GENERAL ITEMS. 123 



afterwards using means to conserve the water in the 

 soil, is infinitely better from all aspects of the subject 

 than frequent waterings. 



Intensive Cropping. 



Both from an individual and a national aspect, 

 well-cropped gardens and allotments are a valuable 

 asset ; and if they are to contribute their full and 

 proper share to the food supplies, more systematic 

 cultivation and cropping must be practised than has 

 been hitherto the rule. There must be intelligent 

 anticipation for many months ahead, so that the 

 interval of time between crops during which the 

 ground is allowed to lie idle may be as short as 

 possible, and that throughout the growing season it 

 may be cropped to its utmost capacity. There can 

 be no doubt that allowing land to lie idle for an 

 unnecessarily long period, or cropping it insufficiently 

 at any time, means a distinct loss to the owner ; 

 for not only are the crops lost that it ought to yield, 

 but there is liable to be considerable wastage of 

 valuable plant foods during periods of heavy rain- 

 fall, when they may be washed down to the sub- 

 soil or to the drains, particularly in the lighter 

 soils. 



By intelligent soil management and manuring, and 

 the selection of suitable kinds and varieties of vege- 

 tables, sown and planted at appropriate times, it is 

 possible to increase largely the productivity of the 

 land, and to ensure a constant supply of valuable 

 food crops at all seasons. This can be accomplished 

 in anything approaching a maximum degree only 



