246 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



changeable and occasionally dry. Vegetables to be first- 

 class and we trust the operator aims at nothing short of 

 the best must go on growing continuously. A check to 

 their growth from poverty, drought or disease, invariably 

 affects the quality. And fencing is necessary to keep off 

 the domestic and the wild pests that never fail to harass 

 an exposed garden. 



Cold Weather Crops. Cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, 

 brocoli, sprouts, peas, carrots, turnips, onions, leeks, parsley, 

 herbs, &c., are sown from February to August, when possible 

 in sheltered seed beds or after rain. Richness of soil, fair 

 cultivation, and the use of water enable the grower to 

 extend the cultivation of these crops, it may be over the 

 entire year. 



The Warm Weather Crops. Beans, sugar, corn, 

 cucumbers, melons, marrows, tomatoes, capsicums, &c., are 

 sown from July right through the warm weather, their 

 success, as in the case of the other classes, depending upon 

 the richness of the soil. 



Radishes, beets, shalots, mustard and cress, rhubarb, 

 celery, asparagus, are more general crops, that are worked 

 at any time of the year the weather and convenience will 

 allow. 



Experience Helps. In no department of agriculture 

 does the experience of the old world come more to our aid 

 than in the kitchen garden. The same system of shallow 

 covering in clean, well-raked ground applies admirably 

 here ; as does transplanting into rich, clean ground, frequent 

 hoeing, care in staking and tying up climbers, &c. Some 

 of our very best vegetable gardeners are men who were 

 trained in the old land. Depth of soil and drainage are 

 easential requisites. In this fast-growing climate plants 

 root deep when they have the opportunity. The quick 

 growers are also heavy feeders, and will stand as much 

 manure as can be conveniently given them. 



Mulching. Mulch covering is a decided aid to our 

 kitchen garden. Almost anything that is not too solid, 

 that is light and of a vegetable nature, answers for this 

 purpose. Straw, old hay, dried cow manure, leaf mould, 

 leaves, small branches, burnt and scrub soil ; all these 



