SUCCESSION CROPS FEASIBLE 39 



cucumbers and spinach, may be saved from the cold by a 

 covering of old rugs and similar material. 



As the gardener can not duplicate the cool, moist con- 

 ditions of spring for the germination of August seeds, 

 he must do the next best thing and firm the soil well 

 after sowing. This helps to draw the moisture in the 

 soil where the seedlings can use it. When they have made 

 a start the surface is to be stirred to form a mulch. 



Bush beans sown as late as August 10 have been suc- 

 cessfully harvested by October 15. In another case an 

 August 1 sowing of peas yielded full-sized pods in less 

 than seven weeks. These were an extra early sort. The 

 crop, however, was not so heavy as from spring-sown 

 seed. 



Lettuce planted in early August bore leaves large 

 enough to use before the middle of September and well 

 formed heads from the first week in October until the 

 ground was cleared. 



This is only a suggestive outline of the scheme of grow- 

 ing succession crops. There are wide possibilities along 

 that line, and it is feasible to go still further and sow 

 rape as soon as the vegetables are off in September and 

 October. By November 1 this will be in condition for 

 forage. Hogs and sheep can feed from this field of rape 

 for several weeks before winter sets in, and it is again 

 ready for them in the spring. 



So far as the effect on the soil is concerned, it is possi- 

 ble to continue the double cropping of vegetables indefi- 

 nitely. The land will most likely show improvement 

 under such methods of cultivation, but a rotative scheme 

 is advisable on small tracts as well as large ones. 



