50 . Market Gardening, 



best possible condition to begin with, and then that 

 the artificial fertilizers or further manurings, whatever 

 they may be, should be applied in such a way that the 

 growing crops can readily reach and take up this sup- 

 plementary nourishment. 



In what has been said on Preparation of the Soil, w^e 

 have included many detailed directions for applying 

 manures to the soil, and amongst them have recom- 

 mended having the land ploughed once in advance of 

 the first application of the manure. This gives a 

 chance for the manure (especially if it is a little 

 coarse) to be worked into the soil more thoroughly by 

 the second ploughing than it otherwise would. How- 

 ever, except in comparatively few instances, the pres- 

 ence of coarse manure is a serious impediment and 

 disadvantage in the process of cultivation. It should 

 be in a fine state, reduced to tliis condition by slowly 

 conducted previous fermentation, and should be very 

 thoroughly intermixed with the soil. 



Of course, as already said, it is very important that 

 market-garden crops be grown quickly, and right here 

 13 the reason why quick-growing crops require more 

 manure than others that take a whole season to com- 

 plete their growth : it is because the latter have more 

 time in which to feel about and collect their necessary 

 nourishment from the soil and atmosphere; but the 

 former must have their food in abundance, and it must 

 be placed within easy reach of th^ feeding roots,, or 

 there will be a most decided shortage in the result. 



There are great differcncci in the requirements of 

 the various crops^ and no set rule can be given that 



