VEGETABLE GABDEN 



1105 



So long as the soil has a crop of a different 

 nature upon it each year, it matters httle 

 in what order the various crops ' rotate ' 

 or follow each other, but the longer any 

 particular crop is kept from occupying 

 the same piece of ground, the better for 

 the crop, the better for the soil, and the 

 more economy with manures. 



Arramgement of the Vegetables de- 

 scribed. — The rotation of crops has in a 

 great measure influenced the order in 

 which the vegetables described in this 

 work have been arranged. At first the 

 alphabetical arrangement commended 

 itself. But, as any particular vegetable is 

 easily found by means of the Index at the 

 end, it seemed to be scarcely worth while 

 separating plants of a similar nature, like 

 Carrots and Parsnips for instance, because 

 their names began with a different letter. 

 The plants have therefore been arranged 

 more or less in their natural groups (i) 

 because being of the same nature they 

 require more or less similar treatment and 

 conditions, and what suits one will as a 

 rule suit the other, and vice versa ; (ii) 

 because the plants of each group may ro- 

 tate or succeed on the ground occupied the 

 previous year by plants of another group ; 

 and (iii) that a system of rotation of vege- 

 table crops is thus seen at a glance by such 

 an arrangement of the plants as follows : — 

 Group I. Cruciferous Crops, such 

 as Cabbage, Savoy, Cauliflower, Broccoli, 

 Brussels Sprouts, Kale or Borecole, Tur- 

 nips, Radishes, Seakale &c. (p. 1113 to 

 p. 1123). 



Group II. Leguminous Crops, such 

 as Peas' and Beans (p. 1123 to p. 1128). 



Group III. Umbelliferous Crops, 

 such as Carrots, Parsnips, Celery, and 

 Parsley (p. 1128 to p. 1133). 



Group IV. Solanaceous Crops, such 

 as Potatoes and Tomatoes (p. 1133 to 

 p. 1140). 



Group V. Composite Crops, such as 

 Globe and Jerusalem Artichokes, Car- 

 doons. Lettuce &c. (p. 1140 to p. 1145). 



Group VI. Liliaceous Crops, like 

 Asparagus, Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Gar- 

 lic &c. (p. 1145 to p. 1151). 



Group VII. Miscellaneous Crops, such 

 ^s Ehubarb, Beetroot, Spinach, Vegetable 

 Marrows &c. (p. 1151 to p. 1160). 



In addition to the above groups, the 

 cultivation of Sweet Herbs and Mushrooms 

 is also dealt with (p. 1160 to p. 1169),. 



For rotation purposes the crops in the 

 first group may the following season be 



placed on the ground occupied by any of 

 the crops in the other groups, except such 

 as Asparagus and Rhubarb, which inay 

 be grown in the same soil with manuring 

 for several years. 



It is, however, unwise to rotate 

 crops in each group with one another, 

 especially if the'y have not grown well or 

 have shown a tendency to disease. 



For instance Cabbages should never 

 succeed Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, 

 or any other Oruciferous crops, and vice 

 versa, but they will benefit by changing 

 places with Peas, Beans, or any crop 

 mentioned in the other groups. All 

 kitchen gardeners should keep the prin- 

 ciple of rotation of crops well in mind. 

 It will save them a good deal of trouble 

 and give them better crops. 



Inter-cropping. — In many gardens, 

 especially small ones, it is necessary to 

 make the best possible use of the ground 

 available for the cultivation of vegetables 

 so as to secure the ripening of as many 

 crops as possible in the course of the year. 

 As some vegetables come to maturity 

 quicker than others it is often possible to 

 grow a quick crop and a slow crop together 

 without injury to either, and, if anything, 

 rather an advantage to both. In taking a 

 quick-growing crop off the ground, the 

 soil is disturbed as a natural consequence, 

 weeds are suppressed, and the texture and 

 fertilisation are generally improved. One 

 often sees a crop of early Lettuce taken off 

 the soil between rows of French Beans, 

 Raspberries, Gooseberries, and Beetroot, 

 while it is a more or less common practice 

 to utilise the ridges between rows of Celery 

 for the same purpose. In the same way 

 a crop of Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Kale 

 &c. may be planted between rows of 

 Potatoes, and when the latter have been 

 dug, the former will cover the ground in 

 their place as if by magic, and come into 

 use at a later season. This system of 

 growing one crop between another may 

 be appropriately termed ' inter-cropping,' 

 and is somewhat akin to that described 

 under the rotation of crops. It has not 

 only the advantage of making the best 

 possible use of the soil, but it necessitates 

 giving each crop a full and proper amount 

 of space. Indeed if the latter is not 

 secured at the beginning the system might 

 prove to be of more harm than use, as it 

 would be very poor gardening to crowd 

 the grotmd up too much to the exclusion 

 of light and the circulation of air. 



4b 



