32 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



The plant-food balance, however, may be again 

 destroyed. There may be an over-supply of nitro- 

 gen, and a decrease in potash and phosphorus. To 

 even things up, we must grow on that plat again 

 some vegetable that needs a large quantity of 

 this leaf-producing food and can thrive on com- 

 paratively small amounts of potash and phos- 

 phorus. Salad plants and greens are precisely the 

 right choice. The more nitrogen foliage plants 

 can get, the faster they will grow and the bigger 

 and tenderer and richer colored will the leaves be- 

 come. These foliage plants will make lusty 

 growth, and the balance of plant-food will again, 

 supposedly, be secured. Growing these vegetables 

 having different kinds of root growth has, as well, 

 brought about a more uniform cultivation of the 

 soil. A three-year rotation in both crops and soil 

 has consequently been carried out. 



One or two general conclusions may be drawn 

 and suggestions therefrom given. Always follow 

 legumes with foliage plants or those making big 

 growth of vine. Use plants needing little potash 

 and phosphorus where those have been grown 

 which tend to exhaust the soil of these elements. 

 While these suggestions are especially intended 

 for use in making rotation by seasons, they may 

 easily be put into practice during one year. Suc- 

 cessive cropping is merely a short rotation. When 

 late spinach or celery or lettuce is grown after 

 early peas, this plan is followed. Grow brussels 



