104 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



The prices obtained for French garden produce are subject to 

 wide fluctuations, and the most careful estimate may be found 

 unreliable in any given season. It is only by averaging the 

 returns over a number of years that any fair estimate can be 

 arrived at. This is the method by which the prices following 

 have been fixed, and in all cases they are rather under than 

 over-stated. 



In calculating the quantity of saleable produce obtained from 

 the garden a sufficient allowance has been made for waste. 

 The average crop per light from frames is four bunches each 

 of radishes and carrots when these are grown with lettuces, or 

 eight bunches of radishes when carrots are omitted. When 

 they stand thicker than this the lettuces are injured. Turnips 

 grown alone yield seven bunches per light. The number of 

 roots to a bunch is twelve each of radishes and turnips, and 

 fifty of carrots, in two "half-bunches" of twenty-five, tied 

 together. 



No. 1 Section. Open-air bed, planted at the end of October with hardy 

 Cos Lettuce, 1ft. between the rows, lOin. between the plants in the row. 

 About the middle of February Radishes are sown thinly between the rows 

 of Lettuce, every fifth row being left vacant for convenience in gathering. 

 There are 96 doz. Lettuces planted, of which 80 doz. may be expected to 

 pass through the winter successfully and realise an average price of 1/3 per 

 doz. The Radishes should yield 50 doz. bunches at 8d. per doz. After the 

 bed is cleared of Lettuce it must receive a good dressing of manure from 

 section 5 (where some of the hot-beds are by this time done with) ; this is 

 forked in and the section is planted at the beginning of June with early 

 Celery, in rows 12in. apart, by Sin. apart in the rows. This should be ready 

 for sale in the latter part of August, and there should be 110 doz. saleable 

 sticks, which will sell for an average price of 1/6 per doz. When the Celery 

 is gone clear the ground of rubbish, hoe well, and sow Radishes, which will 

 be ready in October, and should yield 140 doz. bunches at 6d. per doz. 



No. 2 Section. Open-air bed, planted at the end of October with hardy 

 Cabbage Lettuce (Passion), at the same distances apart as Cos on No. 1, 

 and being earlier may be expected to realise the same price. Radishes also 

 same as No. 1. This section will be cleared early in May, and in the middle 

 of the month well-prepared forward Tomato plants are set out in double 

 rows 2ft. apart, 3ft. between the double rows, and 18in. between the plants 

 in the rows, which run north and south. Each plant is covered with a 

 cloche as it is set out. The section will accommodate 252 plants which will, 

 if properly treated, bear ripe fruit early in July, and should yield, at a low 

 average, 4lbs. per plant at 2d. per Ib. 



