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PREFACE. 



INCREASED production is the only practical solution of the problems of high 

 prices and scarcity, under which every country in the world is labouring at 

 the present time, and the solution does not rest alone with those who are 

 farming large areas. Consumers can help themselves and their fellow citizens 

 by becoming producers according to their own opportunities, and this many 

 can do by raising vegetables on such small areas as are available round their 

 own homes. Probably nine-tenths of the residences in New South \fy ales 

 have a plot of ground large enough to raise a substantial quantity of fresh 

 vegetables almost sufficient for the requirements of the household. 



Despite the disadvantages of time and distance by which they are seem- 

 ingly prejudiced, and the wide areas of suitable land in this State that 

 could easily be made to supply the whole of our own requirements, large 

 quantities of vegetables, grown in Victoria and Tasmania, successfully 

 compete with locally-grown produce in our markets. The bulk of the home- 

 grown vegetables offered for sale in Sydney is raised by Chinamen, while in 

 Victoria the celestial has long ago been almost forced out of the business by 

 the white grower. It was one of the impressions derived by many of our 

 " diggers," Jjhat the supply of vegetables in all European countries was in 

 the hands of growers of their own nationality. Why it should be otherwise 

 in New South Wales is not clear. 



Contrary to popular opinion, vegetable growing does not, demand such 

 long hours as the industrious Mongolian suggests. Like any other business 

 it requires the commonsense application of up-to-date methods, an intelligent 

 recognition of the principles underlying the control of contrary elements 

 (pests and diseases), a capacity to apply energy in the right direction, and 

 sufficient business ability to run the place on comm^cial lines. Sound 

 methods are reflected in the quantity and quality of the crops, but careless, 

 unsystematic, labour- wasting practices have their reflex in unprofitable and 

 unattractive products. 



The present publication indicates the methods adopted on the Department's 

 experiment farms, and 'by the most successful commercial growers in the 

 State. An effort has been made so to present the various recommendations 

 that growers in different parts of the State can readily adapt them to their 

 own peculiar conditions. 



The book is particularly intended to be of use to the small market gardener 

 and the suburban resident. It is hoped that as the initial effort of the kind, 

 it will prove practically useful, and suggestive. 



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