864 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



There are, happily, thousands of amateur gardeners who are 

 influenced by considerations such as these, and the purpose of this 

 section of the book is to suggest methods by which, even though 

 the space that can be allotted to the kitchen garden be extremely 

 limited, the fullest possible return can be secured for the time and 

 effort that are expended upon its cultivation. 



And at the outset the principle that needs to be adopted and 

 kept ever closely in mind is that known as cropping by rotation. 

 This means, in effect, that no given crop should be allocated to 

 the same site year after year. Market gardeners and professional 

 growers long ago discovered the undesirability of this method. 

 A little scientific study of the needs of each variety of crop soon 

 reveals the fact that every species of plant extracts from the soil 

 nourishment peculiar to itself. It follows therefore that unless 

 the principle of rotation be adopted the ground speedily becomes 

 denuded of the special nutritious elements that are necessary 

 for the full development of the plant ; deterioration sets in, and 

 failure is the inevitable sequel. Disappointment will follow, no 

 matter how regularly an attempt is made to rectify the deficiencies 

 in the soil by the use of organic manure. 



For this reason it is necessary that the would-be vegetable- 

 grower should give himself ample room in which to put the 

 principle of rotation into practice. No useful purpose is served by 

 crowding a limited area of soil with growing vegetables in such a 

 manner that the ground is always occupied in spring and summer 

 and vacant for the remainder of the year. Wherever it is possible 

 an uncropped space should be left for seed-raising, or for experi- 

 ment, and especially so that there will be no necessity to wait for 

 one crop to come off before another can take its place. 



So that the reader may fully understand the object to be 

 aimed at it will be advisable to show by example what is 

 meant by rotation. Here are a few hints that are worth keeping 

 hi mind: 



Cabbages, which are an exhausting crop, should not be planted 

 in soil which immediately before has borne a similar crop 



