Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-31
DatIu Kfnmebrr Journal.
The Possibilities of an Acre.
PROFITS OF MARKET GARDENING.

HKOFIIS UE
There are so MANY chances in gardening
against the realizing of the highest sue
cess of which the land is capable under
the most favorable circumsta noes. that i
has always seemed to us idle to make such
estimates as are 10 be found in some book:
and papers on gardening for profit.
| 1t IL trne. for instance. that we plant
! 5000 early cabbaoes to the acre. and thai
the best early cabbages are usually worth
ten cents each at wholesale. Still 1t does
not follow that we are likely TO realize
5000 per acre for this crop. On the con
trary, most gardeners would think they
were doing very well TO realize half this
sum. The maggots will get some, others
will be stump rooted, tire green worm
will spoil others, and an nntlmelv drought
if we have not plenty of water to lrrigate
them. will make hem come 50 small as to
brirg ONLY five cents or less each.
Again, this same land that had the crop
If early cabbages will carry Il late crop
ii celery. If which we also plant 5000
Good celc-v il usually worth eight cents
Al wholesale. but we do not usua ~ real
ize $3.50 per acre for this crop Though
y
the average of good celery is probably
not over $500 per acre. and for very
troublesome crop this is no more than IL
ought to bring TO make it profitable to the
grower.
Onions may be grown az an earlv crop
between celery. and under the most fav-
orable conditions 800 To 1000 bushels per
acre have been grcwn. and they often sell
a, 81 per bushel at Wholesale. But the
crop ia subject TO injury from the maggots
and dry weather ard 800 to 400 bushels
per acre may be taken as far crop. and
.eventy-five cents as fair price per
bushel.
One Of the most uncertain Of crops as to
price is lettuce in summer. We sow the
seeds in rows fourteen inches apart. and
hin GU; the plants to stand six or eight
inches apart, so that we have 40 900 or
more plants to the acre. Now lettuce is
sometimes short, and then any one who
happens 10 have a piece ready for sale can
sometimes realize three or four cents per
head; but it is seldom that it brings over
one cent in summer, and it is hard to sell
much OF it even at One-half cent per head.
We usually plant small patch OF five or
ten square rods Of it every ten days. and
take our chances OF the market 1t will
usually average $500 or more to the acre,
but it is rot planted by the acre all al
once. Two crops of lettuce. however,
can be grown sometimes on the same land.
and it is usually followed by some late
crops. such as horse radi-h. melons. cele
ry. etc, upon the same lsnd.
Orion sets are very productive THOUGH
laborious crop. They are planted in
rows 12x3 inches apart, and are punched
four tc each bunch Two thousand dozen
punches or more can be grown upon an
acre, which will usually sell for about
800 or more. and they are cleared about
july LIST, in time for any late crop that is
convenient. Still there is so much labor
in growing and selling them that few
gardeners care to grow more than one.
half an acre.
The radi>h is crop which is very pro
duclive, but is subject To injury from the
maggot on most lands. Arlington is,
however. a favored spot for this vegetable.
md gardeners in that town often clear
$500 to $500 per acre for The radlsh patch
The seed is sown in small lots at a time
very ten days in spring. They are
bunt he'd ten 10 IA bunch. and sell at about
wo cents per bunch at wholesale. They
are only good for few DAYS after they
are ready for market. They are grown
On sandy land. and are usually followed
by melons or squaSheS as second crop
One Of the most productive of all crops
is spinach. When well grown it will
measure 1900 to 2000 bushels per acre;
but il often pays To cut it down before il
is bali crown. SO as to get the early price.
1t usually sells at ab nj 81 per buSh"l in
winter. bcirg brought from Norfolk most
" In April the price begins 10 drop,
and by the lime it gets grown in June
of en- sells tyr ten cents or less per huShel.
II is II risky crop when wintercd over.
hrncing from nothing at all up to $500
or 5000 per acre. 1t is cleared IF, how
ever. in Time to use the land for one or
two crops afterwards in the same season,
such n melons. squaSheS. celery. etc.
One of TIE most remarkable cases that
we remember If the productive capacity
OF one patch of land was where a crop Of
winter spinach was clearedaway in March:
the land was Immediately MANFRED
heavily and piowed and planted with
onion sets; these were cleared off in June.
melon plants having been set about June
5'h. before all the onions were cleared
away. After clearing the onions about
June ooh. row Of celery was set out
between the melon rows. This gave four
full crops in one wear from one piece of
land. one OF which. however. the spinach,
was partly grown the previous year.
OF course such succe-sions of crops
imply good land well MANFRED watered and
titled, together with skilful management
and favorable weather. All large stories
the possibilities of an acre in
market gardening must be taken with a
grain of allowance. and all the circum-
stances fully understood before being ac-
cepied as a guide to future operations
american CaittUdtor.