best secured1 if a new supply becomes necessary1 in the form of ground bone or in the form of acid phosphate4 ,either of these articles1 if bought from a reliable dealer1 is a good and economical thing to use4 ,potash is to be had most cheaply1 perhaps1 in the manner suggested heretofore3 by the use of kainit as a preserver of stable manure4 ,the kainit performs a double purpose if used in that way1 and thus gets upon the land in a cheap manner4 ,muriate of potash and sulphate of potash are high-priced articles1 but when bought from good houses are fully worth the money they cost4 ,except for the use of kainit1 just mentioned1 the muriate or sulphate would be the more economical form4 ,potash or phosphoric acid 7or both71 as may be determined by circumstances1 are needed to aid crimson clover in its growth1 and with the clover form a perfect manure4 ,barnyard manure is a perfect fertilizer1 especially when preserved with kainit or acid phosphate2 and a leguminous crop1 if stimulated with phosphoric acid and potash1 leaves the land in fine cropping condition4 ,value of ,green ,manures4--,the cash value of green manuring is somewhat a matter of location4 ,on light1 sandy soils it will be found wise to turn the whole crop under with the plow1 while on heavy loams this plan is of doubtful benefit4 ,on the latter land it is conceded to be better practice to harvest the crop and feed it to stock1 and return the resulting manure to the land4 ,maximum ,amounts of ,manures4--,nobody has yet ventured to fix the maximum amounts of natural or artificial manures that soils will bear1 but these amounts are great4 ,reference has already been made to the number of tons of stable manure per acre used respectively by market gardeners and farmers in ,america4 ,as to commercial fertilizers1 the quantity has been pushed up to two tons per acre1 with enormous crops in consequence1 and with no bad results where the constituent of the fertilizer were well balanced and where the water-supply was ample4 ,it is quite easy1 however1 to scorch or burn the foliage of growing plants by the improper use of acid fertilizers in dry weather4 ,of course1 no such amount as two tons per acre would be used in ordinary farming or farm gardening1 but only in certain intense cultural operations4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,choice ,,of ,,location4 ,almost every farm has a choice spot for a garden1 some favored location where the soil is warm and mellow1 and where1 perhaps1 shelter is afforded by hill or woodland4 ,such a spot1 especially if it can be artificially irrigated1 is capable of great things in the way of growing truck4 ,the place of all others1 if it can be had1 is a rich meadow bank1 on ground low enough for gravity irrigation and yet high enough to be out of the way of floods4 ,such a location is by no means rare4 ,there are countless acres fulfilling these conditions1 and every acre thus situated is capable of yielding in vegetables twenty-fold its value as pasturage4 ,such a meadow needs a few lines of underdrains and an irrigating ditch along the highest feasible level4 ,deep plowing of low land will rarely bring up the sub-soil1 and1 after a good coat of lime1 the application of manure may be carried to almost any extent1 with good results assured in advance4 ,if a meadow is not available1 the farm gardener will do the next best thing1 whatever that may be1 in choosing a place for vegetables1 trusting the rainfall and depending on manure and good tillage for satisfactory crops4 ,as to ,growing4--,the one point to be emphasized about the production of truck for market is that quick growth is necessary for quality1 and1 hence1 for profits4 ,good soil1 good cultivation and sufficient moisture are the essentials for rapid growth4 ,as to ,marketing4--,a point of prime importance for all producers to remember is that price is largely a matter of taste and fancy4 ,if the consumer can be attracted by the good appearance of vegetables or fruit1 a sale is certain to be made4 ,it will pay handsomely to keep at home all medium or second-quality stuff1 offering nothing but the best for sale4 ,illustration3 ,reproduction of a ,photograph taken in ,dock ,street ,wholesale ,market1 ,philadelphia4 ,in the great wholesale and retail markets of ,philadelphia1 ,new ,york and ,boston good stuff always moves quickly at fair prices1 while poor stuff begs for buyers at rates yielding no profit to anybody4 ,the wholesaler is frequently blamed for failure to obtain good prices when the fault is really with the producer1 and is chargeable to poor stuff or poor packing4 ,there is a good business opening everywhere for truckers who will ship only first-class stuff in new packages4 ,such produce reaches what is known as the fancy trade1 and there is more than a living in it for enterprising growers4 ,truckers who rush their stuff to market in an unwashed1 unsorted condition1 in old or unclean baskets or boxes1 may make expenses out of the business1 but they will never do much more4 ,there is a premium on quality and appearance4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,vegetables ,,suited ,,to ,,farm ,,culture ,,everywhere4 ,illustration3 ,loading the ,market ,wagon4 ,in this chapter are grouped a number of vegetables of easy culture4 ,they may be grown with success almost anywhere4 ,some of them are produced by market gardeners1 but by reason of the amount of ground which they occupy they are more particularly adapted to horse culture by farmers4 ,the chapter will treat briefly of asparagus1 beans1 beets1 cabbage1 carrots1 sweet corn1 horseradish1 parsnip1 potato1 pumpkin and squash1 salsify1 tomato1 turnip1 etc4 ,,asparagus4 ,asparagus demands a deep1 rich1 well-drained soil4 ,its culture is profitable1 and it yields ready cash at an early season of the year1 when other sales are limited4 ,the cutting term covers six weeks1 beginning 7at ,philadelphia7 in the middle or latter part of ,april4 ,cutting must here cease in ,june1 in order to give the roots ample time to regain strength and make vigorous tops4 ,the gross product per acre1 near ,philadelphia1 expressed in money1 is1 perhaps1 #bjj at this time4 ,illustration3 ,donald's ,elmira4 ,in selecting a situation for a bed1 a warm spot should be chosen1 having a deep and mellow soil1 and with good natural or artificial drainage4 ,a small area is better than a large one1 as being more likely to receive sufficient manure2 and it is desirable that the land should have been tilled for a year or two before the planting of the roots1 and a heavy coat of manure incorporated with the soil--the more manure the better4 ,roots4--,the roots are set in early spring1 in deep trenches1 #e or #f feet apart1 made with a plow4 ,if the plow be run both ways and the loose dirt shovelled out1 it is quite easy to reach a depth of #ae or more inches4 ,it is not material whether strong one-year-old roots or two-year-old roots be used4 ,varieties4--,as to varieties1 it is almost as much a matter of culture as of name2 still1 there are better and worse kinds4 ,asparagus varies in color from purple to green1 and even to white4 ,there are certain so-called mammoth sorts1 whose shoots are larger1 but less numerous than the old-fashioned kinds4 ,there is a slight difference in flavor1 also1 but the preference of the local market must determine the farmer in making a choice of roots4 ,if a green grass be preferred1 that kind can be had from seedsmen2 but1 no matter how carefully the roots may be grown1 there will be some slight variations in the color of the shoots1 for asparagus does not always come true from seed4 ,market gardeners usually sort their asparagus shoots at bunching time2 always for size1 and sometimes for color1 especially when supplying a fancy trade4 ,as a rule1 it is wise to select a variety that will produce a good number of large-sized shoots1 such as ,donald's ,elmira or ,barr's ,mammoth1 and trust to manure and culture for the best results4 ,quality of shoots depends on quick growth1 and size depends somewhat on distance of the root under ground4 ,the deeper the asparagus root under the surface1 the larger in diameter will be the shoot1 provided the plants are not crowded2 a fact of which gardeners often take advantage by heaping soil up over the crowns of the plants during the growing season4 ,,asparagus4--,donald's ,elmira is one of the best for the ,north4 ,palmetto is the asparagus generally grown in the ,south4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,setting out4--,the young roots should be set carefully1 crowns up1 at intervals of #a-a_/b to #b feet1 in the deep furrows or trenches heretofore mentioned4 ,a few inches of manure can be put in the bottom1 covering slightly with soil and about #f inches of soil put upon them4 ,the spaces between the rows may be cultivated during the first year1 and some quick crop grown there4 ,the working of this crop will gradually fill up the furrows about the stems of the young asparagus1 which1 during the first year1 is quite small and insignificant in appearance4 ,by fall1 the furrows will be entirely filled and the surface of the patch level4 ,the asparagus slug1 the larva of the well-known beetle1 may be kept down by occasionally dusting with slacked lime containing ,paris green4 ,the following year the asparagus will show up to some advantage1 but should not be cut4 ,the third year 7second after planting7 will yield some marketable shoots2 but cutting should not continue more than two or three weeks4 ,the fourth year the bed may be said to be in full bearing4 ,treatment4--,the spring treatment of an asparagus bed in profit begins with a light plowing parallel with the rows1 great care being observed to use a wheel on the plow so that not more than a few inches of soil may be turned1 lest the crowns be cut and injured4 ,the bed then lies until the cutting season is well advanced1 when the plow may be again used4 ,the first plowing was merely to break the surface of the ground and turn under the winter coat of manure1 leaving the land level4 ,the second plowing 7if given7 is to be toward the rows1 for the purpose of throwing them further under the surface1 so as to get larger shoots as warm weather advances4 ,another plowing1 very shallow1 followed by harrow or cultivator1 should be given at the end of the cutting season1 in ,june1 to destroy all weeds and to encourage summer growth of the asparagus4 ,the patch should be kept clear of weeds during the summer1 and growth encouraged by cultivation4 ,in the late autumn the tops are mowed off and burned1 as there seems to be no economic way of composting them1 for1 if moved to the compost heap or barnyard1 they will seed the whole farm with asparagus4 ,there should be a good coat of manure for winter protection1 to be turned under in early spring1 as already mentioned4 ,marketing4--,the preparation of the crop for market involves some time and trouble4 ,the shoots are cut every day4 ,some growers do the work early in the morning1 and carry the bunches to market the same day4 ,others cut and bunch one day1 put in water over night and carry to market the following day4 ,circumstances must decide which is best4 ,illustration3 ,acme ,asparagus ,buncher1 with ,knife ,guard4 ,if asparagus is to be shipped long distances1 it must either be packed in open crates 7like strawberry crates71 or else thoroughly chilled by ice before starting4 ,otherwise1 it will heat and spoil4 ,the usual asparagus bunch is just about the size of a dry-measure quart in diameter1 and from #f to #i inches in length4 ,in fact1 a quart cup or tin fruit can is frequently used in shaping the bunch4 ,home-made wooden bunchers are also in common use4 ,the ,acme asparagus buncher is the best1 coming in two sizes4 ,the asparagus is tied in two places with raphia or soft string1 and thus makes a neat and attractive package4 ,the butts are cut off square with a knife after the bunch is finished1 and in this shape asparagus will remain fresh for a long time1 if kept standing in shallow water4 ,in tying up the bunches the shoots are separated into two or three sizes4 ,the small shoots are quite as good for food as the larger ones1 but the latter always bring more money in market1 which warrants the additional trouble involved4 ,salt4--,salt is frequently used on asparagus beds1 but not always4 ,salt is sometimes an indirect fertilizer1 acting upon fertility already in the soil1 and having a distinct tendency to attract and hold moisture1 but it has no direct fertilizing influence4 ,it has a beneficial effect in helping to check the growth of weeds4 ,fertilizers4--,kainit is an excellent thing for asparagus beds1 as it contains a considerable percentage of sulphate of potash1 which is a direct fertilizer4 ,it also contains a fourth of its bulk of salt4 ,ground bone1 which contains nitrogen 7ammonia7 and phosphoric acid1 is also a good thing to use on asparagus4 ,it is very lasting in its action1 and with the kainit makes a complete manure1 especially in connection with the winter coat of stable manure4 ,asparagus is a gross feeder1 and will take almost any amount of fertilizer4 ,market gardeners1 who raise the most and best asparagus1 depend mainly on enormous quantities of first-class stable manure2 and this is probably the best fertilizer of all for this succulent and valuable vegetable4 ,tools4--,no special tools are demanded in asparagus culture1 though such tools are on the market4 ,any long knife will do for cutting the shoots1 although a very good knife is especially made of solid steel1 and can be bought for #be cents4 ,the cut should be made just below the surface of the ground1 care being taken not to injure other shoots just coming up4 ,crooked shoots often make their appearance1 resulting from injury done by the cutting knife4 ,other causes1 such as insects1 hard soil1 etc41 produce crooked or deformed shoots4 ,asparagus bunchers1 made of wood and metal1 mentioned in the seed catalogues1 are sometimes used1 the ,acme1 heretofore referred to1 being the best and cheapest4 ,illustration3 ,solid ,steel ,asparagus ,knife4 ,any light plow with a wheel will answer for the asparagus bed4 ,a light-weight harrow is also desirable4 ,where asparagus trenches are laid out and dug by hand of course a garden line must be used1 in order to have them straight and uniform4 ,the practice of digging deep trenches for asparagus still prevails to some extent in private gardens1 but the farm gardener must use cheaper methods4 ,roots per ,acre4--,with rows #e feet apart and plants #b feet apart in the rows1 it is evident that each plant represents just #aj square feet of space4 ,hence1 about #e1jjj asparagus plants would be required for an acre of land set at these distances2 they are1 however1 often set closer than this1 sometimes at the rate of #g1jjj roots and over per acre4 ,an asparagus bed containing #ajj roots will supply an ordinary family4 ,,beans4 ,bean-growing in a small way is fully warranted in every garden1 but on a large scale it is a different question1 being somewhat a matter of soil and location4 ,food ,value4--,the bean is one of the most excellent of human foods4 ,its botanical kinship is close to the pea1 and both are legumes4 ,the leguminous plants1 it will be remembered1 have the rare ability of obtaining nitrogen through the tubercles on their roots1 taking this expensive element partly from the air1 and not greatly impoverishing the soil by their growth4 ,something of the food value of the bean may be learned by comparing its chemical analysis with that of beef4 ,in #ajj pounds of beans there are #bc pounds of protein 7nitrogenous matter71 while in #ajj pounds of beef there are but about #ae to #bj pounds of protein4 ,peas are almost as rich as beans in protein1 which is the tissue-building element of all foods1 and1 hence1 it is easy to realize the fact that both beans and peas are foods of the highest economic value4 ,they are standard foods of the world1 entering into the diet of soldiers1 laborers and persons needing physical strength4 ,it is generally safe to grow beans for the retail market of any town or centre of population1 but to compete in the open wholesale market demands experience and good equipment on the part of the grower to insure profits4 ,illustration3 ,improved ,round ,green ,pod ,extra ,early ,valentine ,bean4 ,varieties and ,types4--,the varieties of beans are well-nigh endless4 ,some demand poles1 while some are dwarf1 being called bush beans4 ,the influence of man has developed the bean into a vast number of different forms1 which frequently show a disposition to revert or go back to some ancestral type1 no matter how carefully the seeds may be kept4 ,the pole beans1 in general terms1 yield larger crops and bear through a longer season than the bush beans4 ,the green-podded beans1 as a rule1 are more prolific and more hardy than the yellow-podded or wax beans4 ,the climbers demand a whole season1 and bear until frost4 ,the bush beans are mostly employed where two or more crops are demanded per year from the ground4 ,the so-called cut-short or snap-short beans are those in which the whole pod1 in its green state1 is used for food4 ,they are of both types1 climbing and bush4 ,the ,lima forms include a number of distinct beans1 differing greatly in size and shape and also in habit of growth4 ,,bush ,,beans 7green pod74--,we recommend ,improved ,round ,pod ,extra ,early ,valentine2 also1 ,new ,giant ,stringless ,valentine4 ,,bush ,,beans 7yellow pod74--,wardwell's ,kidney ,wax and ,davis' ,white ,wax are largely grown in the ,south for shipment ,north4 ,valentine ,wax is recommended for the ,north4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,white ,,field ,,or ,,soup ,,beans4--,we recommend ,day's ,leafless ,medium and ,new ,snowflake ,field4 ,for descriptions of these and other varieties1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,pole ,,lima ,,beans4--,we especially recommend ,ford's ,mammoth ,podded ,lima and ,siebert's ,early ,lima4 ,,pole ,,snap ,,beans4--,golden ,andalusia ,wax is one of the best yellow-pod pole beans1 and ,lazy ,wife's one of the best green-pod sorts4 ,,dwarf ,,lima4--,dreer's1 ,burpee's and ,henderson's represent three distinct types4 ,for full descriptions of beans1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,location4--,in choosing a spot for bean culture the farm gardener should select good mellow soil that has been manured the previous year4 ,fresh manure produces an excessive growth of vine at the expense of pods4 ,making ,ready4--,much stable manure1 which is rich in nitrogen1 should be avoided4 ,in good ordinary soil1 with some rotted manure from the previous crop1 the bean plant will do well4 ,it will obtain nitrogen1 in great part1 from the air1 as already explained4 ,old manure is very favorable as a starter1 as it contains the minute organisms mentioned in the preceding pages4 ,complete fertilizers or those containing phosphoric acid and potash must be supplied4 ,only nitrogen is derived from the air4 ,soil ,inoculation4--,the soil of a new bean patch is sometimes inoculated with soil from an old patch1 to get quick action of the bacteria 7little organisms71 which form the lumps or tubercles on the roots4 ,the scattering of a little soil over the surface is all that is required4 ,care should be taken to avoid the transfer of soil for this purpose from a patch affected with rust or blight1 as diseases are carried from place to place with only too much ease4 ,when to ,plant4--,beans may safely be planted when the apple is in bloom1 in ,may2 not so early as peas1 as beans are less hardy4 ,the ground should be dry and warm4 ,beans of all kinds demand shallow planting1 as the seeds must be lifted from the ground in the earliest process of growth4 ,the seed swells1 bursts1 sends a shoot 7radicle7 downward1 and the two parts of the seed1 called the seed-leaves1 are pushed up into the daylight4 ,small round beans can take care of themselves1 as they turn easily in the soil1 but lima beans often perish in the effort to get above ground4 ,this is why lima beans should always be planted eye down1 and less than an inch deep4 ,a half inch is deep enough for most beans4 ,if lima beans are wanted extra early1 they should be started on small squares of inverted sod1 under glass4 ,the earliest bush beans yield marketable pods within forty to fifty days from planting2 the pole beans in from seventy to ninety days from planting4 ,there should be successional plantings made of the bush beans from the first date to within fifty days of frost4 ,the different types of beans are fully and carefully described in the seed catalogues4 ,distances4--,poles for beans should be set about #d feet apart each way2 or1 in single rows1 about #c feet apart4 ,not more than three or four plants should be allowed to a hill4 ,wires stretched between posts1 with strings down to the ground1 are sometimes used4 ,the bush beans are planted in rows #c feet apart for horse culture1 or half that distance where a hoe or hand cultivator is to be used4 ,the plants in the rows should stand #c or #d inches apart for best yield4 ,illustration3 ,plant of the ,new ,valentine ,wax ,bean4 ,the ,earliest ,wax or ,yellow ,podded ,snap ,short4 ,on a ,large ,scale4--,in large field operations1 where the dried bean is the object in view1 a clover sod is a favorite location4 ,the ground is enriched by #djj or #ejj pounds of complete fertilizer1 and the beans are planted with a grain drill1 using every fourth tube4 ,the culture is by horse-power1 and the vines are pulled by hand or by means of a bean-harvester1 and threshed with a flail or grain thresher4 ,these white grocery beans are sold everywhere in large quantities4 ,cultivation4--,all bean cultivation should be shallow4 ,nothing is gained by cutting the feeding roots4 ,the climbing sorts twine against the sun2 that is1 in a contrary direction to the apparent motion of the sun4 ,the shoots must be tied up several times1 to keep them on their own poles4 ,diseases4--,the worst bean enemies are rust and blight4 ,in new soil1 with good weather1 these troubles seldom appear4 ,during prolonged wet weather there seems to be no help for them4 ,spraying with ,bordeaux mixture is a preventive4 ,the spraying should be done in advance of blossoming4 ,the seed is sometimes soaked in ,bordeaux mixture for an hour where rust is anticipated4 ,prevention is better than cure1 and new soil and fresh seed are the best precautions4 ,diseased vines should be burned4 ,insects4--,the weevil which attacks the bean is closely allied to the pea weevil4 ,some practical people say there is no remedy known2 others recommend heating the beans to #ade deg4 for an hour2 others use bisulphide of carbon in a closed vessel1 along with the beans4 ,profits4--,by far the largest cash receipts per acre are obtained by selling beans in their fresh state2 preferably in the pods4 ,the production of bush beans 7pods7 may run up to #ge or #hj bushels per acre1 or even more4 ,lima beans are more profitably sold in the pods than shelled1 though some markets demand the shelled article4 ,the consumer gets a fresher and better article in the pods1 and the producer is saved much trouble1 and this method should be encouraged4 ,beans should be cooled1 if possible1 before shipment in bulk to distant markets1 thus avoiding danger from heating1 moulding and spotting4 ,,beets4 ,beets are produced in enormous quantities by market gardeners near all large cities1 both under glass and in the open ground4 ,they also have a place in the farm garden1 as they are of easy culture4 ,illustration3 ,crosby's ,improved ,egyptian1 the ,earliest ,blood ,turnip ,beet4 ,excellence in the table beet depends partly on variety1 but mainly on the quickness of growth4 ,sweetness and succulence result from high culture in rich1 mellow soil4 ,mangels and sugar beets1 of course1 have a place on every farm1 for stock-feeding purposes1 and table beets may also be grown1 if good soil is available1 for market purposes4 ,the winter-keeping sorts are frequently in demand1 and may be included among the farmer's cash crops4 ,no amount of stable manure is excessive in beet-growing4 ,partially rotted manure is best4 ,for horse culture the rows should be #c feet apart4 ,five to six pounds of seed will plant an acre4 ,,planting4--,planting may be done as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring1 as the beet is hardy1 and not injured by a little frost2 and successional plantings may be made until ,june4 ,the ,june sowing will produce autumn beets1 which can be stored for winter use or sale4 ,it is well to soak the seed in tepid water before planting2 it should be scattered thinly in the rows and lightly covered4 ,in dry weather the soil must be pressed firmly on the seed1 to insure sufficient moisture for germination4 ,the plants in the rows should be thinned out to #c or #d inches4 ,it is very important to remember that the more space each plant has about it the sooner will it reach a marketable size4 ,beet plants standing #e inches apart in the row will be ready long before plants standing only #b inches apart4 ,beets vary in shape very considerably4 ,some are round and some are long1 with intermediate grades4 ,the turnip-shaped beets are the earliest1 while the half-longs and longs are the heaviest4 ,for market purposes1 if sold in bunches1 the round ones are the most profitable4 ,illustration3 ,ford's ,perfected ,half-long ,beet4 ,the ,best ,winter ,keeper4 ,the color of the foliage varies greatly2 but the color of the leaf is not always typical of the root4 ,some of the blood beets have green leaves4 ,there are many shades and colors of the roots1 from deepest blood red to white1 with zones of pink4 ,the beet is an excellent and highly esteemed article of food1 and is always in demand4 ,,beets4--,for earliest1 we especially recommend ,crosby's ,improved ,egyptian and ,surprise2 for winter1 ,ford's ,perfected ,half-,long4 ,please see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,marketing and ,storing4--,a bunch contains five1 six or seven beets1 with tops tied together and superfluous leaves cut off4 ,the bunching and topping may be done in the field1 and the bunches afterward washed in a tub of water1 by means of a scrubbing brush4 ,it always pays to send roots to market in a clean and attractive condition4 ,winter storage in cellars1 under sand1 is often practiced2 or the beets may be kept in pits in the open ground1 covered with straw and earth4 ,enemies4--,the beet is remarkably free from enemies of any kind4 ,the root sometimes cracks1 and is occasionally attacked by insects1 but the farmer or gardener has little to fear if soil be good and weather be favorable4 ,all farmers attending market should have a few beets to help make up the weekly load for the wagon4 ,,cabbage4 ,early cabbage is not a farm gardener's crop at the ,north1 though in the ,southern ,states the early varieties can be grown by farmers for shipment to the great ,northern markets4 ,the ,northern farmer1 unless provided with glass1 usually finds more profit in the later and larger sorts1 which mature in autumn4 ,soil4--,rich1 loamy soil1 containing much clay1 is best for this vegetable1 which is a rank feeder4 ,large amounts of manure are demanded4 ,the manure is best applied in a partially rotted form1 as fresh manure of any kind 7especially hog manure7 is liable to produce the disease or deformity known as club-root1 the spores of the disease apparently being in the fresh manure2 though land too long cropped with cabbage is likely to produce the same disease without the application of fresh manure of any kind4 ,illustration3 ,early ,jersey ,wakefield ,cabbage4 ,seed4--,it is of especial importance that good seed be planted1 as cabbage varies so much and shows such a disposition to go back to undesirable types that great dissatisfaction and loss attend all experiments with poorly-selected seed4 ,the choice of seed not infrequently determines the size and success of the crop4 ,expert cabbage growers are well aware of this fact4 ,illustration3 ,johnson ,stokes ',market ,gardeners' ,no4 #b1 ,valuable for ,early ,summer or ,winter ,cabbage4 ,planting4--,the manure should be broadcasted1 and an ample amount used1 with a high-grade fertilizer in the row4 ,the young plants1 previously started in a seed-bed1 should 7at the ,north7 be set out in ,july4 ,the seed for late cabbage is planted in ,may4 ,a quarter pound of seed will give enough plants for an acre4 ,the rows should be #d feet apart1 and the plants #b-a_/b feet apart in the rows4 ,these distances favor good cultivation and quick growth4 ,in some parts of ,new ,england the seed is sown in the open field1 in rows where the cabbage is to grow1 but the practice of transplanting from seedbeds is found most satisfactory4 ,the rainfall here usually insures a fair crop of cabbage1 but any crop which requires transplanting in midsummer is liable to delay or injury in case of protracted dry weather4 ,hence1 irrigation is desirable4 ,at the distances just recommended for planting 7#d x #b-a_/b feet7 there would be #d1cef plants to the acre4 ,in the case of such varieties as ,johnson ,stokes' ,earliest and ,jersey ,wakefield cabbage1 where the number of plants per acre would be perhaps #aj1jjj1 the ,michigan ,experiment ,station obtained #e1jjj more marketable heads per acre under irrigation than where water was not used upon the growing crop4 7,this fact is mentioned in a book on irrigation just issued by the publishers of this book74 ,varieties4--,the earliest varieties of cabbage have small1 conical heads2 the midsummer sorts mostly round heads2 and the late or drumhead sorts have large1 flat heads4 ,there are cabbages which never head2 as1 for instance1 the collards of the ,south2 and there are varieties of crinkled-leaf cabbages1 known as the ,savoy types4 ,the kales are closely related to the cabbages4 ,both cabbages and kales have purple-colored forms1 sometimes called red forms4 ,,cabbage4--,for early varieties for the ,south1 we recommend ,johnson ,stokes' ,earliest1 ,early ,jersey ,wakefield and ,charleston ,wakefield2 for both early and late in the ,north1 ,johnson ,stokes' ,market ,gardeners' ,no4 #b1 ,louderback's ,all the ,year ,round2 for late varieties for the ,north1 ,new ,rock ,head ,winter1 ,johnson ,stokes' ,matchless ,flat ,dutch1 ,danish ,ball ,head4 ,the ,johnson ,stokes' ,hard ,heading ,savoy ,cabbage is of rare excellence4 ,for descriptions of the many varieties of cabbage1 please see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,cultivation4--,thorough horse cultivation between the rows should be supplemented by a hand-hoe between the plants in the rows4 ,the cultivation must be good and continuous until the heads begin to form4 ,diseases and ,insects ,enemies4--,club root has been mentioned4 ,it is a fungous trouble4 ,the best remedy is new ground4 ,the black flea on very young plants can be conquered with air-slacked lime or wood ashes4 ,the cut worm is troublesome only in spring2 not with late cabbage4 ,the root maggot is sometimes very destructive1 both with cabbage and cauliflower4 ,new ground is the most satisfactory remedy4 ,green aphides or lice often follow lack of strength in the cabbage4 ,pyrethrum powder1 air-slacked lime1 kerosene emulsion1 etc41 are used as remedies for lice4 ,the pyrethrum may be used dry or in water1 at the rate of a tablespoonful to two gallons4 ,the green cabbage worm1 one of the worst of all enemies1 can be pretty effectually checked by means of air-slaked lime dusted over the leaves4 ,other caterpillars yield to the same treatment4 ,bursting4--,bursting of cabbage heads is caused by a second growth1 the result1 perhaps1 of continued wet weather1 or warm weather following cold weather4 ,the best remedy is to cut part of the feeding roots1 either by close cultivation or with a hoe4 ,selling4--,cabbage prices vary between extremes that are far separated4 ,early cabbage usually sells at a good profit4 ,summer and autumn prices may be low4 ,winter and spring prices are almost always fair1 and occasionally extra4 ,pennsylvania farmers sometimes ship to wholesalers in the cities and sometimes sell at public sale in the open field1 in the autumn1 just as the crop stands4 ,the latter plan is an excellent one1 where auction prices warrant it4 ,it avoids the cost and risk of storage1 as each buyer removes and stores his purchase4 ,storage4--,cabbage will bear much freezing without injury4 ,the art of winter storage is to put it where it will have the fewest changes of temperature1 and where it will be cool and damp without being wet4 ,the most common practice is to cover two or three rows of inverted heads1 with roots attached1 with from #f to #ab inches of soil1 making provision for good drainage by ditches on both sides of the wedge-shaped heap4 ,illustration3 ,cutting ,johnson ,stokes' ,earliest ,cabbage for ,market4 ,photographed ,june #ast1 in the ,field of ,messrs4 ,myers ,bowman1 the well-known ,philadelphia ,market ,gardeners4 ,this was the first ,home-grown ,cabbage in ,philadelphia ,markets4 ,this system may be modified so as to include six or more rows of inverted cabbage1 the heap being flat instead of wedge-shaped on top4 ,it does not turn water so well1 but in practice is usually satisfactory4 ,a good plan is to use about #f inches of soil1 and to add straw or litter as the cold increases4 ,under a steady low temperature it is no trouble to keep cabbage through the winter1 but it is hard to provide against the many changes of our variable climate4 ,illustration3 ,johnson ,stokes' ,matchless ,late ,flat ,dutch ,cabbage4 ,where heads are to be carried over for seed1 or where it is intended to head up soft cabbages during the winter 7a feasible thing7 the roots are set downward instead of upward4 ,if care be taken to remove the roots without much injury1 they may be set in furrows or trenches1 and the earth heaped over the cabbages just as in the several ways above mentioned1 and they will make decided growth during their life under ground4 ,in fact1 a cabbage with any sort of immature head in ,november will1 under proper management1 be in good marketable condition in ,march or ,april4 ,solid freezing in the trenches is not necessarily destructive1 but if the temperature falls much below #ae deg4 7at the point occupied by the heads71 there is danger that they will perish4 ,they may be in good edible condition after such severe freezing1 but the chances are that they will fail to grow if set out for seed4 ,the cabbage decays with a strong1 offensive smell when its tissues finally break down after repeated changes of temperature and moisture4 ,a uniform temperature is favored by the use of earth in storage1 and though storage in buildings and cellars is quite feasible1 there is nothing better or cheaper than the soil of the open field4 ,if the crop is not all to be marketed at one time1 it is well to make a number of separate trenches1 so that each can be wholly cleared of its contents at a single opening4 ,these trenches and ridges must be made upon dry ground1 where there is no standing water4 ,for ,stock4--,cabbages make good food for cows1 but should be fed after milking2 and frozen cabbages should never be fed in any considerable quantity1 as they are liable to cause hoven or bloat4 ,,carrots4 ,a sandy soil or light loam is best for carrots1 but they will grow anywhere under good culture4 ,enormous quantities are grown by the market gardeners1 both under glass and in the open ground1 for use in soups and for seasoning purposes4 ,the short or half-long varieties are demanded by this trade4 ,illustration3 ,average ,specimens of ,rubicon ,half-,long ,carrots4 ,farm gardeners will do best with half-long and long kinds1 unless a special demand calls for the smaller carrots4 ,the large half-long and long ones are suited to both culinary and stock-feeding purposes4 ,it requires from three to four pounds of seed to the acre1 depending on the distance between the rows4 ,the plants should be from #c to #e inches apart in the rows1 and the rows as near together as is feasible for horse work4 ,clean culture is demanded4 ,the seed must be planted shallow1 and may go into the ground as early as it can be worked in the spring1 and from that time until the middle of ,june4 ,the only danger about late planting is the possibility of dry weather4 ,the carrot is quite free from insect or other enemies1 as a rule1 and its culture is not difficult4 ,it demands thinning and hoeing after the plants are well above ground1 but no extra attention of any kind4 ,the winter storage is the same as for beets or turnips1 either to be put away in earth-covered heaps or preserved in a cool1 non-freezing root cellar4 ,the so-called ,belgian carrots 7both yellow and white7 are used only as stock food2 though the other sorts1 such as ,rubicon1 ,danvers and ,long ,orange1 if in excess of market demands1 are equally good for stock4 ,cows and horses are fond of them1 and they are most wholesome4 ,the farm gardener should raise them1 however1 for their cash value in the produce markets4 ,the carrot is in high favor with good cooks everywhere4 ,the carrot does not demand excessively rich ground2 in fact1 too much manure tends to stimulate the growth of the top at the expense of the root1 and fresh manure makes the root rough4 ,the smaller carrots are bunched and sold like radishes or early beets4 ,the larger kinds are sold by measure--about #fj cents or more per basket at this time 7,january1 #ahih74 ,this is at the rate of #a4ej per barrel1 or about #cjj per acre4 ,the crop is a good one1 if near a market where carrots are demanded4 ,,carrot4--,we especially recommend ,rubicon ,half-,long for market or stock4 ,see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,sweet ,,corn4 ,there is no money crop more available to the farm gardener than sweet corn4 ,it will grow anywhere1 and the young ears are always in demand4 ,any sod land plowed shallow will yield a crop of sweet corn4 ,it is easy in this latitude to have an unbroken succession of marketable ears from ,july #ast to ,october #ast1 or even somewhat earlier and later4 ,shallow plowing and the use of a little fertilizer or compost in the hills will put the ground in order4 ,a complete fertilizer is best4 ,a compost containing hen manure is excellent4 ,planting4--,eight or ten quarts of seed are required to plant an acre of corn in hills1 allowing for replanting of what is injured by grubs or other causes4 ,the larger varieties should be planted #d feet by #c2 the rows #d feet apart and the hills #c feet apart1 with not more than three stalks in a hill4 ,the smaller varieties may be grown much closer--#c feet by #b4 ,any method may be used in laying out a corn field that will give each stalk 7of the large kinds7 the equivalent of #d square feet of ground space4 ,the dwarf sweet corns demand about half that space4 ,varieties4--,the sweet corns require from sixty to eighty days to produce ears fit for boiling4 ,the earliest varieties are small1 and are lacking in sweetness as compared to the best intermediate types4 ,still1 the early prices are so much better than midsummer prices1 that the early varieties will always be grown for market4 ,indeed1 the best profits of the business are from the extra early and extra late sales4 ,sweet corn should not be grown by shippers who are distant more than twenty-four hours from market1 as the ears lose quality and flavor soon after being pulled from the stalks4 ,forty-eight hours from market is an extreme distance1 but is feasible if the ears can be chilled in a cold storage house previous to shipment2 otherwise1 they will heat and spoil4 ,even when designed for a near-by market a load of sweet corn ears may heat and spoil during a single night4 ,it is best to scatter them upon the grass1 if pulled during the afternoon for shipment the following morning4 ,the most profit to the grower will be found in ears which are not too large1 as corn is often sold by the dozen1 the large sorts being too weighty4 ,the early kinds1 though small1 can be planted closely1 and a large number of ears secured2 and they are out of the way so soon that the ground can be used for celery or other late crop4 ,celery can be set out between the rows of corn1 and thus be shaded to some extent during the critical period following transplanting4 ,the ,evergreens1 ,early and ,late1 and the shoe-peg types1 such as ,country ,gentleman and ,zig ,zag ,evergreen1 are among the sweetest of all4 ,the grains are of irregular shape and arrangement1 and the appearance of the ears is not altogether prepossessing4 ,when once known1 however1 they are in demand by consumers4 ,the red-cob corns should be cooked by dropping into boiling water4 ,if cooked slowly1 the red color of the cob affects the appearance of the grains4 ,,sweet ,,corn4--,for first early1 we recommend ,burlington ,hybrid and ,mammoth ,white ,cory4 ,the former closely resembles a true sugar corn in appearance4 ,for second early1 ,early ,champion and ,new ,early ,evergreen2 for late1 original ,stowell's ,evergreen1 ,country ,gentleman1 ,zig ,zag ,evergreen4 ,see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual for descriptions of varieties4 ,cultivation1 ,enemies1 etc4--,shallow culture1 frequently repeated1 is demanded by sweet corn4 ,the growth at first is timid and slow2 afterward1 if well cultivated1 the stalks grow with great rapidity and vigor4 ,illustration3 ,new ,early ,evergreen ,sweet ,corn4 ,to make the most of the stalks1 they should be cut as soon as possible after the last ears have gone to market and fed to stock4 ,sweet corn stalks when dry make excellent fodder4 ,the main enemies of corn are the cut worm1 which is only troublesome in spring2 a fungus which attacks the ears and which is always most prevalent on the small1 early sorts2 and a worm which cuts and injures the grain while the corn is in milk4 ,crows sometimes pull up the seeds1 but can be disposed of by scattering a little yellow corn on the surface of the ground around the edges of the field4 ,as the crow destroys many cut worms1 it is better to feed him with corn than to shoot him4 ,the prevalence of fungus-troubled or smutty corn is probably a symptom of weakness1 the result of planting too early1 or of too much wet weather4 ,all plants that are weak are liable to fungus attacks1 and it is the early corn that suffers most4 ,this corn is often planted before the ground is sufficiently warm1 and there is a consequent weakness of growth4 ,indian corn1 at ,philadelphia1 should not be planted before ,may #ajth1 and yet it is not uncommon to see gardeners planting sweet corn two weeks earlier4 ,they say they are going to risk it4 ,the result may be a good crop of corn1 or it may be a crop of worms and fungus4 ,of course1 the high price of the first corn in market is the excuse for the unseasonable date of planting4 ,but it is not quite fair to blame the seed or the variety of corn for what is partly the result of the gardener's impatience4 ,all traces of smut on corn stalks should be burned1 and not allowed to be fed to cattle4 ,the ,corn ,worm4--,far more destructive and disastrous than smut is the corn worm 7,heliothis armiger74 ,this is the cotton worm of the ,south1 there called boll worm4 ,it is also sometimes called the tomato worm4 ,it is the larva of a day-flying moth4 ,the difficulty in dealing with it is that when in the corn ear it is out of the reach of poisonous applications of any kind4 ,its depredations are extensive1 especially in early corn4 ,it prefers corn to all other foods1 and cotton planters protect their crops by planting early corn in the cotton fields and then destroying the corn and the worms within the ears4 ,the best remedy at the ,north is to feed all wormy ears to pigs2 and to plow the corn land in autumn1 when the insects are in the pupa or chrysalis state4 ,if turned up by the plow1 it is believed that they mostly perish4 ,the worms are said to be cannibals1 eating each other to a great extent4 ,this worm is1 perhaps1 the greatest enemy with which the grower of sweet corn has to contend4 ,the plan of feeding wormy ears to pigs offers the double advantage of destroying the enclosed pests1 while at the same time fattening the pigs4 ,successional ,planting4--,the skillful farmer will arrange successional plantings of corn1 beginning 7at ,philadelphia7 ,may #ajth and ending about ,july #ajth4 ,the first and last plantings should be of the early sorts2 the intermediate plantings of the full-sized varieties4 ,profits4--,profits depend on location4 ,the size of the crop should approximate #a1jjj dozens of ears per acre1 and the gross receipts should be #ajj to #bjj per acre1 more or less1 above the value of the fodder4 ,suckering4--,time is often spent in pulling the suckers from the stalks of sweet corn4 ,such time is wasted4 ,if the suckers are let alone they will not reduce the number or quality of the marketable ears4 ,,horseradish4 ,farmers who have soil that is both rich and deep can find profit in growing horseradish on a large scale1 in connection with early peas1 beans or sweet corn4 ,the sets are planted in ,may1 in the rows between crops1 and after the crops are removed the horseradish makes its main growth4 ,it is perfectly hardy1 and comes on rapidly during the late summer and autumn months4 ,where the ground is not strong enough to produce large roots the first year1 the business will not prove very remunerative4 ,the ,sets4--,horseradish sets are made by cutting small roots 7#a_/d to #a_/b inch in thickness7 into pieces #f or #h inches long4 ,the upper end is cut square off2 the lower end with a slope4 ,this is to get them right end up at planting time4 ,the small roots are available in quantities in the autumn1 when the large roots are trimmed for market4 ,the sets are kept in sand during the winter1 or buried in the open ground1 in a carefully-marked spot1 where they can be easily found in the spring4 ,if planted #b feet apart in rows #c feet apart1 each plant will represent #f square feet of space1 and1 hence1 about #g1cjj sets will be needed for an acre4 ,the method of planting is to strike out rows1 and with a long dibber or crowbar make holes #h or #aj inches deep4 ,a set is dropped into each hole and the earth pressed about it4 ,illustration3 ,ideal ,hollow ,crown ,parsnip4 ,shoots will soon appear above the surface1 and when the early crop has been removed from the land1 the horseradish should be well cultivated once or twice4 ,little further attention is needed4 ,the roots should be lifted the same year1 in ,december1 and stored in an earth-covered heap or pit1 or else in sand in a root cellar4 ,the small lateral roots should be saved for the next year's sets4 ,there is a good demand for horseradish1 both wholesale and retail2 but prices should be ascertained before going into the business in a large way4 ,good roots1 after trimming and washing1 should weigh half a pound or more each4 ,,parsnip4 ,the cultural requirements of the parsnip are quite similar to those of the carrot4 ,any soil that is deep mellow and moderately rich may be used for parsnips4 ,fresh manure is to be avoided1 as it makes the roots rough4 ,illustration3 ,mammoth ,sandwich ,island ,salsify as ,bunched for ,market4 ,the seed should be planted in early spring1 while the ground is moist1 as it germinates very slowly4 ,it should be covered to a depth of half an inch1 and the soil pressed down firmly4 ,the plants must be thinned out to stand #c or #d inches apart4 ,the parsnip is a vegetable of a perfectly hardy character4 ,it may remain in the ground1 just where it grows1 all winter4 ,the flavor is said to be improved by hard freezing1 and no amount of freezing will hurt it4 ,it has a high value as human food1 and is demanded in large quantities in some markets4 ,it also has a high value as a stock food1 especially for cows4 ,it should be fed after milking1 in quantities not sufficient to taint the milk4 ,the price is variable1 but about the same as the carrot4 ,,parsnip4--,we recommend ,ideal ,hollow ,crown4 ,for description1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,salsify ,,or ,,oyster ,,plant4 ,salsify1 oyster plant or vegetable oyster is a root of easy culture and of high food value4 ,in shape it resembles the carrot and parsnip1 and is as perfectly hardy as the latter4 ,the seed should be sown an inch under the surface1 in spring1 in rows #b-a_/b to #c-a_/b feet apart1 and the plants thinned to stand #e inches apart in the rows4 ,the culture is the same as for parsnips4 ,fresh manure must be avoided1 as it makes the roots ill-shaped4 ,the roots1 under good treatment1 will exceed an inch in diameter1 and may attain a size of #b inches or more4 ,they may remain in the ground over winter1 to be taken up whenever the frost permits or they may be taken up in late autumn and preserved in sand in a cellar4 ,good salsify is in demand where its merits are known4 ,,the ,,potato4 ,the cultivation of the potato is so well understood by every ,american farmer and gardener that it seems unnecessary to discuss the details of cutting the tubers1 planting1 cultivating1 harvesting1 etc4 ,the weak points of potato culture are most commonly the fertilizing and the treatment of diseases4 ,these will be briefly discussed4 ,as to lack of moisture1 to be remedied by artificial watering1 the reader is referred to our new book1 entitled1 ,irrigation by ,cheap ,modern ,methods1 in which a case is mentioned where water alone made a difference of #abi bushels per acre in the crop4 ,,potatoes4--,best for the ,south1 ,bliss ,triumph1 ,pride of the ,south1 ,crown ,jewel1 ,early ,thoroughbred4 ,general crop in the ,north--,houlton ,early ,rose1 ,table ,king1 ,late ,puritan1 ,rural ,new-,yorker ,no4 #b4 ,for descriptions of these and other varieties1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,fertilizing4--,a ton of potatoes 7#cc-a_/c bushels7 contains #d4b pounds of nitrogen 7equal to #e4a pounds of ammonia71 #a4e pounds of phosphoric acid and #aj pounds of potash4 ,this shows that nitrogen and potash are the elements mainly abstracted from the soil by a crop of potatoes4 ,an analysis is not an infallible index of what must be applied to any soil1 for that soil may be naturally rich in some one fertilizing element and deficient in the others4 ,only experiment will determine what is best4 ,but a knowledge of the analysis of the crop is necessary to intelligent experimentation4 ,nitrogen and potash will evidently be demanded in most cases1 yet the ,ohio ,station recently reports that phosphoric acid has been the controlling factor in the increase of the potato yields in the trials made there4 ,this shows how greatly soils vary in their requirements4 ,illustration3 ,harvesting ,seed ,potatoes near ,houlton1 ,aroostook ,county1 ,maine4 ,barnyard manure would answer all purposes and would be an ideal potato fertilizer1 except for the fact that it so often carries with it the spores of such diseases as blight1 scab and rot4 ,still1 barnyard manure in a partly rotted condition is very widely used by potato growers4 ,clover sod is an excellent source of nitrogen1 as heretofore explained4 ,the clover is1 perhaps1 the best of the leguminous crops for green manuring purposes4 ,many successful potato farmers depend largely upon clover1 supplementing it with a small amount of high-grade complete fertilizer in the rows4 ,where phosphoric acid is necessary1 it can be had in the form of ground bone or acidulated rock1 and potash can be had in the form of sulphate or as kainit4 ,where the scab is prevalent1 it may prove better to use kainit1 on account of the salt which it contains1 as will be presently explained4 ,planting4--,it requires from seven to ten bushels of tubers to plant an acre4 ,some growers use as much as fifteen bushels4 ,the date of planting1 depth1 distance between rows1 etc41 are details for individual determination4 ,flat culture is better than ridge culture1 so far as conservation of moisture is concerned4 ,it is important that good ,northern-grown seed be planted2 tubers which have not lost their strength by excessive sprouting4 ,storage in a cool1 dark1 dry place is best for potatoes4 ,whether planted early or late1 or at successional dates1 must be determined by the market requirements of the grower4 ,varieties4--,the varieties of potatoes are many1 and while it is wise to experiment in a small way on new kinds1 it is best to depend for business purposes on standard sorts that have been fully tested4 ,irrigation4--,after the farmer has exhausted his best efforts in the preparation and fertilization of the soil1 and after good seed has been planted and the best possible culture given1 there may come a season of prolonged drouth that will defeat his purpose of securing a large crop4 ,this result is not common1 but neither is it rare2 and where farmers are looking toward the high culture of certain special crops1 it would be well for them to consider the matter of artificially watering their potato fields4 ,illustration3 ,an ,average ,tuber of ,table ,king1 ,one of the ,best ,all ,around ,potatoes4 ,diseases and ,enemies4--,not counting dry weather1 which sometimes robs the farmer of two-thirds of his crop1 there are four diseases which exert a disastrous influence on the potato1 and which are liable to occur any season4 ,two of these diseases are of the leaf and stem and two of the tubers4 ,the two leaf troubles are respectively known as blight or downy mildew and the ,macrosporium disease4 ,the two tuber troubles are scab and rot4 ,leaf ,blights4--,no attempt will be made here to separately describe the two leaf diseases4 ,both destroy the foliage and check the further growth of both vine and tuber4 ,the leaves turn brown or black1 and the stem quickly wilts and falls4 ,there can be no growth of tuber without vigorous health of vine4 ,spraying with ,bordeaux mixture1 in advance of the occurrence of any disease1 is recommended4 ,bordeaux mixture for this purpose is made by using six pounds of copper sulphate and four pounds of quick lime1 dissolved in separate wooden vessels1 and the lime water poured into the dissolved blue stone4 ,this should be diluted with water sufficient to fill a forty-five gallon barrel4 ,paris green to the amount of from one-quarter to three-quarters of a pound to the barrel should be added1 to destroy beetles and other insects4 ,the vines should be sprayed five or six times1 beginning when they are #f inches high1 at intervals of ten days or two weeks4 ,during rainy weather the spraying should be more frequent than during clear weather4 ,the object is to prolong the life and vigor of the vines4 ,the cost of the five or six sprayings1 including labor at #a4ej per day1 is put at not above #f per acre1 while the crop at stake may be affected to the extent of scores of bushels4 ,scab and ,rot4--,the evidence about scab and rot is still contradictory1 but it is likely that these diseases will presently be under control4 ,at the ,new ,jersey ,station1 ,professor ,halsted completely conquered scab with an application of #cjj pounds of flowers of sulphur per acre scattered in the rows1 while the same treatment at the ,ohio ,station was less successful4 ,at the latter station benefit was found in the use of salt1 kainit1 sulphate of potash1 etc4 ,the various experiments and observations on potato scab and rot seem to indicate that scab flourishes best on a soil inclined to be alkaline1 while rot is most prevalent on a soil inclined to be acid4 ,the use of lime increases scab1 while the use of kainit diminishes it4 ,the best practice1 therefore1 under present knowledge1 would be to use clean seed on new ground1 avoiding fresh stable manure4 ,clean seed can be had by treating tubers with corrosive sublimate4 ,this substance is dissolved to the amount of #b-a_/d ounces1 in two gallons of hot water1 and 7after standing a day7 diluted with water so as to make fifteen gallons4 ,in this solution the uncut seed potatoes should be soaked for an hour and a half4 ,all unplanted seed potatoes should be destroyed1 as the corrosive sublimate is highly poisonous4 ,the use of sulphur1 as recommended by ,professor ,halsted1 will prove entirely satisfactory in some soils4 ,in others1 the use of kainit or sulphate of potash or acid phosphate would no doubt be found preferable4 ,where soil is badly affected with disease germs1 it is unquestionably better to seek a new field than to attempt to disinfect the old one4 ,a rotation of crops will probably restore diseased land to health more cheaply and more thoroughly than any other process4 ,profits4--,of potato profits it is not necessary to speak1 except to remark that it costs but little more to produce #cjj bushels to the acre than #ajj bushels4 ,there can be no doubt whatever that it pays handsomely to spray potato vines with the ,bordeaux mixture4 ,,pumpkins ,,and ,,squashes4 ,illustration3 ,mammoth ,golden ,cashaw ,pumpkin1 ,one of the ,best for ,market or ,stock ,feeding4 ,there is no clear dividing line between pumpkins and squashes1 as they belong to the same botanic family--the ,cucurbita4 ,some members of the group are clearly pumpkins1 and others just as clearly squashes1 but when an attempt is made to draw a sharp line between them1 we get into difficulty4 ,in general terms the pumpkin has a soft rind or shell and the squash a hard rind4 ,but even this thumbnail test is not infallible4 ,these vegetables belong on the farm1 on account of the large ground space occupied by the vines4 ,pumpkins may be economically grown in corn fields1 the seeds being planted along with the corn--one pumpkin seed to every fourth hill4 ,no special care is needed besides the cultivation given the corn4 ,farmers should give far more attention to growing squashes1 as they are much superior to pumpkins in food quality1 both for the table and for stock4 ,there are numbers of excellent squashes now catalogued by the seedsmen which many farmers have never tried1 but which are worthy of cultivation for market purposes4 ,when a farmer by experiment has found a high-quality squash adapted to his soil1 he has put himself in possession of a product of permanent market value4 ,,pumpkin4--,we especially recommend ,mammoth ,golden ,cashaw and ,winter ,luxury4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,squash4--,early varieties--,mammoth ,white ,bush ,scalloped1 ,giant ,summer ,crookneck4 ,winter-keeping varieties--,sweet ,nut1 ,faxon1 ,chicago ,warted1 ,hubbard1 ,early ,prolific ,orange ,marrow4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,tomatoes4 ,tomatoes may justly be rated among the leading crops available to farm gardeners4 ,there is always a brisk market for selected1 carefully-washed tomatoes1 packed in new baskets4 ,such produce is seldom offered in excessive quantities4 ,any good corn land will produce good tomatoes4 ,excessive manuring is likely to stimulate the vines at the expense of the fruit4 ,a little complete fertilizer or compost in the hills is desirable4 ,tomato seed of early varieties should be started under glass4 ,the seed is sown on heat and the plants once or twice transplanted1 and put in the open ground as soon as danger of frost is over4 ,little is gained by setting out too early1 when the ground is cool4 ,the tomato is of tropical origin1 and makes rapid growth only at a temperature of #fe deg4 or upward4 ,indeed1 it is suspected that one of the worst diseases to which the tomato is liable1 the blight1 is encouraged1 if not wholly caused by too early planting in the open ground4 ,varieties and ,planting4--,at #d feet apart each way1 it will require about #b1gjj tomato plants for an acre of land4 ,in open field culture the tomato is always allowed to lie upon the ground4 ,in garden culture1 it is often tied to stakes or supported on trellises4 ,three ounces of seed will raise sufficient plants for an acre4 ,there are many varieties of tomatoes1 including the early and late market sorts1 the yellow kinds1 and the little pear-shaped and plum-shaped tomatoes1 both red and yellow1 used in pickling4 ,the ideal market tomato is one of medium size and smooth shape4 ,it must have firmness and depth1 and the quality of ripening evenly all over4 ,there should be neither greenness nor wrinkles around the calyx1 nor should the fruit be of irregular shape4 ,as to color1 it is a matter of taste and neighborhood preference4 ,some markets demand red and some purple fruit4 ,,tomato4--,we recommend1 for earliest1 ,atlantic ,prize and ,money ,maker2 for second early and main crop1 ,brinton's ,best1 ,new ,fortune2 for late1 ,brandywine1 ,cumberland ,red1 ,stone4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,successional ,planting4--,if the first tomato plants be set in the open ground 7at ,philadelphia7 ,may #aeth to #bjth1 there should be at least one and preferably two later crops1 because young1 vigorous plants yield the most and best fruit4 ,it is good practice to sow tomato seed in the open ground1 say about middle of ,may1 and again somewhat later4 ,these out-of-door plants will come forward very rapidly1 and will be ready to produce late summer and autumn crops4 ,illustration3 ,atlantic ,prize ,tomatoes1 as they ,appear for ,sale on ,fruit ,stands1 etc41 during the ,spring ,months4 ,cultivation4--,the tomato is of the easiest cultivation1 and will grow even under neglect1 but it so abundantly repays attention1 that no farmer can afford to be careless about the matter4 ,the nights of ,may are cool in the ,north1 and the newly-set plant at first makes little growth4 ,cultivator and hand-hoe should both be kept in motion during this period1 and in ,june also4 ,in the latter month the tomato will make a sudden leap toward maturity1 and will yield ripe fruit in ,july4 ,the out-of-doors cropping season lasts for three full months4 ,the tomato is now grown under glass almost everywhere1 and is to be had in the market during all the months of the year4 ,illustration3 ,the ,great ,b4 ,b4 7,brinton's ,best7 ,tomato1 ,best for ,main ,crop4 ,the out-of-doors season is profitably prolonged by picking all the mature or nearly mature fruit when the first frost comes1 in ,october1 and placing these unripe tomatoes on straw in a cold frame4 ,covered with straw and with the sash to keep out frost1 the fruit ripens in a satisfactory manner for several weeks4 ,such a frame must be well ventilated or the tomatoes will rot rather than ripen4 ,illustration3 ,new ,fortune1 one of the ,best ,second ,early ,tomatoes4 ,diseases and ,enemies4--,tomato diseases1 fortunately1 are not numerous4 ,blight sometimes sweeps off a whole field of early-set tomato plants1 on farms where later plantings are quite healthy4 ,this favors the theory that blight results from weakness caused by early planting in cold ground4 ,it is a fungous disease1 and may sometimes be prevented by the use of ,bordeaux mixture4 ,the same remedy is the best known preventive of black rot4 ,potato bugs may be either hand-picked or poisoned with ,paris green4 ,the tobacco worm sometimes causes much damage to the tomato4 ,all diseased or blighted tomato vines should be promptly burned1 and the crop carried to new soil the following year4 ,marketing1 ,profits1 etc4--,as already stated1 choice tomatoes in clean baskets are always in demand1 and a new basket will usually pay for itself on a single sale4 ,the sum of #aej per acre may be quoted as the average gross receipts from tomatoes at present prices4 ,this estimate is based on the low yield of a half-peck of fruit to each vine at #be cents per basket4 ,if sold retail1 the tomatoes would command more money1 while if sold in bulk to a canning factory the gross receipts might be larger or smaller1 depending on the size of the general crop and other circumstances4 ,,turnips ,,and ,,ruta ,,bagas4 ,turnips and ruta bagas are closely related4 ,the latter are turnips in fact1 and are frequently called ,swedes4 ,the common method on many farms is to sow turnips broadcast1 but it is a far better practice to sow both these and the ruta bagas in drills1 so that they can be kept clear of weeds and worked by horse-power4 ,not only are these advantages secured1 but the row system makes it possible to take out the superfluous plants1 and secure roots of uniform size and shape4 ,turnips and ruta bagas have high economic value as foods1 both for humanity and for live stock4 ,turnips4--,turnips are grown for market purposes both in spring and in fall4 ,in the spring the seed should be sown early1 in mellow soil4 ,for the fall crop the seed may be sown either in ,july or ,august4 ,the rows in garden or field may be as close as can be conveniently worked4 ,,turnip4--,for earliest1 we recommend ,purple ,top and ,white ,milan4 ,for fall crop1 ,mammoth ,purple ,top ,globe and ,golden ,ball4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,illustration3 ,budlong or ,breadstone ,turnip4 ,ruta ,bagas or ,swedes4--,the seed of ruta baga or ,swedish turnip should be sown 7in the latitude of ,philadelphia7 in ,july1 a little earlier than the seed of the common turnip4 ,the ground should be well enriched with rotted manure1 the rows #b-a_/b to #c feet apart1 the seed covered to the depth of half an inch1 and the plants afterward thinned out so as to stand #f or #h inches apart in the row4 ,the crop is almost always large and satisfactory4 ,,ruta ,,baga4--,we recommend ,myer's ,purple ,top ,beauty and ,budlong4 ,for descriptions1 see our ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,illustration3 ,myer's ,purple ,top ,beauty ,ruta ,baga4 ,storage4--,turnips of all kinds sell well in the winter markets1 to say nothing of their high value as stock foods4 ,they are easily preserved in root cellars1 covered with sand1 or in pits in dry soil1 covered with straw and earth to prevent freezing4 ,illustration3 ,distribution of ,water through ,home-made ,hose ,pipe4 ,an ,illustration from our ,new ,book--,irrigation by ,cheap ,modern ,methods4 ,no ,gardener should miss ,reading this ,work4 ,see page #abe4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,vegetables ,,suited ,,to ,,farm ,,culture ,,in ,,some ,,locations4 ,in this portion of the book are grouped a number of vegetables not adapted to every farm or location4 ,the list includes celery1 water cress1 cucumbers1 egg plants1 kale1 lettuce1 melons1 mushrooms1 onions1 peas1 radishes1 rhubarb1 spinach1 sweet potato1 etc4 ,where favored locations for their production exist on farms they may be grown with profit1 if markets are accessible4 ,,celery4 ,on very many farms there are meadows with deep1 rich soils that are now lying under grass2 or1 worse1 under tussocks and swamp weeds4 ,some locations are subject to disastrous overflow during freshets1 but innumerable spots exist where such meadows could with safety be converted into celery gardens1 capable of easy irrigation1 either situated above the level of floods or susceptible of artificial protection by means of cheap embankments4 ,such situations are entirely too valuable to use for pasturage4 ,they are the truck gardens of the future4 ,perfect ,celery4--,the object in celery-growing is to produce thick1 robust1 tender1 solid1 crisp1 sweet leaf stalks1 free from rust or insect attacks4 ,the essentials are rich land and plenty of water1 and skill is required in the two points of bleaching and storing4 ,but there are no mysterious processes to be learned4 ,the ,kalamazoo growers have1 it is true1 a rare advantage in their deep muck soil1 with a permanent water level only a few inches or feet below the surface1 but their success depends on accuracy of working detail almost as much as on perfection of soil4 ,it is not necessary to go to ,michigan for good celery ground4 ,fertilizers4--,the best known fertilizer for celery is thoroughly rotted barnyard manure4 ,fresh manure is to be avoided for several reasons4 ,it is less available for plant food1 more likely to produce rust1 and more liable to open the soil and render it too dry4 ,commercial fertilizers are not infrequently used1 but there is a decided preference among many celery growers for the rotted stable product4 ,shallow plowing 7#e inches7 is practiced1 as celery roots do not go deep4 ,planting4--,it requires from #bj1jjj to #ce1jjj celery plants to the acre1 according to their distances apart4 ,in the intense culture at the great celery centres two crops 7and even three crops7 of celery are grown upon the land per year1 by a system of planting between rows1 but in the operations of farm gardeners not more than one crop per season is grown4 ,this may follow an earlier market crop1 such as peas1 beans1 onions or sweet corn1 though where the farmer is hard pushed with other work1 the celery may be grown without any other crop preceding it1 but not upon newly-turned sod land1 as the earth should be loose and mellow4 ,seed for early celery must be started under glass1 but the farmer will find his best celery market in the autumn4 ,april will1 therefore1 be ample time for sowing the seed1 which should be scattered thinly in rows in finely-raked mellow soil in the open ground1 and covered lightly4 ,the seed is very slow to germinate1 and the bed should be copiously watered until the plants are well started4 ,in small operations1 it is well to transplant at least once4 ,in large operations1 the plants are thinned out in the original rows1 and carried from thence direct to the field4 ,the upper leaves and the tips of the roots are cut off1 and the plants are set firmly in the soil by means of a dibber4 ,illustration3 ,j4 ,s4 ,golder ,self-,blanching ,celery ,prepared for ,market4 ,dates and ,distances4--,july is a proper time for setting out celery2 preferably after a rain or during dull weather4 ,the rows may be from #c to #e feet apart1 depending on the purpose of the planter1 and the plants #e or #f inches apart in the rows4 ,if the celery is to be stored for blanching1 #c-;feet rows may be used4 ,if it is to be blanched in the field1 the distance between the rows should be greater1 so that more loose soil will be available for hilling4 ,one ounce of celery seed will furnish #b1ejj to #c1jjj plants4 ,a half pound is sufficient to furnish plants for an acre4 ,even on good ground celery should not be set out later than ,august #aeth 7in the latitude of ,philadelphia71 and preferably earlier4 ,the system of level planting is practiced by large growers everywhere4 ,trenching is still followed in some private gardens1 but is too expensive for commercial operations4 ,varieties4--,the so-called dwarf and half-dwarf varieties have pushed the larger kinds out of the market almost entirely1 though seed of the giant sorts can still be obtained4 ,the dwarf kinds are large enough for all purposes1 however1 and are in best favor everywhere4 ,they are about #ah inches high1 as compared to twice that height in the old-fashioned giant types4 ,the favorites of late years for early celery are the self-blanching sorts1 such as ,white ,plume and ,golden ,self-,blanching1 which are the result of the continued selection of individual plants or sports showing a tendency to blanch easily4 ,for winter keeping1 the ,perle ,le ,grand1 ,winter ,queen and ,perfection ,heartwell are the best4 ,these varieties are beautiful as well as highly palatable4 ,there are also red or pink sorts1 of high table merit and good keeping qualities4 ,,celery4--,we recommend ,golden ,self-,blanching and ,white ,plume for early1 ,perle ,le ,grand for both early and late and ,winter ,queen for late4 ,the latter is the very best keeper4 ,see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,cultivation4--,the proper culture of the celery has already been suggested in the allusion to its need for water and its shallow feeding habits4 ,the surface soil should be highly enriched1 the stirring of the soil very shallow1 and the water supply copious1 either by capillary attraction from below 7as at ,kalamazoo7 or by rainfall or artificial irrigation4 ,blanching4--,the first step in the process of blanching or bleaching is what is known as handling4 ,this operation consists in grasping all the leaves of a celery plant in one hand1 while with the other the soil is drawn together and packed so as to hold the stalks in an upright1 compact position4 ,this single operation will fit some of the early-planted sorts for market in the course of two weeks2 though a second operation1 called hilling1 is usually considered desirable1 even with the self-blanching sorts4 ,see photograph on first page4 ,the ,kalamazoo growers depend on muck for field blanching1 though they also use boards4 ,muck is merely a dark soil1 containing or consisting mainly of vegetable matter4 ,they first handle1 as just described1 and about five days later draw #f inches more of the muck about the celery stalks4 ,again1 three days later1 they draw an additional #b inches about the stalks1 and in two weeks from the start the celery is ready for market4 ,these operations are frequently done by two men working together1 one holding the stalks and the other drawing the soil to them4 ,the first operation puts the stalks in an upright1 compact position1 so that little or no soil can get into the heart of the plant4 ,the second draws about the plant all the soil that will conveniently remain there4 ,the third merely supplements the second1 as the hill has had time to become somewhat firm and has settled away a little from the upper leaves4 ,boards are used for summer blanching1 as they are less heating than soil4 ,ordinary lumber1 free from knot holes1 is employed4 ,the boards rest on their edges1 one board on each side of the row1 the tops being drawn together until within #b-a_/b inches of each other1 and the lower edge of the board held in place either by stakes or by soil4 ,the work of handling or hilling must be done only when the celery is dry and unfrozen4 ,in fact1 celery must never be handled when wet 7except when preparing it for market71 or it will surely be rusted and spoiled4 ,the same practices of blanching celery as here mentioned in connection with the ,kalamazoo operations are in vogue near ,philadelphia and other ,eastern cities1 and are not new4 ,the real reason that ,kalamazoo is so celebrated is her possession of that wonderful black muck soil1 underlaid with standing water4 ,this has attracted the best celery growers of the country2 men who have small places of from one to three acres1 and who work out every detail to perfection1 employing little labor outside of their own families and concentrating their efforts on the production of perfect celery crops4 ,there are extensive celery growers at ,kalamazoo1 with tracts of thirty or more acres devoted exclusively to this vegetable1 but the majority of the gardens there are small1 and much hand-work is done4 ,winter ,storage4--,the art of the winter storage of celery1 as practiced by large growers1 is not hard to learn4 ,both at ,kalamazoo and here in the ,eastern ,states there are two methods in vogue4 ,one is the use of especially-built houses1 and the other is the open-field plan4 ,illustration3 ,blanching ,celery with ,boards4 ,illustration3 ,winter ,queen1 the ,best ,late ,winter ,keeping ,celery4 ,the celery house or coop is a low frame structure1 half under ground1 generally #ad or #af feet wide1 and as long as may be desired4 ,there is a door in one end and a window in the other4 ,the sides1 ends and roof are double and filled with sawdust4 ,there are wooden chimneys or ventilators at intervals of #ab feet along the peak of the roof1 and sometimes there are glass windows in the roof1 provided with wooden shutters4 ,the celery stands upon the floor1 which is of loose soil4 ,there is a narrow walk lengthwise in the middle of the building1 and boards extending from the central walk to the side walls separate the packed celery into narrow sections4 ,no earth is placed between the celery stalks as they stand4 ,they are1 in fact1 rooted in the soil of the floor1 and are thus able to make the slight growth demanded for complete blanching4 ,the various doors1 windows and ventilators make it possible to keep the air fresh and wholesome1 and during cold weather a stove may afford heat to the storage room4 ,artificial heat is not commonly required4 ,another method1 cheaper and quite as satisfactory1 especially on farms or in market gardens1 is to trench the celery in the open field4 ,the situation of the trench must be a dry one1 where there will be no standing water4 ,the trench must be nearly or quite as deep as the height of the celery1 with perpendicular sides1 and a foot or less in width4 ,the stalks are set upright in the trench1 with all decayed or worthless leaves removed1 as closely as they will stand1 without soil between them4 ,to keep them in that condition is purely a matter of care4 ,if they are buried deeply and the weather proves warm they will rot4 ,but if the covering be decreased in warm weather and increased in cold weather1 the celery can be kept in perfect condition4 ,in private gardens celery is often planted in double rows1 a foot apart1 and wintered where it grows by covering deeply with soil4 ,an excellent plan is to make an ,a-shaped trough of two boards to turn the rain1 on top of which a greater or less amount of straw1 leaves or litter may be piled1 if needed4 ,mice sometimes do considerable damage to stored celery1 but are more easily controlled in short trenches than in long ones4 ,small amounts of celery may be stored in cellars1 in boxes a foot wide and a foot deep1 with damp sand in the bottom4 ,no soil is needed between the plants4 ,the coolest and darkest part of the cellar is best for storage4 ,diseases4--,celery diseases are preventable and insect attacks are few4 ,for blight1 kainit is recommended1 both in the seed-bed and open field4 ,for rust1 the ,bordeaux mixture is advised4 ,hollow-stemmed or pithy celery is the result of poor stock or improper soil1 and can be avoided by the use of more manure and more water4 ,new ,process4--,the method of growing celery in highly enriched soil1 with plants set #f or #h inches apart both ways1 is quite feasible4 ,the plants stand so close as to blanch each other to some extent1 but the system has never attracted general favor4 ,a great deal of water is required4 ,cultivation is possible only when the plants are small4 ,profits4--,the use of celery is obviously on the increase1 but the demand is for a first-class article4 ,the cash results may be set at anywhere from #bjj to #ejj per acre4 ,the actual net profits of well-conducted operations are considerable4 ,,water ,,cress4 ,water cress1 a vegetable closely allied to several other edible cresses1 is used in very large quantities in all city restaurants4 ,it is a much-esteemed winter relish1 and is mostly served with every one of the thousands of beefsteak orders daily filled in the great eating houses and lunch rooms4 ,the demand for it seems to be on the increase4 ,illustration3 ,water ,cress4 ,water cress is of the easiest culture4 ,it can be grown in the soil of a forcing house under glass1 and is extensively produced in this way by market gardeners4 ,the cheapest method is to grow it in running water1 preferably near a spring head2 and many such situations are available to farmers4 ,flat beds1 made of loam1 gravel1 or sand1 covered with #c or #d inches of warm1 spring water1 will yield great quantities of water cress in early spring2 and the use of a few sash will keep the cress in growth during the winter4 ,the cress should be cut frequently1 as the young shoots are most succulent and tender4 ,for market purposes the water cress is tied in bunches1 and retailed at from #c to #aj cents per bunch1 or packed in pint boxes1 leaves uppermost1 and retailed for about #aj cents per box4 ,these are winter and early spring prices4 ,water cress culture is profitable in favored locations4 ,,cucumber4 ,the cucumber market is not easily over-supplied1 but the pickling tub should stand ready to receive all cucumbers not sold in a fresh condition4 ,for field culture1 good ground must be selected1 and marked out with a plow1 #d x #d feet2 or1 a little wider1 if the soil is strong4 ,at least one shovelful of well-rotted manure is dropped in every hill1 and mixed with the soil1 and a dozen seeds planted1 to be thinned out finally to three or four plants4 ,it is better to have extra plants1 on account of the attacks of the striped beetle4 ,the cucumber belongs to a botanic family which is naturally tender1 and the seeds should not be sown until the soil is quite warm4 ,for farm work1 the planting season is the latter part of ,may and the whole of ,june2 and even ,july is a suitable month1 if the soil can be irrigated4 ,it will require two pounds of seed for an acre4 ,the variety sown should depend on the purpose in view2 but in all commercial operations1 well-known and thoroughly tested sorts should be chosen4 ,shallow cultivation is recommended4 ,if an early market is to be supplied with cucumbers1 the seeds may be started under glass1 on bits of inverted sod or in small boxes1 and set in the open ground on the arrival of settled warm weather2 but the farmer will usually find it most profitable to sow the seeds where the plants are to remain4 ,the most serious enemy of the cucumber vine is the striped beetle1 which attacks the young plant and frequently ruins it4 ,the remedy is air-slaked lime1 or soot1 or sifted coal ashes1 or wood ashes diluted with dry road dust4 ,the best preventive is salt or kainit1 used in the hills4 ,the true plan is to have strong1 vigorous plants1 which1 as a rule1 will resist and outgrow the striped beetle1 and be not greatly injured by its attacks4 ,there is a blight which sometimes destroys the cucumber vine1 apparently the result of weakness following a prolonged drouth4 ,the vine of the cucumber must be kept in vigorous growth1 not only by cultivation and a sufficient water-supply1 but by care in removing all the fruit as soon as formed1 for1 if the seeds be permitted to mature1 the vine will quickly perish4 ,it is the purpose of the vine's existence to produce ripe seeds1 and it will make repeated and long-continued efforts to accomplish this end4 ,in gathering the cucumbers1 it is important to avoid injuring the vine4 ,some growers use a knife2 others break the stem by a dexterous twist1 without injuring the vine in the least4 ,illustration3 ,johnson ,stokes' ,perfected ,jersey ,pickle ,cucumber4 ,it requires #cjj cucumbers 7more or less7 of fair pickling size to make a bushel1 and it is estimated that an acre will produce from #ajj to #bjj bushels1 or even more4 ,when the pickles are pulled while quite small1 the number runs up to #abe1jjj per acre2 and the pickle factories in some cases make their estimates on a yield of #ge1jjj per acre4 ,the price is variable1 but often quite profitable4 ,,cucumber4--,for planting in the ,south to ship to ,northern markets use ,improved ,arlington ,white ,spine4 ,giant of ,pera is a fine table sort4 ,for pickling1 plant ,johnson ,stokes' ,perfected ,jersey ,pickle4 ,for description see our ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,downy ,mildew4--,a disease which lately threatened to destroy the business of growing pickles in ,new ,jersey and elsewhere1 the downy mildew of the cucumber1 can be fully overcome by spraying the vines with ,bordeaux mixture4 ,it requires six or seven applications1 at intervals of a week or ten days1 to conquer this comparatively new disease4 ,downy mildew is a fungous trouble affecting the leaves and destroying the further usefulness of the vine4 ,a recent ,new ,york experiment showed a yield of #agc worth of pickles per acre under spraying as against complete failure where the ,bordeaux mixture was not used4 ,the cost of spraying was #i4ej per acre1 leaving #afc4ej per acre as the value of the crop saved by the operation4 ,,egg ,,plant4 ,the advisability of growing egg plants in farm gardening operations is a question of location4 ,on a suitable soil1 near a good market1 the operation will be a profitable one1 if rightly managed4 ,the egg plant is a tender vegetable1 botanically allied to both the tomato and the potato1 but less hardy than either1 especially when young4 ,for this reason it is best to delay sowing the seed1 even in hot-beds1 until cold weather is past1 for the tender seedlings never fully recover from a chill or set-back4 ,indeed1 for the farm gardener the month of ,may is early enough to sow the seed under glass1 for this plant grows with great rapidity in a warm soil1 and ,may-sown seed not infrequently yields plants that outstrip those sown a full month earlier4 ,illustration3 ,new ,jersey ,improved ,large ,purple ,smooth ,stem ,egg ,plant4 ,the egg plant demands a richer soil than either the potato or tomato4 ,it also asks for more water4 ,it is a rank feeder4 ,a good stimulant1 if rotted manure cannot be had1 is nitrate of soda at the rate of #djj pounds to the acre4 ,the farm gardener will do well to consider his market before engaging in the production of the egg plant on an extensive scale1 for it is a perishable product4 ,it bears shipment well1 but its use is mainly limited to consumption while fresh4 ,it may command a very high price at some seasons of the year and at other times be practically unsalable at any price1 owing to an over-supply4 ,if egg-plant seed be sown under glass in early ,may1 and carefully protected against cool weather 7especially at night71 the young plants will be ready to transplant before the end of the month and large enough for the open field in ,june4 ,they should be set in rows #d feet apart1 and about #c feet apart in the row4 ,set at these distances1 an acre of ground would accommodate about #c1ejj plants4 ,the enemy of the egg plant1 in growth1 is the potato bug1 which must be hand-picked or poisoned4 ,there is a rot which causes the fruit to drop from the stem before reaching maturity4 ,this rot is a fungus1 and the ,bordeaux mixture is recommended for it4 ,the blight which sometimes affects the foliage is in part at least caused by cold weather1 and for this there is no remedy1 except late planting4 ,every healthy plant should produce from two to six or more full-sized fruits1 and it is therefore easy to calculate that an acre's product under favorable circumstances may be very large4 ,,egg ,,plant4--,there is nothing equal to the ,new ,jersey ,improved ,large ,purple ,smooth ,stem for the use of farm gardeners4 ,for description1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,illustration3 ,johnson ,stokes' ,imperial1 or ,long ,standing ,kale4 ,,kale ,,or ,,borecole4 ,kale1 of which there are many varieties1 is a headless cabbage1 closely allied to such vegetables as ,brussels sprouts1 collards1 etc4 ,it is one of the most hardy of vegetables1 and in this latitude it will live over winter in the open ground1 with only straw or litter as a protection4 ,if cut for use when frozen it should be thawed out in cold water4 ,the kales are among the most delicately flavored cabbages4 ,some of them are of such ornamental shape as to be full worthy of cultivation for decorative purposes4 ,the height varies from #a to #b feet1 and the colors include both greens1 dark purples and intermediate shades4 ,kale demands a rich1 deep soil4 ,the seed should be sown in a border or seed-bed1 and transplanted to the open field and set in rows1 after the manner of cabbage4 ,it is largely and profitably grown in the ,south for shipment to the great ,northern markets4 ,where farmers are situated near centres of population where kale is in demand1 its culture will be found profitable1 as it requires even less labor than cabbage4 ,it is planted both in spring and autumn4 ,the former crop is for autumn consumption and the latter crop is carried over winter after the manner of spinach1 protected by a light covering of some sort of litter4 ,,kale4--,for the ,south1 we recommend ,extra ,dwarf ,green ,curled ,scotch2 for the ,north1 ,johnson ,stokes' ,new ,imperial4 ,see our ,garden and ,farm ,manual for descriptions4 ,,lettuce4 ,in some sections1 especially in the ,south1 lettuce can be grown with profit by farm gardeners4 ,depending on the latitude1 the seed may be planted from autumn until spring4 ,the plants are usually sheltered and headed under glass1 or under muslin-covered sash1 and are sent ,north in ventilated barrels4 ,the lettuce is naturally a cool-weather plant1 and its culture is easy4 ,the seed is cheap and it germinates quickly4 ,well-grown lettuce always commands good prices4 ,it is usual to start the seeds in a border or under a frame1 and to prick out the plants into more roomy quarters as soon as they are large enough to handle4 ,in a few weeks after transplanting1 in good growing weather1 they are headed ready for market4 ,good soil1 abundance of moisture and free ventilation are essentials in lettuce production4 ,illustration ,in some parts of the ,north lettuce culture would be found profitable by farmers in the summer season1 for there are varieties well adapted to high temperature1 provided good soil and sufficient water be furnished4 ,there is not a month in the year when lettuce is not demanded for use in salads1 and this demand is likely to increase4 ,,lettuce4--,for the ,south1 we especially recommend ,reichner's ,early ,white ,butter1 ,big ,boston and ,new ,treasure2 for the ,north1 ,new ,sensation1 ,mammoth ,salamander and ,hornberger's ,dutch ,butter4 ,please see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,melons4 ,melon culture belongs on the farm rather than in the small market garden1 on account of the large space occupied by the growing vines4 ,an acre of ground will accommodate only about #dej watermelon hills 7at #aj feet each way7 or about #a1bjj muskmelon or cantaloupe hills 7#f feet each way71 and hence the necessity for large areas of ground for the cultivation of these crops4 ,the requirements of the various melons are quite similar4 ,broken sod ground or any green crop turned down favors their growth1 and well-rotted stable manure in the hill is the best known stimulant4 ,all the melons are tender1 and are suited only to warm-weather growth1 and this fact must be remembered in sowing the seed4 ,light alluvial soil near rivers or streams is adapted to melon growth1 and many an old meadow now weedy and unprofitable might be used to advantage for one of these crops4 ,illustration3 ,new ,black-eyed ,susan ,watermelon4 ,the ,watermelon4--,for cash-producing purposes the best watermelon is a large one1 with a hard rind4 ,it must have a dark pink or red centre and must be a good shipper4 ,it should weigh thirty to forty pounds1 and there should be #ijj to #a1jjj first-class melons to the acre4 ,the best melon for family use or for a strictly retail trade is a medium-sized variety1 which has a thin rind1 pink or red flesh and extra sweetness1 weighing from twenty to thirty pounds4 ,the preparation of the ground has already been suggested4 ,two shovels of manure should go into each hill4 ,the planting date is ,may in this latitude2 or as soon as the ground is thoroughly warm4 ,four pounds of seed per acre will be required4 ,but one plant per hill is allowed to grow4 ,the end of the main shoots should be pinched off1 to encourage branching and flowering4 ,illustration ,cultivation should be thorough4 ,fungous diseases can be controlled by means of the ,bordeaux mixture1 except that it is difficult to reach the under side of the leaves4 ,to prevent sunburn on melons1 some growers sow buckwheat when the vines are in blossom1 and thus secure a partial shade by the time the fruit is large enough to be injured by the sun4 ,generally1 no protection is necessary4 ,at #aj or #ae per hundred1 the average wholesale price at ,philadelphia1 watermelon culture is profitable4 ,early prices are higher4 ,,water ,,melons4--,for shipping--,johnson's ,dixie1 ,blue ,gem1 ,duke ,jones1 ,sweet ,heart4 ,for home market--,black-,eyed ,susan1 ,florida ,favorite1 ,kentucky ,wonder1 ,mc,iver's ,wonderful ,sugar4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,citron4--,this small round melon is cultivated in all respects as the watermelon1 but being smaller the hills may be closer4 ,it is used in making preserves4 ,the name citron is frequently applied to certain of the cantaloupes4 ,cantaloupes or ,muskmelons4--,it is a matter of choice whether the green-fleshed or red-fleshed sorts are grown2 or whether the variety be large or small4 ,the sorts covered with strongly webbed or netted markings are in high favor for shipping to distant points1 as they carry well4 ,flavor is in part at least a matter of temperature and sunshine4 ,cantaloupes may be nicely ripened by removing them from the vines and storing in dry1 warm rooms4 ,the usual planting distance is from #d-a_/b to #f feet1 in hills containing rotted manure4 ,compost1 made of hen manure1 is sometimes used in the hill1 well mixed with the soil4 ,good cantaloupes are always in active demand4 ,,musk ,,melons4--,early sorts for shipping--,mc,cleary's ,improved ,jenny ,lind1 ,netted ,beauty1 ,the ,captain1 ,champion ,market1 ,improved ,netted ,gem1 ,anne ,arundel4 ,late sorts--,the ,princess1 ,johnson ,stokes' ,superb1 etc4 ,see ,garden and ,farm ,manual for descriptions4 ,illustration3 ,mc,cleary's ,improved ,early ,jenny ,lind ,muskmelon4 ,enemies4--,in addition to the fungous diseases of the watermelon and cantaloupe1 which are best treated with ,bordeaux mixture1 all melons are sometimes badly troubled with an aphis called the melon louse4 ,the remedy is whale-oil soap--a pound in six gallons of water2 or kerosene emulsion4 ,the latter is made by dissolving half a pound of soft soap in one gallon of water2 then adding two gallons of kerosene1 churning violently2 then diluting with ten or twelve gallons of water4 ,this emulsion is put upon the melon vines in the form of a spray1 and is one of the best insecticides known4 ,it is to be used on all sucking insects1 like lice and squash bugs4 ,biting insects are easily killed with ,paris green--one pound in #ajj pounds of flour or plaster1 or in #aej gallons of water4 ,illustration3 ,improved ,early ,netted ,gem ,muskmelon 7,rose ,gem ,strain74 ,where the land is suited to melon culture1 in any part of the country1 the farm gardener will find no more satisfactory or remunerative crop4 ,,mushrooms4 ,under certain favored circumstances the mushroom may be grown as a farm gardener's crop4 ,the requisites are horse manure and a dark cellar1 cave or vault4 ,if the manure be available and a suitable apartment at hand1 the growing of mushrooms may be taken up for winter work4 ,illustration3 ,a ,bed of ,mushrooms from ,english ,milltrack ,spawn4 ,there are many ways of growing mushrooms1 and they can be produced in any situation where a steady temperature of #fj deg4 can be maintained4 ,a simple method is to prepare a bed consisting of horse manure and loam1 three parts by measure of the former and one of the latter1 the manure having been somewhat fermented and sweetened by allowing it to heat and turning it several times4 ,a compact bed a foot deep is made4 ,this bed will first heat and then cool4 ,as it cools1 when at #hj deg4 or #he deg4 an inch below the surface1 bits of brick spawn the size of a hen's egg are inserted about #i inches apart4 ,the bed must not be immediately covered1 or the temperature will rise sufficiently to kill the spawn4 ,in ten days1 more or less1 as shown by a thermometer1 this danger will be past1 and the bed should receive a coating of good loam an inch deep4 ,no water is to be applied until after the bed is in full bearing4 ,it is assumed that the temperature of the room or cellar has been uniformly #fj deg41 day and night2 that the bed has not been made where it could become water-soaked2 that it is sufficiently moist1 yet not wet2 and that no draft of air has passed over the surface in a way either to reduce the temperature of the bed itself or to dry the soil upon the surface4 ,if these conditions cannot be maintained1 either by a specially favorable place or by means of covering the bed with litter1 it is better to let mushrooms alone4 ,the crop should appear in six or eight weeks1 and should last two months1 the total product being from one-half to one pound per square foot4 ,the cash price is from #ej to #ge cents per pound in the large cities2 and the crop is sufficiently profitable to warrant the losses which beginners so commonly experience4 ,these losses are the result of carelessness or ignorance in the matter of details4 ,the usual sources of failure are poorly prepared beds1 the medium being either too wet or too dry2 frequent changes of temperature2 improper use of water2 and1 lastly1 poor or stale spawn4 ,mushrooms are packed in small baskets lined with paper1 and carefully covered to prevent evaporation4 ,a five-pound package is a favorite shipping size4 ,,onions4 ,the onion is a national crop2 as widely though not quite as extensively grown as the potato4 ,it is available as a money crop for the farm gardener4 ,choice of ,soil4--,heavy1 stiff clay land is to be avoided4 ,sand and gravel dry out too quickly4 ,stony land renders good culture difficult4 ,the best soil for onions is a deep1 rich1 mellow loam4 ,soils which afford natural advantages for irrigation should not be overlooked1 as the rainfall is often lacking when greatly needed4 ,fertilizers4--,onion culture demands high manuring4 ,no amount of rotted stable manure is likely to be excessive4 ,a ton per acre of high-grade1 complete fertilizer is not too much1 if moisture can be supplied4 ,hen manure is a good top dressing for onion-beds1 furnishing the needed nitrogen4 ,nitrate of soda is a good source of nitrogen1 if nitrogen must be purchased4 ,the clovers and other leguminous crops yield the cheapest nitrogen4 ,wood ashes1 kainit1 etc41 furnish potash4 ,either ground bone or acid phosphate will give the needed phosphoric acid4 ,an analysis of the onion shows that it carries away fertility in just about the proportions furnished by stable manure4 ,it is a singular fact that onions can be grown year after year on the same ground1 if well manured4 ,rotation is necessary only in case of the occurrence of disease or insect attack4 ,the onion loves cool weather4 ,planting4--,to grow onion sets1 the seed is sown in close rows1 at the rate of from fifty to sixty pounds per acre4 ,to grow large onions direct from seed1 five pounds of seed per acre will be required4 ,to plant a field with onion sets will require twelve to fifteen bushels per acre1 according to size of the set4 ,illustration3 ,a ,list of the most ,popular ,american ,onions4 ,an onion set is merely an immature bulb4 ,sets vary from the size of a large pea up to that of a walnut4 ,when the seed is sown thickly the bulbs have no chance to grow1 and the summer weather quickly ripens the tops1 completely suspending the growth of the bulb4 ,in some parts of the country onion sets cannot be grown with profit1 as the tops refuse to die and the bulbs or sets do not ripen properly4 ,in nearly all parts of the ,united ,states onions can be grown direct from the seed the first year2 especially from seed grown around ,philadelphia1 which is earlier than ,western-grown4 ,it is quite customary in the ,south to sow onion seed in late summer or autumn2 in ,august or ,september4 ,this will give early spring onions of marketable size4 ,in the ,north1 within quite recent years1 it has become the practice to sow onion seed in frames1 in fall or early spring1 and transplant the young onions to the open ground4 ,this is sometimes spoken of as the new onion culture4 ,onion sets or young plants should be placed #c or #d inches apart1 in rows a foot apart1 if to be cultivated by hand2 the rows farther apart if for horse work4 ,the onion is hardy4 ,many varieties will live in the open ground over winter1 if covered 7at the ,north7 with light litter4 ,it is in this way that shoots for bunching are obtained early in the spring4 ,the seed should be sown for sets when the apple is in bloom4 ,sets may be put into the ground earlier2 in fact1 as soon as the ground can be worked4 ,the set should not produce seed the first year1 though it often does so4 ,it should1 on the contrary1 grow to the size of say #c inches1 and then ripen for winter storage4 ,excessively large onions are not desirable4 ,to hasten maturity1 the tops may be broken down or the roots may be cut by running a knife or sharp plow or cultivator along one side of the row4 ,the onion1 under favorable circumstances1 will produce a crop of #hjj bushels 7fifty-six pounds to the bushel7 per acre2 though #ejj bushels is nearer the average product4 ,illustration3 ,weeding a ,field of ,onion ,sets on our ,bucks ,county ,seed ,farm near ,philadelphia4 ,storage4--,the storage of onions and onion sets is simple4 ,the bulbs should first be ripened on the ground1 by a brief exposure to wind and sun4 ,this completes the wilting of the tops4 ,they should then be spread out on ventilated trays or racks1 or a few inches in depth on a floor1 in a dry1 shady place1 where the air is good1 preferably a loft2 not a damp cellar4 ,freezing will not injure them1 but they must not be handled when they begin to thaw1 or they will rot4 ,they must not be bruised during the operation of gathering or during the process of storage4 ,a popular and excellent method of wintering onions in cold climates is to spread straw to the depth of #ah inches on a dry floor or scaffold1 and put on a layer of onions from #f inches to a foot deep1 and cover with #b feet of straw4 ,this will not always prevent freezing1 but it checks all sudden changes4 ,onions not fully cured should never be kept in barrels1 but spread out so as to be perfectly ventilated4 ,onion sets shrink greatly in storage2 sometimes as much as one-half between fall and spring4 ,varieties4--,there are many varieties of onions1 some of ,american and some of foreign origin4 ,the former are better keepers1 but the latter are of milder flavor4 ,the ,american sorts 7,danvers1 ,southport ,globe varieties1 ,wethersfield1 ,extra ,early ,red1 ,silver ,skin1 ,strasburg1 etc47 are usually considered to be the most profitable2 but the foreign kinds 7,prize ,taker1 ,prize ,winner1 ,pearl1 ,bermuda1 ,giant ,rocca1 ,victoria1 etc47 are profitable in those parts of the country where soil and climate warrant their growth from seed in a single season4 ,the so-called tree onion is a perennial1 of ,american origin1 living out over winter4 ,it is sometimes called ,egyptian or top onion4 ,it produces bulbs or sets at the top of the seed-stalk4 ,the potato or multiplier onion divides its large bulb into numerous small ones1 which in turn produce large onions the next year4 ,,onions4--,for farm gardeners' purposes1 we especially recommend ,philadelphia ,yellow ,globe ,danvers1 ,mammoth ,yellow ,prizetaker1 ,white ,prize ,winner4 ,earliest ,onions are--,extra ,early ,red ,globe ,danvers1 ,american ,extra ,early ,white ,pearl1 ,rhode ,island ,yellow ,cracker4 ,the best for sets--,extra ,early ,red1 ,philadelphia ,yellow ,dutch and ,white ,silver ,skin4 ,for descriptions of varieties1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,diseases and ,enemies4--,to prevent maggot1 the use of kainit is recommended2 #fjj pounds per acre4 ,for onion smut1 which may in part be cured by the kainit1 the best known remedy is a change of soil4 ,thrip1 which causes the cuticle of the leaves to become covered with whitish or yellowish spots1 is best treated by means of kerosene emulsion1 used as a spray4 ,the onion fly may1 in part1 at least1 be abated by the use of equal parts of wood ashes and land plaster dusted very thoroughly on the young plants4 ,stiff-necked onions1 often called stags1 are the result either of improper growth or poor stock4 ,they are sometimes planted in autumn for use as scallions 7scullions7 the following spring4 ,marketing4--,onions are sometimes sold in the open field2 a good plan when a fair price can be secured4 ,after curing1 as already described1 they are usually sold by the bushel or barrel4 ,they are always in demand1 as the onion is a standard article of human food4 ,in the green state they are sold either by measure1 by the bunch1 or by the rope4 ,the latter method consists in tying the onions along wisps of straw4 ,scallions4--,no small amount of money is expended by housekeepers in the early spring markets for scallions 7scullions71 or bunched onion shoots4 ,these tender shoots are washed1 tied and sold for #c to #e cents per bunch1 retail1 or half those figures wholesale4 ,scallions are produced from either sets or large onions planted the preceding autumn1 and sheltered either by frames or litter1 so as to encourage early spring growth4 ,,peas4 ,it will require one and one-half to two bushels of peas to seed an acre1 and no crop finds a more ready sale than fresh peas in the summer and autumn markets4 ,farmers who are near centres of population1 or who enjoy good shipping facilities1 will find peas a quick money crop4 ,any good soil will produce a crop of this excellent vegetable1 but it must not be assumed because the pea is a legume1 with nitrogen-collecting roots1 that it will not well repay the application of manure to the soil4 ,peas and beans need less assistance than some other things1 but they give good returns for the application of rotted manure or artificial fertilizer4 ,the seed should be put into the ground in early spring1 as soon as the soil is dry enough to receive it1 beginning with the smooth1 extra-early sorts1 which are more hardy than the wrinkled varieties4 ,a little subsequent frost will do no harm4 ,the smooth1 early sorts should be sown in rows1 about #c feet apart1 the intermediate or half-dwarf sorts in rows #d feet apart1 and the tall1 late varieties1 in rows #e feet apart4 ,in field operations no sticks are used1 and large pickings are taken even from the tall-growing vines while sprawling upon the ground2 and the labor is vastly less where no sticks are employed4 ,the early peas should stand closer in the rows than the later and larger sorts4 ,the ,extra ,early kinds mature in fifty to fifty-five days from germination2 the intermediate kinds in sixty-five to seventy days1 and the tall and late kinds in seventy-five to eighty days4 ,for autumn planting1 the extra early varieties are used1 and are planted until sixty days before frost4 ,illustration3 ,plant of ,new ,giant ,podded ,marrow ,pea4 ,mildew is a field enemy of the pea1 resulting from unfavorable weather4 ,the weevil often attacks the seed1 but does not injure it for market purposes4 ,the canning of green peas is now an industry of enormous extent in ,america4 ,the peas are shelled and sorted by machinery1 and thousands of bushels are annually disposed of in this manner4 ,the wholesale market price of peas in the pod varies from #ej cents to #c per bushel at ,philadelphia4 ,the latter price is for the early product4 ,the usual retail price is #ae to #be cents per half peck4 ,the crop of green pods per acre may be rated at #ajj bushels1 more or less4 ,,peas4--,earliest for the ,south--,johnson ,stokes' ,new ,record ,extra ,early1 ,alaska2 second early--,johnson ,stokes' ,second ,early ,market ,garden2 late--,giant ,podded ,marrow1 ,improved ,stratagem1 ,crown ,prince1 ,sugar ,marrow4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,rhubarb4 ,in some parts of the ,united ,states rhubarb or pie plant is grown in very considerable quantities for market purposes1 and with profit4 ,its culture is extremely simple4 ,it is merely necessary to plant seed or roots1 and to have the plants about #d feet apart each way in a permanent bed4 ,the plant is a perennial1 lasting for many years4 ,it is a rank feeder1 and the more manure given it1 the larger and more succulent will be the young shoots4 ,the roots should be divided every five years1 as they finally become too large4 ,the demand for rhubarb continues through the spring and into summer1 and large quantities are canned for pie-making4 ,five leaf stalks make a large bunch4 ,it is worth #b to #c per #ajj bunches1 wholesale4 ,,radish4 ,farmers who retail their produce should raise radishes4 ,rich ground and abundant moisture are the requisites for quick growth1 and upon quick growth depends good quality4 ,slow-growing radishes are hot and pithy4 ,the early sorts are best for spring1 but the so-called summer radishes are best for warm weather1 as they are not so liable as the early kinds to become pithy4 ,enormous quantities of winter radishes are grown in autumn1 for use and sale during the winter months4 ,they are kept in sand1 like other roots4 ,illustration3 ,johnson ,stokes' ,olive ,scarlet1 the ,earliest ,radish4 ,the early kinds mature in twenty to twenty-five days from sowing4 ,nitrate of soda in small quantities is one of the best known stimulants4 ,rotted stable manure is good1 but hog manure and night soil are not in favor among radish growers1 tending to produce insect attacks4 ,the free use of lime1 salt or kainit is recommended as a preventive against insects4 ,sometimes it is necessary to avoid manure of any kind1 on account of maggots1 depending wholly on artificial fertilizers4 ,as a last resort the radish-bed must be removed to new ground1 as the maggot renders radishes wholly unsalable4 ,illustration3 ,china ,rose ,winter ,radish4 ,the green seed pods of radishes are sometimes used for pickling4 ,the plant is closely related to the mustard4 ,it is wrong to wait for radishes to grow large 7except the winter sorts71 as they are sweetest and most succulent when comparatively small4 ,crisp1 sweet radishes always command ready money4 ,,radish4--,early1 for the ,south--,scarlet ,turnip ,white ,tipped1 ,johnson ,stokes' ,olive ,scarlet1 ,philadelphia ,gardeners' ,long ,scarlet4 ,summer radishes--,red and ,white ,chartier1 ,white ,strasburg1 ,improved ,yellow ,summer ,turnip4 ,all seasons1 radishes which are equally good for summer or winter--,new ,celestial1 ,new ,round ,scarlet ,china4 ,for winter use only--,china ,rose4 ,for descriptions1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,spinach4 ,spinach 7or spinage7 is grown for its leaves1 which are cooked in winter and spring for use as greens4 ,the leaf is sweet and palatable even when raw1 but it is always stewed for table purposes4 ,it is a cool weather plant1 almost perfectly hardy4 ,it may be sown in spring1 for immediate use1 or in the autumn for fall cutting1 or for carrying over winter4 ,illustration3 ,plants and ,roots of ,parisian ,long ,standing ,spinach4 ,it is of the easiest culture1 requiring ten or twelve pounds of seed per acre1 either broadcasted or sown in rows4 ,in small gardens it is usually grown in rows1 but in open field culture it is more commonly broadcasted4 ,patches of many acres in extent are seen near the large cities4 ,it is also grown quite extensively in some parts of the ,south for shipment to ,northern markets during ,january and ,february4 ,to prepare it for market the leaves are cut before the seed stalk appears1 and after washing are barrelled or crated for shipment4 ,growers receive from #a4ej to #b4ej per barrel in ,philadelphia and ,new ,york in the winter and spring4 ,where accessible to market1 spinach is a profitable crop4 ,blight is the main enemy4 ,the remedy is removal to another soil4 ,of spinach there are many types2 some smooth and some with savoy or wrinkled leaves4 ,the property of standing a long time before going to seed is desirable1 especially when sown in the spring1 as it increases the length of the cutting season4 ,at the ,north a slight protection of litter or straw is necessary in winter4 ,south of latitude of ,washington no protection is needed4 ,spinach is cut even when frozen2 in fact1 at any time when there is no snow on the ground4 ,by throwing it into cold water it quickly thaws1 and affords a palatable and healthful food in midwinter4 ,the dead or yellow leaves should be removed before sending it to market1 and if carefully prepared it has an attractive green appearance during cold weather when other vegetables are scarce4 ,the winter crop is larger than any other1 but much is also grown for spring sales4 ,it is admirably adapted to farm culture4 ,,spinach4--,for spring planting1 we recommend ,parisian ,long ,standing2 for autumn1 ,american ,savoy or ,bloomsdale4 ,see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,,the ,,sweet ,,potato4 ,the cultivation of the sweet potato affords profitable employment to thousands of ,american farmers4 ,it is pre-eminently a farmer's crop1 on account of the ground space occupied4 ,it demands a light or sandy soil1 well drained and well manured4 ,it has wonderful drouth-resisting qualities2 though1 on the other hand1 it is quite unable to withstand continued cold1 wet weather4 ,its territorial range may be said to include nearly the whole of the ,united ,states1 where the soil is suited to its growth1 and it is even cultivated in ,canada4 ,it will in all probability increase in favor as it is better known and the manner of preserving or storing it is better understood4 ,,sweet ,,potato4--,we recommend and endorse the ,hardy ,bush or ,vineless ,sweet ,potato4 ,for description1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,fertilizers4--,there is wide diversity of practice in the matter of enriching the land for sweet potatoes1 and most of the standard manures are used1 either in one place or another4 ,there seems to be an almost universal endorsement of well-rotted stable manure1 and next in favor is wood ashes4 ,high-grade fertilizer of any kind1 thoroughly incorporated with the soil1 may be used4 ,young ,plants4--,sweet potatoes are propagated by sprouts obtained by laying tubers on their sides1 not touching each other1 covered with soil1 in specially prepared heated beds4 ,these sprouts produce abundant rootlets while still attached to the parent tuber1 and by pulling them with care1 great numbers of young plants can be obtained4 ,a second and even a third crop of young plants may be pulled from the same tubers4 ,in the ,south no artificial heat is needed4 ,growing the ,slips or ,sprouts as ,practised in ,new ,jersey4--,the fire-bed1 so-called1 is quite generally used in ,southern ,new ,jersey for obtaining slips or sprouts for spring planting4 ,it is necessary to have bottom heat and a uniform temperature of about #gj deg44 ,illustration3 ,plant of ,new ,hardy ,bush or ,vineless ,sweet ,potato4 ,the fire-bed consists essentially of a pit about #ae by #ej feet in size4 ,it is floored with boards laid upon cross pieces4 ,beneath the boards there is an air chamber4 ,on top of the boards the bed is made4 ,at one end is a furnace1 with flues running out into the air space beneath the bed1 but not reaching the chimney or smoke-pipe at the opposite end of the bed4 ,at the hottest end of the bed the soil is over #f inches deep4 ,at the cool end a depth of #f inches is quite sufficient4 ,the whole bed is covered either with canvas muslin or with glass sashes1 there being a ridge pole above the bed1 running lengthwise with it1 thus giving a double pitch to muslin or to glass4 ,after the soil has been heated somewhat1 the tubers are laid on the bed1 about an inch apart1 and covered with about #c inches of good soil1 and the soil1 in turn1 covered with leaves or hay1 to increase the warmth of the bed4 ,in a week1 more or less1 the sprouts will show above the surface of the soil1 when the leaves or hay must be removed4 ,the object in not connecting the flues from the furnace with the chimney is to economize heat4 ,the air chamber under the entire bed becomes evenly heated1 and the smoke escapes finally by the chimney4 ,this chimney may be made of wood1 and a height of #h or #aj feet will afford ample draft4 ,either wood or coal may be burned1 but preferably wood4 ,the planting distance in the field is about #c feet by #b1 the young plants being set upon ridges4 ,it requires about #i1jjj plants to the acre4 ,the work must not be done until the ground is warm4 ,the crop is ready in from sixty to ninety days4 ,cultivation4--,shallow cultivation is all that is required4 ,the vines at the ,north are not permitted to take root along their length1 but in the ,south they are sometimes allowed to do so1 and additional tubers thus secured4 ,at the ,north the vines are lifted and turned1 to clear the way for the cultivator and to prevent rooting4 ,enemies4--,black rot is one of the worst of sweet potato diseases4 ,stem rot is another serious enemy4 ,the best treatment for these and other fungous troubles is prevention1 and the best prevention is a healthy soil4 ,it is1 therefore1 best to go to new land occasionally4 ,harvesting4--,the common practice is to plow the sweet potatoes out of the ground just after the first frost has touched the vines4 ,the tubers must be exposed to the air for a time1 and partially dried4 ,they are prepared for market1 if wanted immediately1 by rubbing off the soil and sorting into two sizes4 ,storage4--,at the ,south one of the several methods of winter storage is to build a light wooden flue of lattice work1 and pack about it a conical-shaped heap containing about forty or fifty bushels of sweet potatoes4 ,straw is used as a covering1 with earth upon the straw1 the earth to be increased as the weather becomes colder4 ,over the entire heap a rough shed is erected to turn the rain4 ,the top of the flue or ventilator is closed with straw in really cold weather4 ,the spot must be a dry one4 ,the ,new ,jersey sweet potato house is a stone building1 say #af x #ah feet on the inside1 with walls #aj feet high1 and a good roof4 ,the building is half under ground1 and the earth is banked up around it4 ,there is a passage way through the centre1 and the bins for the sweet potatoes are #f to #h feet square and #h to #aj feet deep4 ,there is a door on the south side1 with window above1 and a stove is placed inside the building1 for use when required4 ,the walls are plastered1 and the under side of the roof is also covered with lath and plaster1 and the place is thoroughly weather-proof4 ,a house of this kind will afford storage room for #c1jjj or more bushels of sweet potatoes1 and will keep them in excellent condition1 if all details receive proper attention4 ,the requirements for successful storage are that the tubers shall not be too hot1 nor too cold1 nor too wet1 and that sudden changes of temperature shall be avoided4 ,the sweet potato crop may be said to vary from #ajj to #aej bushels per acre1 under ordinary management1 with higher results under good conditions4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,sashes ,,and ,,bedding ,,plants4 ,illustration ,the cost of a hot-bed sash1 glazed and painted1 is somewhere about #b2 and such a sash can be made to earn its cost every year4 ,the farmer who has1 say1 a pair of sashes for hot-bed work and another pair for cold-frame work1 can turn them to very good account in the early spring1 not only in starting such bedding plants as may be required in his own operations1 but in producing plants for his neighbors4 ,it costs but little more to grow #a1jjj than #ajj cabbage1 tomato or egg plants1 and the surplus above the home requirement can be converted into dollars4 ,the ,hot ,bed4--,the hot-bed is merely a board-lined pit1 containing fermenting manure1 with a few inches of soil on the manure1 and covered by a sash4 ,the ordinary sash is about #c x #f feet4 ,a board shutter1 the exact size of the sash1 or a mat of straw1 completes the outfit4 ,the depth of manure1 depending on the purpose in view1 should be from #a to #b feet1 the depth of soil from #c to #f inches1 and the distance from soil to glass about #d inches at the start4 ,as the manure ferments the soil will sink4 ,the ,cold ,frame4--,the cold frame is merely a piece of rich1 mellow soil1 enclosed by boards and covered with glass4 ,there is no bottom heat of any kind1 but it is a great deal warmer than the open soil1 and serves a variety of purposes4 ,in the hot-bed1 made in ,february or ,march 7in the latitude of ,philadelphia71 all tender things may be started4 ,the usual seeds sown here at that date on heat are cabbage1 cauliflower1 radish1 lettuce1 onions1 etc41 followed by tomato1 pepper1 celery1 egg plant1 etc41 including flower seeds1 if desired4 ,the cold frame is used through the winter for lettuce1 onions1 carrots1 corn salad1 spinach1 etc41 and in spring for the reception of the things started on heat1 when the time arrives for transplanting and hardening them4 ,properly-managed sashes will do a great deal toward the production of early market crops1 and profits not infrequently depend upon the item of earliness4 ,the one thing for inexperienced persons to learn about sashes and their uses is the imperative necessity of free ventilation whenever the sun shines on the glass4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,strawberry4 ,in addition to the several vegetables enumerated in the preceding pages1 there is one of the small fruits that has taken such a prominent place in what may be termed farm horticulture as to deserve mention here4 ,it is the strawberry4 ,this berry is1 perhaps1 the most popular small fruit in ,america1 and because of its perishable character1 is one that requires strictly local production4 ,it cannot be shipped long distances without loss of character and flavor1 and hence the local grower will never be crowded out of his own market4 ,the culture of the strawberry is simple and easy4 ,there are many ways of setting out plants1 and the after-treatment also differs widely4 ,there will always be controversy concerning the respective merits of the hill system and the matted row system4 ,each cultivator must decide for himself which is the better4 ,for the farmer1 whose acres are many and whose duties are pressing1 there is1 perhaps1 no better way than to set strawberries in rows #d feet apart1 with plants #b feet apart in the row1 and to allow the plants to run together in the rows1 giving sufficient attention to keep the alleys well stirred and the whole bed clear of weeds4 ,to set an acre will require about #e1jjj plants4 ,the winter covering of litter should be raked into the walks or alleys as soon as winter is over and allowed to remain there as a mulch for keeping the soil cool and damp and for the purpose of keeping the berries clean4 ,illustration3 ,new ,twice-,bearing ,french ,strawberry ,mammoth ,perpetual4 ,for ,description1 see ,johnson ,stokes' ,garden and ,farm ,manual4 ,as soon as the crop is off1 the bed should be plowed1 turning strawberries and litter under1 and sweet corn or other quick crop at once planted4 ,this will insure the gathering of two crops in two years2 otherwise a strawberry crop means a two-years' use of the soil4 ,the setting out of a new strawberry bed every spring is good practice2 and it is altogether advisable for farmers to occasionally introduce new varieties of strawberries on their farms1 to replace old or enfeebled sorts4 ,the profits of strawberry culture are quite large1 the gross receipts not infrequently running to #bej per acre4 ,new boxes and crates are advisable1 and are distinctly profitable4 ,,index4 ,page4 ,asparagus #bg ,bacteria #ae1 #ai ,barnyard manure #aj ,beans #cc ,bedding plants #aai ,beets #ci ,bordeaux mixture #fc ,borecole #ia ,cabbage #db ,cantaloupe #ig ,carrot #di ,celery #ge ,citron #ig ,cold frame #abj ,crimson clover #bj ,corn worm #ee ,corrosive sublimate #fd ,cucumber #he ,egg plant #hh ,glass #aai ,green manuring #ai1 #ba1 #bb ,horseradish #ef ,hot bed #aai ,humus #ad ,irrigation #ag1 #ah1 #fb1 #abe ,kale #ia ,kerosene emulsion #ig ,legumes #ai ,lettuce #ib ,lime #i ,location1 choice of #bd ,marketing #bd ,manure1 storage #aa ,manure1 value of #ac1 #ai ,melon louse #ig ,melons #id ,mushrooms #ii ,muskmelons #ig ,onions #aja ,oyster plant #eh ,parsnip #eg ,peas #ajh ,potato #ei ,potato blight #fc ,potato scab #fc ,potato rot #fc ,preservatives of manure #ab ,pumpkin #fe ,radish #aaj ,rhubarb #aaj ,ruta baga #gb ,salsify #eh ,salt #ca ,sashes #aai ,soil inoculation #cf ,spinach #aab ,squash #fe ,strawberry #aba ,swedes #gb ,sweet potato #aad ,tomatoes #ff ,turnip #ga ,waste products #ag ,water cress #hd ,whale-oil soap #ig ,wood ashes #ag ,everybody ,should ,read our ,new ,book ,,irrigation ,,by ,,cheap ,,modern ,,methods ,double the ,crops--,water will do it4 ,strictly up-to-date4 ,fully ,illustrated4 ,tells you just what you want to know in just the way you want to be told4 ,there is something here for every farmer and gardener4 ,that thing is a sufficient water-supply4 ,irrigation makes deserts to rejoice and gardens to blossom4 ,nature often withholds needed moisture at critical times4 ,millions of dollars are lost annually through the uncertainties of the weather4 ,after reading this work you will be surprised at the cheapness and practicability of irrigation1 which will double the production at an expense of from #aj to #a1jjj1 just according to what you want to spend1 while it reduces soil culture to an exact science and enables the tiller of the soil to work on schedule time4 ,for terms on which this book can be had1 see our ,garden and ,farm ,manual1 which is sent free to all who write for it4 ,compiled and published by ,,johnson ,,stokes 44,,seed ,,growers ,,and ,,merchants44 #bag and #bai ,market ,street ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,illustration3 ,the ,largest ,seed ,warehouse in the ,east ,nos4 #bag and #bai ,market ,street1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,floracroft ,seed ,gardens and ,trial ,grounds ,in order to get the best results from our efforts1 and make sure that customers shall receive from us the best seeds that the world produces1 we have for many years maintained and carried on extensive trials at our ,floracroft ,seed ,gardens and ,trial ,grounds1 located about nine miles from our city warehouses4 ,all operations are under the personal direction and management of one of our firm1 who resides there4 ,here are planted each season1 for thorough trial1 samples of all ,novelties offered by other seedsmen both in this country and ,europe1 as well as anything which may be sent us1 claimed to be new and superior1 by our amateur or market garden customers4 ,by this means we are enabled to satisfy ourselves of the true character and value of any novelty before it can find a place in our catalogue4 ,many acres are also devoted to the production of pedigree stock seed1 from which the seeds we offer are grown4 ,we plant the best seeds obtainable2 then go over the crop1 plant by plant1 carefully rogueing and destroying the inferior and selecting and saving only the best4 ,this stock seed from selected plants is sent to be grown on our farms in localities where the conditions of soil and climate are best adapted to the perfect development of the particular variety4 ,it is the product of such stock seed only that we offer for sale4 ,here are also located our ,seed ,testing ,houses1 where a sample of every lot of seed1 whether grown by ourselves or grown for us under contract1 is thoroughly tested1 in mother earth1 for vitality and purity of stock1 and only those of satisfactory quality and germinating power are sold4 ,in fact1 we leave no stone unturned to gain and hold the confidence of all customers and secure them from disappointment4 ,,johnson ,,stokes 44,,seedsmen44 #bag and #bai ,market ,street1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,illustration ,that grow into dollars for the professional market gardener will also grow the choicest vegetables and flowers in the ,home ,garden4 ,our ,garden and ,farm ,manual ,tells ,all ,about ,them ,it is ,sent ,free to ,seed ,buyers ,johnson ,stokes #bag and #bai ,market ,street ,,philadelphia1 ,,pa4 ,transcriber's ,note 99 ,obvious punctuation and spelling errors repaired4 99 ,footnote moved to the end of the appropriate paragraph4 99 ,notes moved to the end of the appropriate section4 99 ,text enclosed between equal signs was in bold face in the original 7bold74