84 DISTRICTS OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



in those areas where the growth is not so advanced. 

 In the case of soil, it has already been shown that 

 a large proportion of the area under garden culti- 

 vation is on comparatively unfavourable land. 



SMALL HOLDINGS IN THE MARKET-GARDENING 

 DISTRICTS OF BEDFORDSHIRE. 



The district round Sandy and Biggleswade in 

 Bedfordshire is practically all under market -garden 

 cultivation. The land is very suitable for vegetable- 

 growing ; the warm, sandy soil of the Lower 

 Green-sand formation, which by itself is very sterile, 

 when mixed with the alluvial soil of the Ivel Valley, 

 forms here a very fertile loam. 



Type of Cultivation. 



The chief crops grown are brussels-sprouts, carrots, 

 and vegetable-marrows ; besides these, there are the 

 different varieties of the cabbage tribe, cucumbers, 

 beet, onions, parsnips, parsley, beans, turnips, etc. 

 Brussels-sprouts are at present a very favourite crop, 

 and there must be many hundreds of acres devoted 

 to it. The reason of its popularity appears to be 

 largely that it supplies more winter work than the 

 other vegetables, being gathered from October to 

 March. It is also suitable for starting with on land 

 which is not yet in a clean condition. Mr. Pratt 

 states in his book, ' The Transition in Agriculture,' 

 that about 40 tons of sprouts would be sent on a 

 busy day from Biggleswade to London in the special 



