u6 Commercial Gardening 



to the condition in which stuff is sent to market will always pay the 

 individual grower, besides helping the trade generally. [w. G. L.] 



Although the estimated area devoted to this crop in Evesham is only 

 100 to 120 ac., yet the total number of lettuces from that area is a very 

 large one, being planted at the rate of about 174,000 per acre, or 6 in. 

 apart in each direction the actual number per acre at 6 in. apart being 

 174,240. One variety is chiefly grown, and that is " Schofield". It 

 is sown early in August, and in September strong plants are ready for 

 planting out, which is done immediately the plums are cleared away. 

 The Lettuce are planted under Plum trees in plantations and belts, on 

 warm borders and in breadths between single or double lines of Plum 

 trees, the earliest usually being gathered from under the trees and from 

 warm borders. Birds are kept down, else serious destruction to Lettuce 

 during winter would take place; and slugs and soot do not harmoniously 

 exist together. [j. u.] 



19. MINT 



Mint (MentJia viridis), like Parsley, is a crop of which sales of great bulk 

 cannot be made, and which does not suit the grower whose instincts run to 

 large breadths of a few crops. It is nevertheless a useful crop to the man 

 who is willing to take pains over the small things. Mint has the additional 

 advantage that where a man has glass it forces well and provides a useful 

 item in his house rotation. 



Mint requires generous treatment and does best on light soil. Plants are 

 obtained from lifting an old bed, and then pulling the young growths so that 

 each has a little bit of root. These are planted with the dibber 1 ft. by 

 9 in. as early in the spring as the plants are big enough and the land avail- 

 able. The crop must be kept free of weeds and should produce a good 

 cutting in July. Hoeing is difficult to carry out late, because the plants 

 throw out runners, which, if undisturbed, will cover the ground and provide 

 the young growths for the next year. 



Forcing". Where mint is grown for forcing it will not be cut but be 

 allowed to die back naturally. The roots for forcing are forked out or 

 turfed in November and laid in the houses, covered with a little light soil, 

 and beaten down tight. Heat and plenty of water are required, and the 

 crop can be gathered from the middle of January to March, when it may 

 realize as much as 5s. per dozen bunches of about forty sprays each. 



It is the practice with some to leave a piece of Mint down for several 

 years, keeping it in heart by liberal topdressings of manure every winter. 

 Unless great care is taken in dealing with weed growths the land will get 

 very foul. 



Some plough it up after the midsummer cutting of the second year, and 

 put a crop of strong-growing winter greenstuff on the land; to keep up the 

 supply a fresh piece is planted every spring. The price of Mint is Is. to 

 Is. 6d per dozen bunches, each containing 3 to 4 dozen shoots, and a good 

 piece will yield two or three cuttings during the summer. [w. G. L.] 



