VEGETABLE GROWIX& /T SE\V SOUTH WALES. 



A word of warning might be interpolated against venturing extensively on 

 lines for which a market does not already exist. The creation ,of a demand 

 for a new article is a task requiring particular ability and a good deal of 

 capital. 



Not less important than proximity to the market are the facilities that 

 exist for forwarding the produce. It is quite possible for all that has been 

 indicated in the foregoing to be ensured, and yet the means of transport to 

 be so slow and otherwise unsatisfactory as to spell failure for the enterprise. 

 Freshness is a necessary qualification where the best ruling rate is to be 

 obtained, and good road or quick train or steamer transit is therefore essen- 

 tial. To avoid much of the delay and reduce the damage which usually 

 attaches to transit by rail, land should be selected that is situated on a main 

 trunk railway line ; branch lines necessitate extra handling, and therefore 

 delay. The experienced grower of green vegetables knows that, no matter 

 how good may be the quality of his produce, there will be little profit if any 

 avoidable waste of time takes place between the harvesting of the crop and 

 its sale to the ultimate consumer. 



The Manure Supply. 



The conveniences and facilities just referred to have also a close connection 

 with the important subject of regular and ample supplies of manure. The 

 subject of manures in relation to vegetable gardening need not be discussed 

 here, but it is opportune to point out briefly that not only are fertilisers 

 necessary, but-wherever intensive cropping is going on, material must regularly 

 be added to the soil to maintain its humus content. Stable manure is 

 the ideal material for the purpose, but is apt to prove expensive if the haulage, 

 whether by road or rail, is long. Growers who are located near large towns 

 or cities are in a position to obtain supplies from convenient stables, and to 

 do the carting themselves on the way back from market. 



Growers situated close to the railway line can obtain constant supplies of 

 city street sweepings from the Sydney Municipal Council, or Flemington 

 (Homebush Stock Saleyards and Abattoirs) by arrangement with the con- 

 tractor. The price of the street sweepings is 15s. per 6-ton truck, f.o.r. 

 Sydney, and the freights per ton are : 10 miles, Is. 7d. ; 20 miles, 2s. Id. ; 

 30 miles, 2s. 7d. ; 40 miles, 3s. 6d. ; 50 miles, 4s. 4d. 



Commercial fertilisers are available to all, and the transport cost should 

 not in any case be a bar to their use. 



Suitable and Unsuitable Soils. 



From the foregoing it will be gathered that the intending market gardener 

 must have regard to quite a number of considerations in selecting the district 

 or locality in which he will settle, but there are several factors of importance 

 that should influence him in the tinal selection of the piece of land on which 

 operations are to be^ carried on. 



