CATCH CROPvS 69 



It is a mistake to sow the seed too thickly, for along the 

 border there should be 4 inches between the plants, and not more 

 than three plants should be put in an 8-inch pot. It likes mois- 

 ture at the root and at the head, thriving in a humid atmosphere 

 where it may be syringed twice a day. 



We do not recommend sowing too early in the season for 

 ordinary purposes, because the crop would be so very much 

 lighter and the prices not very much apart. March is early 

 enough, and if sown at the beginning of the month the first 

 beans should be ready late in April. As an 8 -inch pot with three 

 plants would not yield more than i Ib. of beans, it would be 

 unprofitable to grow them unless they realised 2s. per Ib. The 

 price, however, is usually in excess of that. 



MUSTARD AND CRESS 



We must not despise this popular old salad and consider it 

 too insignificant for us to notice ; because, if there is a local 

 market for it, there is no salad which pays better for the growing. 

 A crop can be grown and cleared within a fortnight of sowing, 

 and this, repeated half a dozen times, amounts to a considerable 

 sum if done on a fairly large scale. 



It may be forced on beds or in boxes, and though it involves 

 more labour, we prefer the latter because it is cleaner and easier 

 to clear out for re-sowing. 



Fill the boxes, after draining them, with moderately good 

 soil and press down firmly and evenly with a flat piece of wood. 

 Then water well. After the water has well drained away sow 

 the seed thickly, but do not cover with soil. Stand it where it 

 has to be grown and darken for three days, by which time, 

 if the heat is sufficient, the seeds will have germinated. Remove 

 the coverings and sprinkle. In less than another week the 

 crop may be cut. 



STRAWBERRIES 



The strawberry is a fine " catch crop " fruit if there are any 

 vacant shelves or any spare piece of staging where it may be 

 grown without taking up space wanted for regular crops. Still, 

 there is, in our opinion, more glamour than profit about it. 



