THE CULTURE OE VEGETABLES. 



453 



where the ground is more congenial it is useless to waste one's own or employer's money 

 making the attempt ; the tubers do not deteriorate by travelling, and a sack can be bought 

 as easily as coals. If one lives on a chalky soil or sandy loam grow Potatoes by all means, 

 but (in heavy clay do not attempt it, for they will never succeed. 



As regards varieties of Asparagus, little improvement, if any, has been effected 

 during the last few years, but fortunately its cultivation is now far better understood, and it is 

 grown by the acre, where a few small beds formerly sufficed. Asparagus dors not require half 

 the labour sometimes given, and when once the beds are made they will last a lifetime ; with 

 little laboui to keep them in good condition, it is surprising that more amateurs do not 

 cultivate it, as the difference of flavour between fresh cut Asparagus and that which has 

 been exposed in the shop window for days is perhaps more marked than in the case of any 

 other vegetable. 



With the solitary exception of Parsley, very little improvement has taken place as 

 regards herbs, and probably as many or even 

 more pot-herbs were in general use and cultiva- 

 tion 100 years ago than at the present day. 

 Certainly in every well-ordered garden a small 

 plot should be allotted to them, for they are 

 always in request owing to the variety of 

 flavouring afforded. 



No better proof could be given of the great 

 progress in vegetable culture of late years than 

 the displays at the leading exhibitions throughout 

 the country, and the vegetables staged on these 

 occasions are not merely a few specially selected 

 roots or plants which have received particular 

 attention, as by far the larger proportion of the 

 vegetables left at home correspond with those 

 exhibited. This, therefore, brings one to the 

 consideration of the means adopted whereby 

 vegetables of high quality may be produced, and 

 that this matter may be impressed on the mind 

 of the reader let it be distinctly understood 

 that it is almcst impossible to exaggerate the 

 advantage of deep cultivation. 



Deep Cultivation. — To grow vegetables 

 satisfactorily more depends upon a thorough 



J r r ° ASPARAGUS. 



system of tilling the soil than perhaps many are 



prepared to admit, and the great success which our leading gardeners have attained has 

 been due to this practice. The mere digging of the soil one spit deep, as practised in the 

 majority of gardens throughout the country, has proved a sad drawback' to the culture of 

 vegetables, whilst, when the proper method has been followed, magnificent results have 

 been achieved, even where the soil is of a most undesirable character. Soils differ 

 materially, and in many cases considerable pains have to be taken to improve them. 

 Crops, too, vary in their requirements, some preferring light and warm soil, while others 

 thrive exceedingly well in clayey ground, such as gardeners describe as of a heavy texture. 

 How then are we to manage so that the most may be got out of the soil, and that each 

 year may see a repetition of the success which should follow the first season's efforts ? 



There are two methods of dealing with the soil, one known to practical gardeners 

 as true trenching, and the other an inferior plan, that of bastard trenching. We will 

 consider the latter method first. 



