34 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



garden methods. For strawberries this alternate system 

 is well adapted, because they are only retained for a 

 few years on one plot, and, more than most fruit crops, 

 they are benefited by having fresh land. Root crops 

 can also be alternated with other vegetables in a similar 

 way ; while bush fruits, such as gooseberries or currants, 

 succeed remarkably when planted upon land previously 

 cropped with vegetables. Many exhausting crops can 

 be followed by flowers with advantage, as too rich a 

 soil is apt to induce excessive leaf growth. 



Economy in Production 



Several matters in connection with commercial horti- 

 culture do not receive the attention they merit, and one 

 of the most important of these is economy in production. 

 This does not mean a blind reduction of expenses to the 

 lowest level, which may really defeat the best objects in 

 view, but a constant endeavour to secure efficiency, to 

 avoid waste of labour or material, to increase the output 

 of the power employed, or to improve the quality of the 

 products. These results are partly dependent upon the 

 employment of the most skilful labour at fair wages, 

 and upon the supervision exercised ; but they are also 

 largely influenced by the knowledge, experience, and 

 judgment of the directing power. Many instances could 

 be given where a falsely named economy, founded upon 

 insufficient or inaccurate knowledge, has produced far 

 worse financial results than the defects it was intended to 

 remove. On the other hand, some of the most successful 

 growers for market have, at times, incurred expenditure 

 in the organisation or development of their business which 

 appeared excessive to the unenterprising, though it 

 resulted in gains out of all proportion to the outlay. 

 Keen observation and sound personal knowledge must 

 furnish the key to success in such matters, and it is wise 



