Market-Garden Crops 285 



derived, mainly through selection and improved methods 

 of cultivation. 



All these conditions of growth are not absolutely under 

 the control of the grower ; as, for example, a lack of suffi- 

 cient moisture and sunshine, the latter of which is cer- 

 tainly beyond his power to control. But given good 

 natural conditions in respect to soil, and a favorable 

 season, the one thing that more than any other controls 

 the yield and quality of market-garden products is plant- 

 food of the right amount and kind. In other words, in 

 crops of this sort, any limitation in this respect usually 

 results in a disproportionate reduction in profits. Only 

 under exceptional circumstances is it economical to depend 

 upon natural soil conditions for profitable crops, however 

 favorable such conditions may be, because in successful 

 practice the cropping is in the highest degree "intensive/* 

 and even the best soils are liable to be deficient in some 

 essential feature. 



In market-gardening, two factors are essential : first, 

 a soil that is capable of absorbing and holding water, 

 without being so compact and tight as to prevent free 

 movement of water in all directions. Probably a typical 

 garden soil would be a sandy loam; this kind of soil, 

 however, would be largely regarded as a good place for 

 the plants to grow, rather than as an entire source of food 

 required. Hence, the second factor is that the soil should 

 contain an abundant supply of all kinds and forms of 

 plant-food needed. This may be accomplished by the use 

 of manures, preferably well rotted, which contain plant- 

 food in more or less soluble forms, but which possess, in 

 addition, decaying vegetable matter, so important in con- 

 tributing to the physical character of soils, more especially 

 in the matter of holding moisture. Hence, any soil well 



