44 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



pests, particularly the latter, flourish most in dull confined 

 places. 



Good sound fences round the holding are not merely desirable 

 but are absolutely necessary, and if not already in existence 

 will mean a serious item of expense to the tenant, unless an 

 an arrangement can be made for the owner to bear the cost. 



The best soil for general purposes combined with intensive 

 culture is a moderately light loam of good depth. It is not 

 easy to secure a holding with such a soil and all other essential 

 conditions; therefore one must be content with the nearest 

 approach to it. Most soils, however unpromising, can be 

 brought into fertile condition by draining, frequent deep 

 working, liming, and the addition of heavy dressings of animal 

 manure, but any substantial improvement can only be brought 

 about slowly and is frequently a very costly business. The 

 man with small means should avoid thin shallow soils, very 

 open and dry sandy or gravelly soils, and heavy undrained 

 clays, also run-down derelict land which is frequently little 

 else than a nursery ground for twitch, thistles, briars, rabbits, 

 and other abominations from the gardener's point of view; 

 such land would sometimes cost more than the freehold is 

 worth to bring it into good condition, 



Whatever may be the description of soil it should have good 

 drainage, either natural or artificial. If it is in need of 

 drainage and that expensive operation has to be undertaken 

 by the tenant there should be some allowance made or some 

 important advantage should be present as a compensation. 

 When draining has to be done care must be taken to see 

 that there is fall enough to enable the water to get away 

 easily ; drain-pipes in the land are of no use without a proper 

 outfall. Low damp situations and water-logged soils which 

 cannot easily be drained should always be avoided, no matter 

 how cheap or well-situated the land may be. 



An unlimited supply of good water is essential, especially 

 where intensive work is to be carried on, as copious waterings 

 must often be given to these crops. Apart from the domestic 

 supply this may be obtained from river, stream, or pond, or 

 from public water mains; water from wells should only be 

 used in the last resort, as it frequently contains salts which 



