Rotation of Crops in the Kitchen Garden 



51 



well tilled and abundantly manured, cannot 

 be soon exhausted ; but even in this case a 

 rotation of crops is advisable. It is less easy 

 to say why, than to insist that in practice we 

 find it so. The question then arises — What 

 is a rotation of crops ? It is the ordering of 

 their succession in such a manner that they 

 will successively tax the soil for mineral ali- 

 ments in a different manner. A good rotation 

 will include both chemical and mechanical 

 differences, and place tap-roots in a course 

 between surface roots, as, for example. Carrots, 

 Parsnips, and Beets, after Cabbage, Cauli- 

 flower, and Brocoli ; and light, quick surface 

 crops, such as Spinach, to serve as substi- 

 tutes for fallows. The cropping of the 

 kitchen garden should be, as far as possible, 

 so ordered that plants of the same natural 

 families never succeed one another; and, 

 above all things, it is important to shift from 

 place to place, from year to year, all the 

 Cabbage-worts and the Potatoes, for these 

 are the most exhaustive crops we grow. In 

 I ton of Potatoes there are about 12 lb. of 

 potash, 4 lb. of sulphuric acid, 2/^ lb. of 

 phosphoric acid, and i lb. of magnesia. 

 We may replace these substances by abun- 

 dant manuring, and we are bound to say that 



the best rotation will not obviate the neces- 

 sity for manuring ; but even then it is 

 well to crop the plot with Peas, Spinach, 

 Lettuce, and other plants that occupy it for a 

 comparativelybriefspaceof time, and necessi- 

 tate much digging and stirring; for these 

 mechanical agencies combine with the ma- 

 nure in preparing the plot to grow Potatoes 

 again much better than if the land were kept 

 to this crop only from year to year. If we 

 could mark out a plot of ground into four 

 parts, we should devote one plot to perma- 

 nent crops — such as Asparagus and Sea Kale 

 — and on the other three keep the crops re- 

 volving in some such order as this : — No. i, 

 short-lived crops, such as Peas, Spinach, and 

 Saladings, to be followed by Cabbage-worts ; 

 No. 2, tap-roots, such as Carrots, Parsnips, 

 and Beets ; No. 3, Potatoes, Turnips, and 

 Onions. In the next season the original No. 

 2 would be cropped as the original No. i, 

 and the original No. 3 as No. 2. In the next 

 year the original No. 3 would be cropped as 

 the original No. i ; and so on : every crop 

 to be prepared for by vigorous stirring of the 

 ground and manuring ; and if the subsoil 

 were good, we should trench it two spits deep 

 for every crop. — Suttons' Amateur's Guide. 



GLASS HOUSES— CONSTRUCTION AND VENTILATION.. 



THE modes of constructing and ventila- 

 ting every description of hothouse are 

 varied in character to meet the wants — to 

 minister to the whims, and shall we say the 

 prejudices of all those engaged in plant culti- 

 vation, be it for the floriferous or beautiful 

 character of the plant, or for what it yields to 

 gratify the palate. The resources of the 

 manufacturer of plant-houses are apparently 

 unlimited, for no sooner is one point gained 

 than another obstacle, requiring remedy, con- 

 fronts itself, and so, again, the ingenuity is 

 taxed, fresh ideas crop up, and are theorized 

 upon for some little time ; the point becomes 

 clearer and clearer to the mechanical mind, 



the materials are put together by way of ex- 

 periment, and the problem, that has probably 

 called forth may anxious thoughts, is solved. 

 There may appear little on the face of a glass- 

 house sketch that seems to involve profound 

 thought, or a play of ingenuity, and yet upon 

 the details of its construction very much de- 

 pend the prolonged life and health of the; 

 inmates which it is intended to protect.. ^ 



The proper form or outline of a house irt- ^ "^ ' 

 tended for the growth of plants is one ger-j^ ^ '^ 

 mane point; the proper means provided {<>^^^o^ 

 ventilation is another. Upon these ^ 'W^ < 

 wants being properly met depends very r^ q^^ ^ 



the success of those engaged in plant^ % ^ ^ "•" 



