CROPPING. 407 



grown on the farm ; the potato being a crop that, for some reason or 

 other which we do not pretend to explain, is seldom found so mealy 

 and high- flavoured when grown in a garden as when grown in a field. 

 There are next several crops, each of which has nearly an equal claim 

 for space, viz. carrots, parsnips, onions, beans, kidney-beans, celery, 

 and winter spinach. Jerusalem artichokes and red-beet crops may 

 come next in the order of space required ; and then leeks, garlic and 

 shallots, salsafy and scorzonera. In some gardens salading is a most 

 important consideration, requiring almost more space and attention 

 than all other crops. In others, such plants as lettuce, endive, radish, 

 cress, mustard, chervil, parsley, and other summer salading, garnish- 

 ings or herbs, may in general be grown among other crops, or a very 

 small surface of ground suffices. 



In determining the extent of each crop, the nature of the produce 

 must be taken as a guide. It would be of little use to have a less 

 quantity of any crop than would not at a single gathering produce a dish 

 sufficient for a family of several persons. This for such articles as 

 asparagus and peas requires considerable breadth of ground ; but this 

 breadth once planted and in bearing, will afford several or perhaps 

 many gatherings during the time it is in season. On the other hand, 

 where a succession of crops of turnips or carrots is wanted, if only two 

 or three square yards were sown each time, that space would afford 

 one or two dishes. For such articles as salsafy and scorzonera, which 

 in most English families may perhaps not be asked for above two or 

 three times in a season, a very small surface will be sufficient. When 

 a gardener enters on a new place, before he determines on the extent 

 of particular crops, he ought to consult the cook or housekeeper as to 

 the style of cookery, the ordinary amount of company, and the seasons 

 when extraordinary supplies are wanted, with the periods when vege- 

 tables and fruits require to be sent to a distance, and other particulars 

 bearing upon the kind of crops to be grown. Having formed 

 general ideas on the extent of each crop, he will next be able to 

 determine on a system of succession, or, as it is called, rotation. 



The quantity of seed for crops, proportioned as above described for a 

 garden of an acre and a quarter, may be as follows: Peas, from fifteen 

 to twenty quarts ; white cabbage of different kinds, three oz. ; savoys, 

 two oz. ; Brussels sprouts, two oz. ; cauliflowers, three oz. ; broccoli, 

 seven oz.; borecoles, two oz.; red cabbage, one oz. ; kohlrabi, one oz.; 

 turnips, white, six oz. ; yellow, two oz. ; early potatoes, from one 

 bushel to four, according to demand ; carrots, five oz. ; onions, eight 

 oz. ; beans, broad, four qts. ; kidney beans, three qts. ; scarlet runners, 

 two qts. ; celery, one oz. ; Flanders spinach, one qt. ; summer spinach, 

 two qts. ; Jerusalem artichoke, one peck ; red beet, four oz. ; parsnips, 

 four oz. ; leeks, two oz. ; garlic, half Ib. ; shallots, three Ibs. ; salsafy. 

 half oz. ; scorzonera, half oz. ; lettuce, Cos, three oz. ; cabbage do., two 

 oz. ; endive, two oz. ; radish, three pts. ; cress, one pt. ; mustard, one 

 qt. ; parsley, two oz. 



The following are the actual quantities used in Bicton, a first-class 

 garden, by Mr. Barnes : 



