434 



CROPPING. 



CHAPTER II. 



CROPPING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF A KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



912. The fruit-trees and fruit-shrubs being planted, the former against 

 the walls and espalier-rails, and the latter in plantations by themselves in 

 the compartmehts, the remaining part of the garden is devoted to herbaceous 

 vegetables. The number of these required to be grown in every kitchen- 

 garden is considerable, and, as we have seen (177 and 535), the soil ought to 

 be managed and the crops sown or planted according to some preconceived 

 system. With respect to the soil, this consists in changing the surface in the 

 manner explained (586), in stirring and manuring it, weeding, watering, 

 &c., on the principles detailed in 832, 813, and 821 ; and we shall now 

 explain the system of cropping and rotations. 



Sect. I. Cropping. 



913. The herbaceous vegetables grown in Mtchen-gardens are of two 

 kinds : perennials which remain several years in the ground, such as aspa- 

 ragus, seakale, rhubarb, horse-radish, artichokes, and perennial sweet herbs, 

 and strawberries. The first of these crops remains on the same piece of 

 ground seldom less than ten or twelve years, and the others are renewed 

 generally about half that period or oftener. The other and by far the more 

 numerous crops are annuals or biennials, and many of them only remain on 

 the ground during a part of the year. The proportion of the perennials 

 being fixed on, little more trouble is required with them ; but the annuals, 

 being numerous and of short duration, the proportionate quantities that 

 require to be sown or planted to supply the demands of the kitchen, and yet 

 to be in due proportion to the extent of the ground to be cropped, and the 

 kinds of crops which ought to succeed each other, require the constant 

 exercise of the gardener's judgment. The first point is to determine the 

 proportion of different crops, and the next is their succession : though 

 the proportions will depend to a certain extent on the peculiar taste or 

 wants of the family, and whether they reside on the spot or at a distance — 

 whether they have a farm for growing the winter supply of potatoes, &c., 

 yet some rules or hints may be devised which are generally applicable. 



914. General proportions of crops. — The greatest breadth of surface in 

 almost every garden requires to be sov/n with peas ; but as this crop only 

 lasts at an average about six months, a second crop may be planted on the 

 same ground in the same year. The cabbage tribe, including cauliflower, 

 broccoli, savoys, Brussels sprouts and borecoles, occupy the next greatest 

 space in most gardens, and they very generally succeed the crops of peas. 

 Turnips are perhaps the next most extensive crop, unless indeed the main 

 summer crops of potatoes are grown in the kitchen-garden, which is not 

 desirable where they can be grown on the farm ; the potato being a crop 

 that, for some reason or other which we do not pretend to explain, is seldom 

 found so mealy and high-flavoured when grown in a garden as when grown 

 in a field. There are next several crops, each of which have nearly an 

 equal claim for space, viz. — carrots, onions, beans, kidney-beans, celery, and 

 winter spinach. Jerusalem artichokes and red-beet crops may come next in 

 the order of space required ; and then leeks, garlic and shallots, salsafy 



