28 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



means such superficial-rooting plants do not injure 

 the bed or the permanent crop, especially if the 

 annual surface di-essings of manure are given as 

 advised. 



In small gardens, herbs and minor subjects may 

 advantageously occupy the outer sides or edges, 

 and all corners. A regular system of successional 

 cropping can conveniently be maintained with 

 great advantage, and in some instances, especially 

 on light soils, one crop may be made to follow 

 another with very moderate cultural outlay. For 

 instance, the onion-bed, well manured, when it has 

 produced its summer crop, will only need hoeing 

 deeply before autunm-sown cabbage plants are 

 planted thereon. They will succeed better upon such 

 soils, so treated, than when digging is again resorted 

 to in view of planting. Certain kinds of very nutri- 

 tious vegetables, such as beet and Jerusalem arti- 

 chokes, are not so generally cultivated in small gardens 

 as, from their prolificacy and merits, they should be. 

 In the planting or disposition of crops, even in small 

 gardens, such tall subjects as the last should be 

 planted at the northern side as nearly as possible, in 

 view to not unduly shade crops of more lowly statui^e. 

 Again, as regards such small gardens, too little heed 

 is given to the matter of aspect. All plants in rows 

 should be grown from north to south, rather than 

 from east to west. This is especially desirable in 

 connection with peas and potatoes ; thereby the two 

 sides will have equal sunlight or sunshine, which they 

 do not receive by the latter plan. 



Again, and in spite of what is said above, it is a 

 mistake to endeavour, by too thick planting, to reap 

 excessively heavy crops from limited spaces. Numbers 

 never give bulk in proportion equal to proper limits 

 of such, and where each plant has power to develop 

 fully. This is particularly noticeable in connection 

 with root crops. And to limit the supply of manure 

 is, especially in the case of heavilj^-cropped small 

 gardens, false economy. The too common thought, 

 that land will sufiice to carry a current crop without 

 it — that, in fact, it will do until next season — should 

 never be indulged in. By placing a dressing upon 

 such forthwith, both the present and future crops 

 receive benefit. 



Too much also cannot be said in favour of artificial 

 waterings in connection with small gardens. Such 

 waterings, as otherwise explained, must, however, 

 be given studiously to the roots, and at regular in- 

 tervals, to insure really beneficial results. 



The Soil. — The soil is an all-important con- 

 sideration where choice can be made. Subject to the 

 aspect, ground conformation, altitude, &c., referred 

 to, a sandy loam of moderate consistency is preferable. 

 This under culture will always, when of a goodly 



depth, or not less than two feet deep, resting on a 

 porous subsoil, give the best results. Not only does 

 such a soil possess the requisite fertility, freedom 

 for root action, and mechanical cohesiveness, but 

 it is also characterised by more warmth in winter, 

 without excess of latent moisture at any season. It 

 also has the very important advantage that it will 

 work freely in a day or two after excessive rains, 

 which is an immense advantage. 



Unfortunately, however, occupiers of a majority 

 of large detached residences, villa houses, kc, are 

 subject to many influences which determine where 

 land is most eligible to build houses upon, quite 

 irrespective of considerations as to the adaptability 

 of soils to gardening purposes. The result is that 

 houses are built indiscriminately in this respect, 

 not unfrequently on the poorest of thin soils, &c., 

 requiring much labour and expense to bring them 

 into an indifferent state for any such purpose. 



Thus occupiers have variously shallow soils and 

 light ; heavy soils with deep pans of impervious clay 

 for subsoil, and many intermediate classes : a con- 

 sideration which enforces reference to each separate 

 class herein. 



Shallow soils, resting upon a gravel subsoil, may 

 be by heavy manuring converted into excellent 

 media for late winter, spring, and early summer 

 crops. The addition to them of any stiff loamy or 

 clay-like soil will also prove a great advantage. 

 Practi-cally, a different system of working should 

 be followed to what is requisite in connection with 

 other grades of earth. INIanuring, as suggested, 

 should always be applied very liberally, and, as far 

 as possible, throughout the entire depth of the 

 upper soil. The all-important fact in connection 

 with the latter is, that it should be applied and the 

 soil turned over as long as possible before crops are 

 planted. By these means the manure will enrich or 

 thoroughlj' impregnate the interstices, and the early 

 digging or ' ' working " -^dll have been done in time to 

 insure such a mechanical firmness as is essential to 

 root-growth, and the greatest possible retention of 

 latent moisture. To dig up such grounds during or 

 anterior to dry weather periods is to cause them to 

 dry imduh", to the lasting injury of any perma- 

 nent crop which may be sown or planted on them. 

 In connection with such light soils, too much 

 cannot be advanced in reference to surface mulching 

 and artificial waterings. To secirre the utmost 

 profit possible from both, however, they should be 

 used as far possible together. For instance, a surface 

 mulching with fine manure, applied to peas, dwarf 

 and runner beans, cauliflowers, lettuces, onions, 

 &c., over which artificial waterings are poured 

 during dry intervals, not only gives direct support 

 and fertilising powers, but the mulching secures 



