HOW TO CROP A BALF-AGRE PLOT, 11 



decided from a knowledge of the size of the family, and its tastes and 

 requirements. There are only two people in some families, there are 

 twenty in others. Again, in some households vegetables are served 

 at two meals a day ; in others only at one, which makes just all the 

 difference. I might add (and it is very much to the point in my own 

 particular case) that another very important consideration is this : 

 Is the culture intended merely to furnish a certain quantity of vege- 

 tables for a certain number of people every day in the year, or is it to 

 .do this and satisfy the owner's love of experiment as well — which 

 again makes just all the difference ? 

 A few plain figures may be helpful. 



1. Twenty square rods, poles, or perches of ground, each square 

 rod, pole, or perch being, of course, 30^ square yards, will, if well 

 cropped, supply a family of at least four people with vegetables at 

 one meal a day every day in the year. (See page 9 for a plan.) 



Some may be inclined to doubt the accuracy of this, yet it has 

 been done, to my personal knowledge, and will be again. Let us see 

 what may be grown on 20 square rods of ground : 



Ten square rods of Potatoes, which should yield eight sacks of 

 1| cwt. each, equal to 1,344 lb., or approximately 33 lb. a day 

 throughout the year. 



Eight sacks from 10 rods is a good yield, but not in any way an 

 impossible one. It is merely a question of culture. 



Twenty rows of winter Greens, part of these following early 

 Potatoes, or autumn Onions, or Peas, others coming between 

 Potatoes. 



Three rows of Peas, early, miclseason, and late, so as to -yield a 

 succession. 



Two rows of broad Beans, sown successionally. 

 One row of Scarlet Eunners, which, if grown as I shall presently 

 advise, will yield pods for three or four months. 



One row of dwarf French Beans, which will give a few nice 



REFERENCES TO FIG. 2.— PRECEDING PAGE. 

 A, fence ; B, paths ; C, D, E, F, entrances. 



References to borders round the fence : Vegetable Marrows ; spring 

 Cabbages ; c, suminer Cabbages ; Broccoli for winter and spring ; ^, 

 Brussels Sprouts ; /, Cauliflowers ; ^, Asparagus ; h, Rhubarb ; i, 

 Jerusalem Artichokes; y, Horseradish; Ic, Seakale ; kl^ Globe Arti- 

 chokes ; ly Shallots ; m. Garlic ; n, Sweet Marjoram, Basil, and Summer 

 Savory ; Sorrel ; p, Tarragon ; ^, Chervil ; r, Thyme ; s, Mint ; 

 Sage ; it, Lettuce ; v, Endive ; w, Dwarf Kidney or French Beans ; a?, 

 early Turnips ; main crop Turnips ; Winter Spinach. 



References to the inner quarters : a, Tripoli Onions ; Spring Onions ; c, 

 Carrots; Beet; Salsify; /, Scorzonera ; g, Chicory; A, Leeks; e, 

 Parsley ; y, early Potatoes ; Jc, second early Potatoes ; main crop 

 Potatoes ; m, Runner Beans ; Parsnips ; o, first early Peas, in three 

 sowings (1, 2, 3) ; p, second early Peas, in two sowings (1, 2) ; main 

 crop Peas ; r, late Peas ; s, Broad Beans, early and succession. 



