i2 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



going into exposed bleak places on cold heavy soils with 

 the idea of competing in early crops from the land. 

 Favourable situations are not restricted to the extreme 

 southern and western counties, though these naturally 

 offer many advantages ; good sites occur even far north, 

 but knowledge, experience, and judgment are needed in 

 their determination. The principal climatic characters 

 affecting outdoor gardening that demand attention are 

 the rainfall, the sunshine, and the exposure to winds. 

 As regards the first, the difference between the extreme 

 eastern and western counties of England is very marked : 

 the average annual rainfall in some of the latter amounts 

 to three times that recorded in the eastern counties. 

 Apart from other effects, the annual duration of sunshine 

 is reduced where the rainfall is greatest, though, upon 

 the cold East Coast, fogs are apt to be prevalent, and, in 

 certain districts especially, produce a similar effect, 

 particularly in the river valleys. Except in the worst 

 coast localities wind influences can usually be counter- 

 acted by suitable planting. 



The advantages derived from selecting land in districts 

 where market gardening is a well established industry 

 are chiefly found in the facts that good land is obtained, 

 labour of a suitable character is more readily secured, 

 and probably special facilities are available for the 

 carriage of produce. Against these must be set the 

 higher price or rent of the land, higher rates of wages, 

 and a competition which renders local markets, or any 

 within convenient reach of the grower, unprofitable 

 outlets. There is, however, just as much overcrowding 

 of growers in some districts, as there is too great a 

 tendency to rush into a few markets. With more 

 independent enterprise and courageous energy, growers 

 might find plenty of excellent land where they could 

 not only make a substantial business for themselves but 

 initiate a new industry for the district. Many examples 



