48 CULINARY HERBS 



condition it will act as a mulch to prevent the loss 

 of water from the lower soil layers. When kept in 

 perfect condition by frequent stirring the immediate 

 surface should be powdery. Yes, powdery! Within 



I inch of the surface, however, the color will be 

 darker from the presence of moisture. When sup- 

 plied with such conditions, failures must be attrib- 

 uted to other causes than lack of water. 



DOUBLE CROPPING 



When desired, herbs may be used as secondary 

 crops to follow such early vegetables as early cab- 

 bage and peas; or, if likely to be 

 ° ^~ ° ~ ° needed still earlier, after radishes, 



II 3X I XI transplanted lettuce and onions 



grown from sets. These primary 



crops, having reached marketable 



II 3X I XI size, are removed, the ground 



- O - O st'''''^'^ ^^^ *^he herb plants trans- 



planted from nursery beds or cold 



1 X I X I frames. 



O — O, — O Often the principal herbs — 



I' V I ^^^^' ^^'^°'"y' marjoram and 



'^ thyme — are set close together, 



O - O — d both the rows and the plants in 



Thinning Scheme for them being nearer than recom- 



Harvesting » , p 



mended further on. The object of 

 such practice is to get several crops in the follow- 

 ing way : When the plants in the rows commence 

 to crowd one another each alternate plant is re- 

 moved and sold or cured. This may perhaps be 



