WORKING ON A SMALL CAPITAL - HOW TO START - GETTING ORDERS - MAKING HOT-BEDS - PLANTS FROM BIG GARDENS.

Second Paper.

WORK, the results of which can be measured by the standard of money, is always most attractive ; yet in this series of papers I do not think it best to figure profits in dollars and cents. Why ? For two reasons. First because it is impossible to accurately name the profits from a work performed by others - until it is really gained - even though the plans of work as given are closely and conscientiously followed. There are many things which tend to make this as it is; differences in climate soil and markets, times of planting, weather and the varying degrees of success. Secondly, the vast differences in individual ability.

I may be able to make from my home garden a profit of S25, besides having for the family all the fruits and vegetables needed. One neighbor who worked as hard and systematically and as carefully as myself may make no profit. While another who apparently pays little attention to his work, only weeding and cultivating at the last moment, and being generally careless, may by a stroke of good fortune in which he had no part, as a soil especially adapted to some vegetable, fruit or flower, which brings a good price, be able to double my profit.

As a rule the gardener who spends the most time in the garden, and works faithfully and understanding, will by no means fail. His reward will usually be in just proportion to his good work.

We have given in detail the necessary qualifications and have pointed out the obstacles to success which may beset us in our start and how to overcome them. We now take our first step in the business, full of energy, determination and business sense.

The question of capital may, and probably will arise, yet the boy or girl worker should by no means become discouraged by lack of means. It is true that we may be able to do much more on a capital of $25 than on $2, but if the $2 is all you have, go ahead. Start as you can in proportion to your capital. Work slowly and carefully, using mental abilities and physical strength, and you will succeed. Begin as you can. If you cannot afford a hot-bed, have a cold-frame. If even this is too expensive, start your seeds in pans and boxes in "mother's kitchen window." She surely will not object, if she sees that her girl or boy is in earnest.

Having determined to venture, let it be known among your grown-up acquaintances that you will be able to supply them with flower and vegetable plants of certain kinds at the proper season. Impress upon their minds that you will aim to have nice, sturdy plants of the best varieties, and at moderate prices. Let them know you are in earnest and mean business, and that you propose doing things in a business-like manner. Have some order blanks printed in the shape of a contract, something like the following:

Goshen, N. Y..............'............18...

Master for Miss) J. Miller :

You will please furnish me at the proper time for planting, in April or May, the following named plants, for which I agree to pay you the prices set opposite the respective articles, on delivery.

(Signature of purchaser).

If you have a friend who owns a printing outfit, engage him to do the work; it will encourage him and he may be able to send you customers for plants. He will also probably order some of your plants. If this cannot be done, you will probably be able to arrange with some other printer to do your work and pay him in plants.

Go among your friends and secure their orders early. Get as many in advance of the season of planting as possible, that you may be able to know somewhat of what must be done to fill orders.

The formation of hot-beds and cold-frames is next in the order of work. Let me explain the true difference between a cold-frame and a hot-bed, lest the young worker get a wrong impression from the use of the terms:

A hot-bed, in brief, is a frame made of wood, covered with glass sash and heated either by flues run-ning along the bottom under the earth or by a bottom some inches deep of stable manure. A cold-frame is exactly the same, except that it is given no bottom heat. The impression is frequent that a hot-bed must necessarily occupy a southern exposure and a cold-frame a northern one. This is not wholly true, for while a hot-bed is much better located where the sun strikes it from the south, the location of a cold-frame depends entirely upon the purpose for which it is to be used.

If we desire to raise our young plants in a cold-frame, we certainly do not want it located with a northern exposure, for we must have the benefit of all the sun possible to take the place of the bottom heat we have in hot-beds.