RESULTS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. 319 



This shows a manifest advantage in shifting crops, varying 

 from one to seventy-five per cent. 



Tlie most successful market gardeners understand this neces- 

 sity for changing crops perfectly well. One of them recently 

 said that he would not plant a piece of land to cabbages the 

 second year, even if the use of the land and an abundance 

 of manure were given to him for nothing, for these reasons : 

 first, that the previous crop of cabbages had left something in 

 the soil which would prevent his obtaining a crop worth har- 

 vesting, no matter how well manured ; and that if two lots 

 adjoining were ploughed crosswise, on one of which there hud 

 been grown a crop of cabbages, that the small quantity of 

 soil carried by the plough from the lot on which there had 

 been cabbages, to the other, would ; injure tliat lot to a dis- 

 tance of six to ten or more feet, so as to unfit that extent 

 of land for the growth of that particular crop ; and, secondly, 

 that there would be much more annoyance from insects on 

 the old than on a new lot, which is another important con- 

 sideration. 



Now if this is true, and we do not see any reason to doubt it, 

 it would indicate that there was something left in the soil by 

 the cabbages that was detrimental to a future crop of the same 

 plant, and it is evident that the adjoining six to ten feet had not 

 been exhausted of the particular element required for the 

 growth of the cabbage. 



However that may be, the experience of practical men en- 

 gaged in gardening has demonstrated that success will in a 

 considerable measure depend upon changing the crop frequently 

 upon the same land. 



In harvesting, all varieties of vegetables are better for being 

 carefully handled ; breaking or bruising them injures their keep- 

 ing qualities very much. Therefore they should be carefully 

 gathered, trimmed, washed or otherwise prepared, and sent in 

 tidy, clean and attractive packages to market, for when so pre- 

 pared they will sell quicker and at a better price. 



And it is very important when vegetables are to be stored and 

 kept, either for family use or a late market, that they should be 

 sound and entirely exempt from disease or injury in any form ; 

 for if they are stored with any defective ones among them, it 

 will not only cause their decay, but will rot others near them. 



