Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-11-10
AGnrCuITunAL.
Market Farming and Gardening.


Abstract OF Lecture before the studeats OF |
Name state College Of Agriculture and the Me- |
chsnic Association. BY }. n. Gregory. Al
IRGroKrIp 1T @. =. sAnnoSp, OF The JUNIOR |
sN cLAss.l
LECTURE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
People who have never engaged in
market farming aud gardening, think it
requires grsat amount OF information |
in order to succeed, while in reality the |
great requisites are care and skill in |
cultiyating.
What is market gardening? 1t oriei-
mates in the refined wants Of great cit
lee. Ii handles vegetable growth full OF
sap, early forced vegetables. Market
farming deals in vegetables not so per
ishable.
In market gardening there IL required
81 least one man to each acre of land
under cultivation, and the business can
not be carried on successfully without
TINS number. 1t also requires capital
OF $500 to the acre. Market farming re-
quires one man for every two acres aud
capital of t2oo per acre.
Ia the way of market farming, Mr.
Gregory culuvates sixty acres aud en-
ploys about twenty five men, and in the
busy season, enough besides TO make
the average about thirty men from car
y spring to November.
The location for market gardening
should be as near a city as possible.
Since market gardening deals in arti-
Giles that must be put into the market as
soon as possible, the ground that pro-
duces aud the pace OF consumption
must be at no great distance apart
Within two 10 eight miles of good
market the business can be carried on
prohtably. On account of the great
amount OF manure to be hauled, the
farm should not be too far from a city,
Tor the cost OF moving manure is consid-
cradle, about $3.50 per cord for one
mile, Tor two miles 81 90, the price of
course increasing with The distance
Another advantage in being near the
market i that il enables the producer
10 take advantage of spasmodic calls for
his articles. Yet if farmers within a
short distance of cities do not engage in
he business, 1t will pay even q, dis
lance OF twenty miles.
The distance from the city for market
farming can be greater, because il ham
dies such produce as SOU ashes, onions.
caooases, early potatoes, early peas and
beans, while market gardening deals
greens, and early forced vegetables.
such a lettuce and cucumbers all more
delicate and perishable than those be-
fore named.
he zone Of six miles round city
then can be well adapted 10 market gar
denlng, while the zone included be-
tween that and twenty miles 10 market
farming.
ne best possible soil for either pur-
pose isa good deep loan. No one
KNOWS how much nature has done for a
good soil. until he tries 10 bring poor
one into good condition. In general
loamv soil is needed. but there are
some plants such as celery and horse
radlsh, that will grow well in "A muck
or clay soil. But whatever the quality
q the soil IT must I've put in the best
condition possible. all the surface water
must be taken of BY drainage Il is a
principle ni the English thAt all soils
are improved by drainage. and il j. GER
tam that most lands will be improved
by II, especially all low lands. Mr..
'regory has put on his farm about four
miles Of tile within wear. and knows
That land draining PAYS. The English
government has taken drainage into lis
own hands. and simply because il paws.
Dark tiles should be selected. and after
beng laid, the joints should be covered
with some material that decomposes
SLOWLY. As general rule two inch
Tile are large enough for laterals. For
garden purposes the drains should be
about eighteen feet apart.
The farm should be exposed on the
south side on account OF the sun. II
there is no natural protection Oh the
north side of hot beds. board fence
from - TO feet high should be erect
cd, which VIII make u difference of sew
era! degrees in temperature.
he implements TO be used should be
OF the most approved Kind. IL pays 10
buE good tools. but does not pay 10 buy
poor ones.
HoIbrooks plows We're recommended
ior pulverIzing the soil. Shaw's har-
row is a good implement for rendering
tAe ground fine, the manure fine, and
mixing them well together. In addi-
ton to the common hoe there is used
the slide hoe, wheel hoe, steel digging
FORK, and rakes of various kinds. Tho
wheel and slide hoes are used with crops
planted IN rows. Goodwin's wheel hoe
goes within an inch of the crop. and
can be controlled with ease by the work
man.
Market gardening or market farming
cannot be carried on without manure
IN large quantity. The maxim of every
one should be, use everything that he
can get and seek for more The last put
on IS what gives the profit, since it takes
certain amount to keep up the wastes
OF the farm, and give crops that will
cover the expenses of cultivation. All
added beyond that amount which can