SEQUENCE OF CROPS. 



4*1 



SEWAGE. 



Sequence of Crops. 



Where any of the Brassicae, or Deteriora- 

 tors, were grown the previous season, 

 follow them with Preparers, which are 

 mostly root crops, as potatoes, carrots, 

 parsnips, onions, scorzoneras, salsafy, &c. 

 Follow these as far as possible by Surface 

 Crops, which are mostly the shortest-lived 

 of any, and include all saladings. Map 

 out the garden, therefore, and give each 

 crop its proper position and space, and 

 note the time of its duration as a guide 

 for selecting its successor ; this applies to 

 kitchen gardens of any extent, but more 

 particularly to those which are limited, 

 because it economises the room. Crops, 

 called Deepeners (see Crops, Disposition of), 

 because they require depth and richness of 

 soil, and occupy the same spot for a long 

 time, comprise but a small portion, com- 

 paratively, of the occupants 01 the kitchen 

 garden, and cannot be used in the same 

 proportion, although their office in respect 

 of deepening the soil is important ; but where 

 bush fruits are grown largely in the kitchen 

 garden they may be added to the group, 

 and managed in the same way that is, 

 plant a certain number every year and 

 remove an equal number of old ones : by 

 this a fresh piece of soil can be devoted 

 to grosser-feeding crops which has long 

 been innocent of them. The principal 

 point of culture for the Deepeners is that 

 the ground must be deeply worked, both 

 at planting and taking up. For the Pre- 

 parers the ground should be trenched two 

 spades deep, chiefly bastard trenching, 

 with plenty of manure of good sound 

 quality, or mixed with maiden earth. For 

 the Surface Crops, merely pointing or 

 forking manure into the surface or top six 

 inches of soil will suffice, after which, if 

 again trenched two spits deep, adding no 

 fresh manure, the ground will be in excel- 

 lent condition for the most scourging of all 

 crops, the Exhausters; namely, broccoli, 



Savoys, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, bore- 

 cole, &c. By working on some such 

 principle as this, the soil may be kept in 

 a state of fertility for ages without fear of 

 those vexations and disagreeable results 

 which arise from want of method and 

 forethought. 



It should be observed that to carry out 

 this system of grouping and rotation there 

 must be no edging of beds with parsley, 

 chives, or other dwarf plants, for appear- 

 ances ; no devoting particular corners per- 

 petually to sweet herbs for convenience ; 

 no edging the quarters with strawberries 

 or "what-not"; but every plant must 

 take its place and turn as part and parcel 

 of the whole ; every variety and species 

 must perform its part in preparing the 

 ground for a successor. It may appear 

 difficult, but it is practicable. 



Sew'age. 



It is unnecessary to say much here upon 

 sewage, which is better suited for manur- 

 ing farm lands than for dressing garden 

 ground. House slops are valuable on 

 account of the urine and alkaline salts 

 that they contain, and are therefore useful 

 for gardens. Night soil is undesirable for 

 small gardens, although it is useful in 

 market gardening on a large scale. The 

 conservation and application of human 

 excreta to garden ground is best effected by 

 means of the earth closet, of which that 

 which is constructed on Moule's patent 

 appears to be the best. The manure 

 obtained from this source is possessed of 

 considerable fertilising properties, which 

 are augmented by mixing a little pulverised 

 charcoal with the earth. Indeed, it has 

 been said that manure from earth closets 

 would be all the more valuable if the earth 

 were dispensed with altogether and char- 

 coal used in its stead. Pumps connected 

 with cesspits to draw up the fluid part of 

 their contents are also useful in garden work. 



