Introduction to Horticulture

Contents: I. Fruit: 1. A peck of apples. 2. How the blemishes on the apples might have been avoided. 3. Grading and packing apples. 4. An apple show at the schoolhouse. 5. A basket of peaches. 6. A basket of grapes. 7. A quart of strawberries. 8. A pint of red raspberries. 9. A glass of currant jelly. 10. Plantation of trees and bushes. 11. Care of fruit plantations. 12. Pruning young fruit trees. 13. Maintenance pruning of bearing trees. 14. Renovation pruning of old trees. 15. Top grafting apple trees. 16. How an apple tree is produced. 17. How a peach tree is produced. 18. How the grape is propagated. 19. The spray pump and its operation. 20. Directions for making spray mixtures. II. The vegetable garden: 21. Starting vegetable plants in boxes. 22. The making and care of hotbeds. 23. Transplanting. 24. Planting seeds. 25. Supplying the needs of plants. 26. Planning a garden. 27. Growing methods for different vegetables: some early spring crops. 28. Some of the root crops. 29. Growing ripe onions from seed. 30. Potatoes. 31. Cabbage. 32. Beans and corn. 33. Cucumbers and squashes. 34. Tomatoes. 35. Asparagus and Rhubarb. 36. Vegetables attacked by insects and diseases. 37. Vegetables preservation for winter use. 38. Fruit plantations care. Appendix. References. Index. This book is designed for use as a text and guide in modern high school and colleges in agriculture extends through two or more years, one of which is devoted to horticulture. This book will prove of most value if the suggestions regarding study of actual specimens of fruits, twigs, etc., are followed in detail and trees are actually planted and pruned by the students. Similarly, seed boxes should be made and seeds planted, hotbeds constructed and cared for, insects caught and identified. A list of suggested home projects suitable for the various seasons of the year is given in Appendix. Only two branches of horticulture are considered in these studies, namely, fruit culture and vegetable gardening. The other two branches, floriculture and landscape gardening are left for more advanced study after the high-school work is completed. The plan for these studies contemplates concentration upon a few subjects rather than a general survey of many subjects. The aim here has been to select crops which lend themselves most readily to culture in the home projects of the students. Vegetables have been chosen for which there is usually a consistent demand at the table or in the market, and for which the cultural requirements can usually be met under the conditions of soil and environment likely to obtain in village back yards, vacant town lots, or the corner of a field on the farm. Few references to literature occur in the text. …