78 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



with shears, leaving it about 5ft. 6in. by 4ft. 6in. One ton of 

 straw should make about 250 mats of this size. The materials 

 for each will cost about 3d. 



Before using, the mats should be dipped in a solution of 

 copper sulphate (7lbs. to 25 gallons of water). This toughens 

 the straw, retards decay, and destroys any spores of fungi 

 which may be present. The dipping should be repeated each 

 season. After dipping, the mats should be thoroughly dried. 

 When not in use they should be dried, rolled up, and stored 

 under cover. 



Water. A practically unlimited supply of good water is 

 essential to French gardening. The numerous and abundant 

 crops which are produced by this system depend for their 

 rapid and perfect growth upon ample supplies of moisture 

 indeed, the close planting and intercropping which is so marked 

 a feature of the system could not possibly be brought to a suc- 

 cessful issue without the assistance of regular and copious 

 waterings. To make this possible, a system of pipes is laid in 

 the earth for the conveyance of water, with hydrants or stand- 

 pipes at suitable intervals, so that every part of the garden can 

 be conveniently watered with a moderate length of hose-pipe. 

 The quality of the water is an important matter, and it should 

 be proved by analysis suitable for the growth of plants before 

 the expense of laying pipes is undertaken. 



When good water from public mains can be obtained at a 

 reasonable price it will usually be found to be a convenient 

 source of supply, but failing this it is necessary to raise the 

 water into a tank elevated sufficiently to ensure a good pressure 

 to every part of the garden. 



The choice of motor for raising the water needs careful con- 

 sideration ; a pump worked by wind has attractive features, 

 but a serious objection to its use is that the wind is most likely 

 to fail in hot weather, just at the time when abundant supplies 

 of water are most needed, and unless the storage tank is large 

 enough to hold sufficient water to tide over a period of calm, 

 the crops might be seriously damaged. In very hot dry weather 

 it is not unusual to use as much as 10,000 gallons of water per 

 acre of garden in one day, so that when the means of elevating 

 the water depends solely upon wind power, it is obvious that 



