40 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



tables during the summer and early autumn is not 

 sufficient. It should be possible during the late 

 autumn, winter, and spring months to have a choice 

 of at least some of the following : cabbages (savoys), 

 brussels sprouts, broccoli, borecole, and leeks from 

 the open ground ; and beet, carrots, parsnips, onions, 

 and swedes which were stored in autumn. Unfor- 

 tunately this aspect of the subject is often much 

 neglected, with the result that garden ground is not 

 made to produce a full and regular contribution to 

 the food supplies. 



Direction of Bows. It is important that the 

 rows of all vegetable crops should run north and 

 south, or as nearly so as possible, with a view to 

 utilising to the utmost sun-heat and light. This 

 arrangement has the effect of exposing a greater 

 leaf surface and soil surface to the direct rays of 

 the sun ; of producing warmer soil conditions right 

 through the growing season, owing to less shading of 

 the ground between the rows and this is a valuable 

 factor in increasing the production of plant foods. 

 It also promotes rapidity and quality of growth 

 and early maturity in the crops, and conduces in a 

 large measure to the success of any inter-cropping 

 that may be carried out. 



Inter-cropping. This may be denned simply as 

 the growing of two crops simultaneously on the same 

 piece of ground. Much might be done in this direc- 

 tion in all gardens and allotments, provided that 

 overcrowding is avoided, as this would be distinctly 

 harmful, and would defeat the object in view. 



The spaces between the rows of slow-growing main 

 crp vegetables should as far as possible be sown 



