26 VEGECULTURE 



pots is performed in similar manner. Planting-out refers usually 

 to larger specimens that have passed some time in a nursery 

 bed to gain a sufficiency of strength. The operation coincides 

 with that of transplanting seedlings, but the procedure may be 

 somewhat rougher. Cabbage, Onion, and Lettuce plants, 

 for example, are usually placed in a dibbled hole, which is then 

 filled with water, and soon afterwards the earth is made firm 

 around the stem of the plant by pressing with the point of the 

 dibble. 



The art of cultivation consists in: (i) continually stirring the 

 soil, either vigorously or gently, as circumstances warrant, by 

 means of the rake, hoe, fork, and cultivator ; 

 General (2) a sufficient provision of liquid supplies ; 



Cultivation (3) the application of stimulating manures during 

 growth, chiefly chemical and in liquid form, or 

 assisted to act by watering or rainfall ; (4) weed-killing by 

 no means the least of all operations ; and (5) the removal and 

 destruction of insects, or prevention of their attacks. Good 

 cultivation assists growth, fruitfulness, size, and quality. It 

 often succeeds in producing good crops on poor soil, and where 

 a proper system of cultivation and drainage exists, quite half 

 the usual quantity of manure afforded under indifferent methods 

 may be dispensed with. The golden rule for the vegetable 

 gardener is to never let the soil rest. 



So much time, worry, and labour is spent upon the attempted 

 elimination of insect pests, and with but poor success, after all, 

 that the gardener is often in despair and feels 

 Insect like giving up the conflict. This proves that 



Pests and prevention by any means is better than cure ; 

 Diseases that it is far wiser to track the enemy to its place 

 of origin, and destroy it there, or remove causes and 

 environment that may afford the least encouragement to insect 

 and disease production, rather than to wait until the enemy is 

 actually upon the scene and the deadly, fatal attacks begun. 

 And if we carefully examine and inquire into these matters, we 

 shall find that one of the most prolific encouragements to garden 

 enemies is weeds and superfluous vegetation ; another is decay- 

 ing vegetable and other matter left lying upon the surface of 

 the soil, wherein breed hosts of undesirables that affect both 

 the health of the garden and the gardener ; stagnant water, 

 excessive dampness, planting too closely, too much shade, 

 and, worst of all, lack of care, foresight, and vigilance on the 

 part of the cultivator himself, are other channels through and 



