VEGECULTURE 



Here, surely, is sufficient encouragement for the town gardener 

 to attempt something in the way* of vegetable-growing, be it 

 on only a small, humble scale ! And it may assist the towns- 

 man in his efforts if some of the pitfalls that may lie in his path 

 are pointed out, for he will then be enabled to avoid them. 

 Moreover, these mistakes are not confined to the small garden ; 

 they occur frequently in gardens blessed with a far superior 

 environment ! 



The choice of subjects to be grown is a serious stumbling- 

 block in many a town or suburban gardener's path I mean a 

 wrong choice, a mistaken choice, a pandering to 

 Choice personal fancy rather than a subservience of all ques- 

 of tions to actual needs, means, and circumstances. 



Subject One can grow one's favourite vegetable if the soil, 

 situation, and aspect are suited to that vegetable, 

 or can be made suitable ; otherwise, time and energy expended 

 in such cultivation is sheer waste and grievous disappointment. 

 It is far better to accept the inevitable, however disappointing, 

 and select another vegetable the nearest approach to the 

 ideal one which may be impossible to grow successfully. Of 

 course, there is often much latitude in cultivation, and many 

 methods of circumventing the difficulties of site and soil, and 

 if the gardener has a good stock of patience, time, and money 

 available, he may cheerfully undertake anything in the way 

 of making circumstances more amenable to desires ; indeed, 

 if the ground at his disposal is his own then let him spare no 

 trouble. 



To quote examples of choice of subject : I fail to see the use 

 of growing vegetables that demand considerable space, such as 

 Potatoes, Peas, or Celery, with the addition, most likely, of 

 fruit trees and bushes, in a garden of very small dimensions ; 

 and yet, again, it is sheer folly to allow a good-sizfed open space 

 to be monopolized by petty crops of salads or indifferent vege- 

 tables that would grow equally well, perhaps better, between 

 rows of more valuable main-crop subjects. In the small garden, 

 a succession of vegetables, of a kind that will grow quickly, 

 or the specializing of a couple or so of extra choice vegetables, 

 should be aimed at. For example, a well-grown head of Cauli- 

 flower or Broccoli, a sweet " spring " Cabbage, or a few of the 

 choicer salad-vegetables would be better appreciated from a 

 small garden than a few pounds of Potatoes. Not that J wish 

 to decry or ignore the joys of a dish of real " new " Potatoes 

 from one's own garden ; they are indeed a luxury to be sought 



