VEGETABLE GARDENING 



CHAPTEE I. 



SOIL MANAGEMENT. 



THE basis of successful vegetable cultivation lies in 

 the thorough working and preparation of the soil 

 along the lines best suited to its texture and com- 

 position, coupled with adequate manuring according 

 to the requirements of particular soils and crops. 

 Soils are very variable, and in order to obtain the 

 best results it is essential that each cultivator should 

 have at least an elementary knowledge of the type 

 of soil with which he is dealing, so that he may work 

 and manure the soil to the best advantage, with due 

 regard both to economy and efficiency, and at the 

 same time realise to the fullest possible extent its 

 natural resources. This does not in any way imply 

 the depletion of the soil. On the contrary, if the 

 methods of cultivation and manuring are conceived 

 along right lines and efficiently executed in practice, 

 the soil fertility becomes gradually built up and per- 

 manently increased, and this should be one of the 

 chief aims in all soil operations. 



