The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-07
8be FARM.
Profitable Market Garden Crops.

Of early grown crops, if n has
a warm soil, radishes make n OF
the most profitable as demanding
little expense except the punching,
which is necessary only when you
are sure of your crop and a sale for
it. 1t usually finds large sale at a
good price if very early, and is often
raised as "A stolen crop. Another
advantage is, the quick returns
secured, the crop being raised and
marketed IN from forty to sixty
days.
Onions, year in and year out, pro-
badly yield the most profit Of any
garden crop, but should never be
undertaken in large amount at first,
nor even upon a small scale If the
ground is poor or weedy. New
ground, one or two years titled, Is
especially favorable, and along with
this, if the grower has an Unborn
hatred of weeds, he is pretty sure OF
a crop.
On cool soils and well titled, early
peas are a good crop, but provision
must be made to have an abundance
of pickers whenever wanted. 1t Is
also cleared from the ground in
time to allow of picking cucum-
bers, late cabbage, late roasting ears
of corn, or turnips, and by planting
between the rows, fine crops OF
melons or squash can be grown after
them.
Early cabbage pays well when
well titled on very rich ground, but
most beginners err in attempting at
first to grow largely of early cab
bage and late celery, two Of the most
difficult crops to grow, and demand
ing the largest outlay and risk.
Early beets for punching are
usually in free demand and pay well,
having no pests and safe for a late
crop should they miss the early
market. But the grower must re-
member they are bulky, and it takes
a great many wagon loads to realize
500.
Early potatoes in every market
are sure of a demand and one of our
surest crops. Economically man
aged it always yields a fair profit,
and often a very large one. Mulch
ing with manure to be plowed under
for the second crop insures a good
yield, and being all available for the
other crop really costs the potatoes
nothing.
Sweet cor usually pays well if
brought into the market very early,
or very late, but it is so easily raised
that in the season the glut drives
the prices to low figures. But it is
profitable hog and stock feed while
green ; feed stalks and all, SO there
need never be any loss upon 1T.
Melons upon sandy soil in good
heart, if protected from their many
pests. "can't help but pay" and
the demand grows with the supply
till we can almost say that no mar
ket has for any length of time been
glutted with them. But ~"eternal
vigilance is the price, of melons.
Winter squash, especially Hub
bard, have become such a staple in
the market that a large demand is
always certain, and the grower of a
large crop rarely fails to realize
well. Failures are often due to in
sufficient fertility, but more fire.
quently by neglect, the bugs are
allowed to destroy them.
Tomatoes, if once well rooted, are
the most tenacious of life, and
loyalty yield at least a fair crop, |
whether the season be a continuous
drouth or one %protracted rain.
Often it is imprudently marketed
and the price driven very low. But
1t has become such a standard fruit |
for Immediate table use and for can
ming, that with tact in marketing,
or by canning all surplus, a fair
price ought to be maintained. l an
nually market several hundred
bushels, but never have sold a bushel
for less than seventy-fve cents, and
more usually have obtained a dollar.
On the wagon ready for market l
do not think they cost me more than
thirty cents at the highest.
The root crop, beets, carrots, par
ships and rutabagas, grown upon
clayey loan, pay we'll in most mar
kets, but the important items of
expense are their culture and har-
vesting, and the most economic
methods must be studied.-Roofs
Manual.