PREFACE. 



IV /TANY years of practical work in connection 

 A VI w jth market gardening and small holdings, 

 both in actually cultivating the soil and in directing 

 the work of others, have made me familiar with many 

 of the needs and difficulties of those who gain their 

 living from the cultivation of small areas of land, as 

 well as having given me an insight into the factors 

 which lead to success. 



Amongst the greatest difficulties inexperienced men 

 have to contend with are the want of direction as 

 to general procedure and precise advice on points of 

 detail. Even those who may fairly lay claim to ex- 

 perience often find themselves in doubt on subjects 

 outside the usual routine. In many such instances 

 collections of handbooks and periodicals on gardening 

 matters are cursorily consulted, but it is seldom that 

 any enlightenment can be discovered just at the 

 moment it is needed, and as the matter is usually 



