LAYING OUT THE GARDEN 29 



much sunshine may be grown on the shady side 

 of tall plants. For convenience in special fer- 

 tilizing and cultivating, it is an advantage to grow 

 related plants near each other. Parsnips and 

 salsify are usually grown in rows by themselves. 

 They need about the same kind of land and require 

 nearly the same cultivation and both must have 

 an entire season for development, even being left 

 in the ground over winter to perfect the texture 

 and flavor. Place them by themselves and out of 

 the way of the fall plowing. Perhaps all the 

 "roots" could be grown in a plot by themselves. 

 Nearly all varieties of greens and salad plants 

 should be grown in a separate group of rows. By 

 this sort of arrangement of related vegetables, 

 convenience and economy of labor may easily be 

 secured. 



The question of garden conservation, however, 

 is far more than merely a matter of convenience. 

 We should plan to carry out some form of crop 

 rotation. By that means we secure the best crops, 

 both as to quantity and also quality; the soil re- 

 ceives more uniform cultivation; and plant- food 

 is kept most evenly balanced. Crop and soil rota- 

 tion have long been considered essential to good 

 farming. It is even more necessary in a garden 

 that is to be permanent. We will assume that the 

 careful preparation of the garden has made the 

 soil as nearly evenly balanced as possible ; that is, 

 so far as the main plant-foods, potash, phosphorus 



