48 CULINARY HERBS 



condition it will act as a mulch to prevent the loss 

 of water from the lower soil layers. When kept in 

 perfect condition by frequent stirring the immediate 

 surface should be powdery. Yes, pozvdery! Within 

 I inch of the surface, however, the color will be 

 darker from the presence of moisture. When sup- 

 plied with such conditions, failures must be attrib- 

 uted to other causes than lack of water. 



DOUBLE CROPPING , 



When desired, herbs may be used as secondary 

 crops to follow such early vegetables as early cab- 

 bage and peas ; or, if likely to be 

 needed still earlier, after radishes, 

 transplanted lettuce and onions 

 grown from sets. These primary 

 crops, having reached marketable 

 size, are removed, the ground 

 stirred and the herb plants trans- 

 planted from nursery beds or cold 

 frames. 



Often the principal herbs — 

 sage, savory, marjoram and 

 thyme — are set close together, 

 both the rows and the plants in 

 them being nearer than recom- 

 mended further on. The object of 

 such practice is to get several crops in the follow- 

 ing way: When the plants in the rows commence 

 to crowd one another each alternate plant is re- 

 moved and sold or cured. This may perhaps be 



