LECTURE VI 



PLANTING VEGETABLES AND FRUITS 



HIGH culture, soil formation and tillage, seed 

 germination, plant food, and crop enemies, have each 

 in turn been expounded, because they combine to 

 form a safe foundation whereon to build successfully. 



Turning now to our special subject, the planting 

 of vegetables resolves itself into two sections, the 

 first including those of a permanent character, such 

 as Asparagus, Seakale, and Rhubarb, the other those 

 of brief duration, which are raised and brought to 

 perfection in a few weeks or months. For all alike, 

 deep, rich, well-drained soil is indispensable if we 

 would have produce of the highest quality, and we 

 should rest satisfied with nothing short of that. At 

 present we will refer to the permanent crops. 



Asparagus. This has no rival amongst vege- 

 tables in its season, yet it is seldom grown in small 

 gardens or plots. This is probably owing to the 

 fact of a specially prepared bed being once thought 

 necessary for its culture, and also because it does not 

 come into use the first season. Yet special beds are 

 seldom required. We have only to plant one or two 

 year old crowns, a foot apart in rows two feet a- 

 sunder, carefully spreading out the roots, and covering 

 with four inches of fine porous soil, to have a supply 



