Vlll INTRODUCTION. 



require the whole season to mature, there should be 

 one or two rows of some crops that mature quickly, 

 so they can perfect their growth, and may be re- 

 moved before their room will be required. Thus, an 

 extra crop is secured, and the main crop will be in- 

 creased because the extra crops do not draw as much 

 moisture from the soil as the sun would. Neither 

 does the soil suffer from becoming parched. 



To get three or more crops from the soil in a 

 year is what may be called intensive farming, which 

 it is, and the only way farming can be made profit- 

 able ; but this system of farming requires large quan- 

 tities of plant food. 



MANURE. 



This should always be in readiness, and given 

 the plants when required. Too much manure at a 

 given time is not profitable; tm's is particularly true 

 where commercial fertilizers are employed. It is 

 far better to feed the plants two or three times dur- 

 ing their period of growth than to apply the entire 

 amount at one time. While it is true that where 

 the ground is heavily manured for a first crop, a 

 second one can be obtained if of an entirely differ- 

 ent nature without any additional manure, it is 

 equally true that each crop should have an applica- 

 tion, however light, and this should be thoroughly 

 incorporated with the soil before the seed is sown, or 

 plants are set. 



Much of the actual value of manures is lost in 

 their application ; much of it is put into the ground 

 in such a manner that it is an injury rather than a 

 benefit to the plants. It is a common occurrence to 



