The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-10-12
Written for the Florida AgrscuIturist.
Market Gardening.
BY NoRTHERNER.

By NoRTHERNER.
There is no business in the world
SO old as that of gardening. 1t
began with the creation. The Lord
planted the first garden eastward in
Eden, and as he was the originator
of the business, we think it must be
one that it is good for man to follow.
We presume, with Milton, that Eve
looked after the floral kingdom,
while Adam watched with longing
eyes the wealth of fruit and yegeta-
bles that were crowded there. We
doubt not that all that the earth has
since known had its origin in Eden.
Gen. xxx; and they must have
arrived at perfection, nourished in
the bosom of the virgin earth. No
wonder that Adam was Gisconsolate
when driven out cf he garden, for
he was then in the same strait that
we are, obliged to experiment under
difficulties and conditions new to us.
But the fruit of his labor is yet in
our midst, showing that he made it
success; and by the same zeal and
perseverance we'll succeed also. But
market gardening is of late date.
The inhabitants of the Celestial
kingdom" trace their knowledge of
it to very remote age. Vegetables
have been known and appreciated in
all time. You will find them for sale
in the narrow streets of Egypt, and
all over the civilized " orld.l The wo-
men of Holland, who often "serve in
the oxen's stead," have a novel way
of carrying their vegetables to mar
ket; a strap is placed around the
back of the neck and reaches halt
yard or more in front, with a shallow
basket tied on each end, in which the
vegetables are placed, and often the
baby also; another basket sits on the
head, and thus loaded, they will
travel several miles TO market, while
the husband sits in the shade smok-
ing, or trying in some way to kill
time, until she returns to prepare lis
dinner. But we, women of Florida,
are not in favor of that kind OF mar
ket gardening, but are willing to as
sist wherever our labor can be appre-
ciated. Good vegetables are among
Heavens best gifts to man. No
other food is so healthful, SO aDpetiz.
ing, so much sought for by those
who know its merit; and the ques-
tion is not who will buy our vegeta-
bles, but how can we raise them
most proftably? and how get them
to market in good condition? These
questions have been answered over
and again, and still there is room.
The problem is not yet solved to the
satisfaction of all; old gardeners find
new difficulties, and new ones don't
know how to begin. The sugges.
tons of some are too general to hit
any, and too complicated to be un-
derstood by all. What we want is
plain facts and experimental knowl.
edge, so that the new beginner can
go to work with confidence, and feel
that his labor viii not be in vain.
There is not SO nuch difference in
our pine lands as some would have
us suppose. High, rolling pine land
is the most healthtul to live on; but
level land, not too low, is the best
for cultivation. Avoid that which
abounds in white sand, scrub paImet-
to and black jack; the low, wet lands
are unfit tor cultivation. With these
facts before you it is easy to secure
good land, OF which there is abund-
ance yet 10 be had, and when that is
all under cultivation, its will pay to
redeem our wet lands, and not till
then. If you expect to plant veget.
ables on new pine land the first year,
you will be disappointed; in order to
do so you must buy some that has
already been cultivated, which will
give you nearly years start. -, 80. But
presuming you have taken new pine
land, the first thing is to cut off the
timber. Many deaden it, but that is
not the best plan, for these reasons,
it takes it from six months to a year
to die; and until it is dead or cut, the
ground cannot be sweetened; it is
easier 10 cut green than after 1t is
deadened, and ii let remain until it
falls of itself the ground is never free
from litter, and keeps one continually