FEB.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 123 



well occupied with as many crops annually as possible, as practised 

 by the experienced market gardeners and others, who have occasion 

 to cultivate the whole kitchen ground to every possible advantage, 

 often having two or three different crops advancing in successive 

 order together on the same compartment, especially where the prin- 

 cipal crops are in wide rows, as in cauliflowers, cabbages, beans, &c. 

 Other kinds are frequently inter-cropped, at proper periods, with 

 those of peculiar growth in the respective sorts ; not to impede each 

 other nor the principal crops above intimated. Sometimes slight 

 crops of quick growth are sown to come off soon, or by the time the 

 others begin to advance considerably; or sometimes, in the advanced 

 state of the main crops, they are inter-cropped with others of a more 

 continuing and larger growth to be coming forward, ready, as the 

 others are going off; fully occupying the same spot in a succession 

 of crops in some advanced growth, whereby both time and ground 

 are occasionally gained, though, where there is a plentiful scope of 

 kitchen ground, especially in private gardens, any considerable inter- 

 cropping would be unnecessary, as generally each sort raised sepa- 

 rately will, in some degree, be superior ; however, on the other hand, 

 as in many places the kitchen ground is much limited, it is incum- 

 bent on the occupier or cultivator to inter-crop occasionally where it 

 can be done with a good prospect of success, agreeably to the above 

 intimations. With regard to the different methods of sowing and 

 planting the different crops, these shall be designated in the course 

 of the work. 



Destroying weeds is a most necessary culture in the kitchen gar- 

 den, which must be very particularly attended to ; for the success of 

 the crops greatly depends thereon, and without a full determination 

 to keep them clean, it is in vain to sow or plant any. 



The utmost attention is necessary never to suffer weeds to perfect 

 their seeds in any part, whether in cropped or vacant quarters, or on 

 dung-hills or compost heaps, as they would lay the foundation of 

 several years' trouble to extirpate them; for, as in digging and hoe- 

 ing the ground, some of the seed would be buried near the surface, 

 and others much deeper, at every time of stirring the earth, a fresh 

 crop of weeds would arise from the same stock of seeds, which veri- 

 fies the saying, " One year's seeding makes seven years' weeding." 



WORK TO BE DONE IN THIS MONTH. 



The various preparations for early crops, noticed last month, in 

 page 17, &c., I would again recommend to your particular attention, 

 as you ought to " take time by the forelock" at this season, and have 

 as much as possible in a state of forwardness, in order to ease the 

 great press of business which will naturally come on next month. 



CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 



Where the raising of early cucumbers and melons was not begun 

 last month, it may now be commenced the beginning or middle of 

 this, with a greater prospect of success ; observing exactly the same 



