THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



59 



leaves, absorb a considerable quantity of nourishment from the 

 atmosphere, and when ploughed in, at the end of two years, 

 the decay of their roots and leaves affords manure for the wheat 

 crop ; and, at this period of the course, the woody fibre of the 

 farm-yard manure, which contains the phosphate of lime, and 

 rhe other difficultly soluble parts, are broken down, and as soon 

 as the most exhausting crop is taken, recent manure is again 

 applied." 



Gardeners should pay particular attention to rotation of 

 crops, as far as the nature of the thing will admit of; a good 

 practice is to sow down part of the garden every season in grass, 

 clover, and barley, which may be used as green food for horses 

 and cows. The barley should be sown with the clover, and cut 

 down, not being allowed to ripen; thus it acts as a nurse 

 and a shade to the clover. But, in all cases where this is done, 

 let the ground be laid down in as good condition as possible, and 

 the manure laid on will not be lost. Land thus laid down in 

 grass should continue so for two years, or if for three tlie greater 

 will be the benefit. However, this is generally regulated by the 

 quantity of ground which can be spared from crops, for the time 

 when the ground is wanted. The crop of grass, if dug in, but 

 not too deep, for reasons given already, will materially improve 

 the soil ; but on no occasion whatever trench it in, as is too 

 often the case. This practice, although excellent, can however 

 only be applied to gardens on a large extent ; for its adoption 

 would not be attended with the same advantages in the general 

 run of our gardens. 



By a rotation of the perennial crops, such as quartering 

 out currants, gooseberries, and raspberries, &c., the ground 

 will not only be renewed, but also rested, or at least very 

 much improved. None of these crops need occupy the ground 

 above twelve years, and not less than three; this, toge- 

 ther with trenching for the principal crops of autumn-planted 

 brassica will keep the ground in fresh order, and be attended 

 with no loss of space ; for in all large gardens, and the gene- 

 rality of small ones, new plantations of these things should 

 be made to a certain extent annually, which will throw a certain 

 proportion of ground into regular rotation. In cropping all 

 gardens, as far as it can be rendered practicable, rotation 



