618 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Oct., 1918. 



choose one too rich, otherwise the herbs will make a rank growth, and 

 the oil or flavour content will not be so extensive. The best results 

 are obtained from land of a limey formation. Manuring is not neces- 

 sary, and should generally be avoided, for it usually promotes too rank 

 a growth. Thrifty and sturdy development of the herbs is more to be 

 desired than coarse, weedy growth. 



As protection from the cold westerly and northerly winds and also 

 from the hot northerly winds is needed; an easterly or a south-easterly 

 aspect would be the best. 



If the soil be at all heavy and likely to remain wet during the winter, 

 or if the subsoil be of stiff clay, the herb garden, not on a good slope, 

 must be drained. This protects the plants from stagnation and 

 possible rotting m winter; and as it also increases the winter soil- 

 temperature, it allows for a quicker " get-away " of growth in early 

 spring. Thus plants growing in an area where drainage has been 

 considered, will start to grow earlier in the spring, and will, in conse* 

 quence, produce a greater quantity of herbage in the harvesting season. 



It is possible to grow most herbs from seeds, and these should be 

 planted either in early autumn or early spring. Autumn sowing is, 

 perhaps, preferable, as stronger and sturdier plants are then available 

 for the coming spring. 



Quicker, and some experts consider better, returns are to be obtained 

 from planting out cuttings. In that case, the cuttings should be planted 

 in early autumn. Koot division from stools of such plants as thyme 

 would again give much quicker results. The planting should be done in 

 rows, keeping the rows at certain distances according to cultivation 

 requirements. 



If the plots are small, and hand cultivation the method, then the dis- 

 tance between the rows would be from 9 to 12 inches. If the area 

 be large, and cultivation with horses resorted to, then the distance would 

 be from two to three feet. 



The distance between each plant should be from 9 to 12 inches in 

 small areas, and greater distances in big areas. 



It is an interesting and, at the same time, a most valuable factor in 

 herb growing, that these economic plants are not subject to devastating 

 pests. Grown under healthy conditions in suitable soil, and in a sunny 

 position, they are not attacked either by insect pests or fungus diseases. 

 Thus spraying, which is an important work with most economic plant 

 life, is unnecessary. Further, the plantations need not be wire netted 

 to keep out rabbits and hares, for they will not eat herbs. If stock 

 should stray into the herb garden, they might do a little damage by 

 trampling down the plants, but they certainly will not eat them. Indeed, 

 it is an advantage to turn stock, especially sheep, into the plots at certain 

 seasons, so that weeds may be kept down. 



Every endeavour should be . made to keep the plots clean, so as to 

 insure the herbs being free from extraneous growth when harvested. 

 From early spring until harvesting time, and even afterwards, the 

 ground must be kept well tilled, either with the hoe or the horse culti- 

 vator. Weeds are notorious plant food and moisture robbers, and chick- 

 weed, capeweed, sow thistle, and dozens of other such plants, all thrive 

 in cultivated areas. If they obtain a foothold, they work their way 

 among the herbs, and when harvesting commences they, too, are garnered 



