What chiefly attracts the gardener to the great cities is stable manure; this is not wanted so much for increasing the richness of the soil—­one ninth part of the manure used by the French gardeners would do for that purpose—­but for keeping the soil at a certain temperature.  Early vegetables pay best, and in order to obtain early produce, not only the air, but the soil as well, must be warmed; that is done by putting great quantities of properly mixed manure into the soil; its fermentation heats it.  But with the present development of industrial skill, heating the soil could be done more economically and more easily by hot-water pipes.  Consequently, the French gardeners begin more and more to make use of portable pipes, or thermosiphons, provisionally established in the cool frames.

Competition that stands in with the railroads can be met only by being near the market or having water transportation.  Indeed, the erect of water transportation in getting manure, and in delivering the produce from the railroads, appears in the early history of trucking.  The railroads often crush out boat competition by absorbing docks and standing in with the commission men.  This could be met by such cooperative selling agencies as the flower growers already have.

“One of the earliest centers for the development of truck farming in its present sense was along the shores of Chesapeake Bay, where fast sailing oyster boats were employed for sending the produce to the neighboring markets of Baltimore and Philadelphia.  In a similar way the gardeners about New York early began pushing out along Long Island, using the waters of the Sound for transporting their produce.  The trucking region on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is another sample of the effect of convenient water transportation in causing an early development of this industry.  The building of the Illinois Central railroad opened up a region in southern Illinois that was supposed to be particularly adapted to fruit growing.” (” Development of the Trucking Interests,” by F. S. Earle, page 439.)

If one goes into the trucking business on so large a scale as to be able to make deals with the railroads, such as The Standard Oil Company has made, of course additional prices could be gotten, owing to the possibility of putting competitors at a disadvantage.  That business is a large one.

In doing business on this scale, much will depend on your ability as a merchant.

“It is useless to grow good crops unless they can be sold at a profit; yet it is safe to say that ten men grow good truck crops for one who markets them to the best advantage.”

Three Acres and Liberty:  Ch.  XI-XV

CHAPTER XI

HOTBEDS AND GREENHOUSES

Whether to get an early start on the garden or for raising plants for field crops, a hotbed is all but indispensable.  In making a hotbed what we seek to do is to imitate Nature at her best, so get the best soil and the sunniest spot you can find.