Selection of a Small Holding. 43 



The aspect of the land is of great importance, as it may 

 make the difference of a week or more in the maturing of a 

 crop even in the same locality, and it is surprising what 

 a few days difference will effect in the prices realised for 

 early produce. A square or oblong and fairly level piece of 

 ground is the best for general purposes, as it is the most 

 convenient form for ease and economy of working and the 

 soil is not liable to be washed away by heavy rains, but for 

 intensive work a gentle slope towards the south will greatly 

 assist in securing early produce both from frames and from 

 the open. Providing there is protection from cold winds a 

 slight turn towards the south-east has some advantages over 

 a full south aspect ; the morning sun will then get sooner into 

 frames in the early part of the year, and during the heat of 

 summer the full glare of the sun is off the frames earlier in 

 the afternoon, thus giving the plants more time to recover 

 from intense heat. Failing either, a turn to the south-west is 

 not to be despised. The worst aspects are those where the 

 whole or greater part of the land has a decided inclination 

 towards the north, north-east, or north-west, but where the 

 ground is undulating such slopes can be turned to good account. 

 In such a case the warmest spots would be selected for the 

 earliest crops, the main crops would be put in a good open 

 position, and the crops which stand in the open through the 

 winter would go on the northerly slopes ; in this position they 

 would be more likely to pass safely through a severe winter, 

 because if they get frozen they can then thaw out gradually 

 before coming under the full power of the sun, the sudden 

 thaw which comes when the sun's rays strike the plant doing 

 more damage than the actual freezing. 



Protection from cold winds is very necessary if forcing and 

 the production of early vegetables is to form part of the 

 business ; this may be obtained by rising ground or a belt of 

 trees on the north and east, or by a wall or close boarded fence 

 all round ; but protection does not imply a position hemmed 

 in and overshadowed by tall trees or buildings, where sun- 

 light is obstructed and the atmosphere is stagnant. For the 

 production of good vegetables full sunlight and a buoyant 

 moving air are essential, besides which insect and fungoid 



