In Burpee’s Farm Annual for 1887 we offered cash prizes for the two
best essays, to be sent us by October, 1887, upon the subject, “HOW AND
WHAT TO GROW IN A KITCHEN GARDEN OF ONE ACRE.” In its original form E.
D. DARLINGTON’S essay covered more fully than any other the operations
and best methods to pursue in the management of the garden, and was
awarded the first prize. Being desirous, however, of making this work
not only practical but thoroughly complete in all departments, and from
personal acquaintance with Mr. Darlington and his gardening operations,
together with the fact that for some years he had tested numerous
varieties of vegetables for us, we arranged with him to entirely revise
and enlarge his essay. In compliance with our request he has entered
more into detail in the directions for culture, and has added impartial
descriptions of the varieties that he has found best adapted both to
the Kitchen Garden and the table. To make the treatise more complete,
he prepared a diagram of his own kitchen garden, which is one acre
in size, as laid out for a year’s work. Some varieties grown are not
marked in the diagram, as they are worked in as parts of other rows,
but this is all fully explained in the body of his treatise.
To add to the value of the book as a plain and practical guide for the
novice in gardening, we have had illustrations engraved showing the two
plans of hotbeds, the methods of storing roots for winter use, etc. We
have also inserted engravings, mostly drawn from nature, of the leading
varieties of vegetables described in the text, that the gardener may
have an accurate idea of the form of the different varieties and may be
able to tell whether his products are of the right type.
We take pleasure, also, in publishing the essay of Miss L. M. MOLL,
of Illinois, which was awarded the second prize. We are glad to note
that she has been explicit in describing the culture of some of the
less generally grown varieties of salads and herbs which are valuable
adjuncts to the table, and upon which Mr. Darlington has failed to
treat. Some of the methods described in this essay are, however,
unnecessarily laborious. For instance, the wide bed of perennials, as
described, would require considerable hand labor to keep the soil loose
and free from weeds; while, if planted in long rows, horse cultivation
would lessen this tedious work and would also loosen the ground to a
greater depth. The varieties recommended by Miss Moll, while generally
good, have in some cases been surpassed by improved varieties of more
recent introduction.
As presented in the following pages, the two essays will, we believe,
make this book, for general use, the most complete and practical
treatise on gardening published. Such has been our earnest endeavor,
and we are confident that it will be recognized as a thoroughly
trustworthy guide. With careful study of its teachings, the novice
should be able to plant and successfully manage a Kitchen Garden, be it
one acre, more or less, while we trust that experienced gardeners will
find much to commend and will be able to gain some new ideas.