The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-16
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Vegetables for the Garden.

In early times the farmer was in the habit
of calling at the store when his garden was
ready for sowing and OF getting such seeds as
happened to be left; and upon such contin-
gency the quality and extent of his garden
depended. Frequently the scotsman had for
sale hut one variety of each vegetable, and
often the same package had TO do duty for
several years, or until sold.
Now, so many candidates for popular
favor are announced each year that it is i'm
practicable for the ordinary farmer and gar
dener to try them all, and if he occasionally
makes venture and is disappointed he is
very apt TO denounce all novelties and to a2-
here to some old and perhaps disused variety.
Even the regular seed-grower finds it severe
tax upon his resources to test thoroughly
and impartialiy every claimant upon his
attention; and the tendency is for each.. man
to decry his rivals bantling and to exagger-
ate all the merits of his own.
While we believe that many very valuable
vegetables have been introduced within few
years, we also think that the seed catalogues
are numbered up with useless varieties. At
the same time charity constrains us to admit
that there are so many different soils and eli
mates and such diversity of tastes, that
almost every seed and plant does find favor
somewhere.
We think it is we'll to wait until all novel
ties have passed the ordeal of the seedsmen,
and then year by year add one or two to our
experimental bed. The list that we subjoin
has received many respectable endorsements,
and may be recommended to all who have
no fixed preferences Or prejudices.
Beans.
The Wax or Butter bean is an excellent
string bean, especially the black seeded va
riety. The white Wax is better for shell
bean. The Horticultural will always stand
high as a running bean. DreeI's improved
Lima is so highly commended that it will pro-
baby be safe to try it even in our latitude so
unfavorable to all other Limas.
Beet.
The Egyptian is the earliest. The Bassano
and Blood Turnip are always reliable; the
former when sown late is very good for win
ter use. The Long Blood Red is the popular
winter kind however.
CaDDages
The early York is an old standard. In
Boston market the Early Wyman leads. The
Winningstadt is excellent for summer-or
winter if sown late. The Drumheads are
late and large. Under the same head we will
mention that there is but little hope of get
ting Caulifowers of any size unless we depend
upon the Early Dwarf Erfurt.
'-2- Carrot.
For forcing and early table use, the Short
Horn, although small and short, is the best.
The Long Orange for general crop is to be
preferred; improved varities are offered by
different dealers.
The Minnesota is quite early but the stalks
and ears are small. Crosby's and Moore's
are both excellent and reliable for the stand
ard crop. Stowelps Evergreen is very good
but very late. .
Cucumber.
The Russian is early, but small, and of not
much account. For summer use and for
pickles, the Early Frame and White Spine
are most common. The improved Long
Green has been described as the longest, lat
est and best of all the varieties for general
cultivation. Failby's Hybrid, although high
ly recommended has not quite come up to our
expectations.
Lettuce.
1t is difficult to decide here as there are
many good kinds. We prefer All the Year
Round, and Hanson's.
Phinney's Water Melon stands well
uuho infr No
inclined to favor Vick's Early, and Ferry's
Peerless also. We used formerly to raise the
large old fashioned Musk Melon, and the
Pine Apple with sweet juicy green flesh. We
are not able to recommend any of the many
modern kinds we have tried.
Onion.
The Weatherfied Red is one of the best
kinds for the general crop. There are sew
eral other good varieties. The Italian On
ions seem to be. attractive for size and show.
We prefer the Onion Sets.
Parsnip.
The short, round French, is a compact,
early understanding the turnip in sha pc.
We raise it, although the Student and Hol.
low Grown are in general use.
faatf4 49, az Peas. W.
The Philadelphia Extra Early under differ
ent names is perhaps the best and earliest.
Tom Thumb, Little Gem aud Blue Peter are
good dwarfs. The Champion of England is
popular everywhere. .--
Squashee.
For summer use the Early Brush Crook
Necked, and for fall and winter the Turban
and Hubbard. Some later novelties we have
not tried.
&MnaE Tomatoes.
The Conqueror, Canada Victor, and Tro-
ply may be tried without risk. There are
some other kinds that will give satisfaction.
Turnip.
Among the English Turnips the
White Flat Dutch is considered the earliest.
An extensive exhibitor of vegetables says
that the White Stone is the best table and
keeping variety of ten or more tested. The
White Sweet Russian, and Improved Ameri-
can Yellow, are two leading sorts in the
Swede or Ruta Baga varieties.