43B 



ROTATION OF CROPS. 



in the places where lettuces were produced early in the season, may be sown 

 drills of winter spinach. 



922. Of these two modes of cropping, the first is the one best calculated for 

 poor soils, or for gardens where the supply of manure is limited ; the second 

 cannot be prosecuted with success, except in soils which are light and 

 extremely rich. It may be proper to observe here, that a system of croppmg 

 can be carried to a much higher degree of perfection in a commercial garden, 

 on a large scale, than in a private one ; because in the former whenever one 

 crop is in perfection, it is removed and sent to market at once ; whereas, in 

 a private garden, it is removed by dribblets. Hence in small gardens, Avhere 

 labour and manure are of less consequence than economismg the extent of 

 surface, it will often be found desirable to have a small reserve garden, with 

 several frames, pots, and other requisites. As soon as one plant, or a few 

 plants of any crop in a condition for gathering, are removed, the soil should 

 be stirred, and a plant or plants (which should have been some days before 

 potted in preparation) should be turned out of the pot, its fibres being care- 

 fully spread out, and water supplied, so as to make it commence growing 

 immediately. The use of potting is to prevent the plant from experiencing 

 the slightest check in its removal ; and in autumn, as is well known, the loss 

 of a single day, by the flagging of a plant, is of the utmost consequence. — 

 (G. M., vol. xii. p. 481.) 



923. Successional and simultaneous cropping combined. — The following is 

 from an excellent article on cropping, published in the Gardeners' Chronicle, 

 The writer divides kitchen- garden crops into — 1. Perennial or stationary 

 crops — 2. Rotation crops, which include all the principal annual crops, and 

 — 3. Secondary crops, such as salads, spinach, &c., which are usually 

 sown in vacancies between rotation crops. 



924. Order of rotation. — 1st year, peas and beans, succeeded by broccoli, 

 savoys, winter greens, coUards, spring cabbage ; 2nd year, carrots, parsneps, 

 beet, scorzonera, and salsafy ; 8rd year, onions, cauliflowers, turnips, suc- 

 ceeded by spinach, spring onions, and other secondary crops ; 4th year, 

 savoys, broccoli, winter greens, red cabbage, leeks ; 5th year, potatoes ; 

 6th year, turnips, cabbage, broccoli ; 7th year, celery ; 8th, French beans, 

 &c. — (^Gard. Chron., 1841, p. 180, with additions.^ 



925. Secondary crops are those of the shortest duration, such as lettuce, 

 radishes, small salads, annual herbs, and very early peas and beans (sown 

 in November), very early cauliflowers, very early turnips, and early pota- 

 toes, all of which will require a warm south border. — (^Ibid.) 



926. Times of sawing and planting. — Peas and beans should be sown 

 from February to J une ; the first crop of peas will be clear for early 

 broccoli in the end of June, and for the other seasons until September for 

 later broccoli, savoys, borecole, Brussels sprouts,^, coUards or coleworts, and 

 spring cabbage ; this crop should have a slight coat of manure. Broccoli 

 ground will be cleared of early sorts by winter, and should be ridged up all 

 winter for a crop of carrots, which should be sown as early as possible ; the 

 later broccoli, cole wort, sprouts, &c., will make way by April or the begin- 

 ning of May for beet, parsneps, scorzonera, and salsafy. 1st year, carrots, 

 beet, and parsneps, will be clear in the beginning of November, when the 

 ground must be again ridged up for winter, and have a good coat of dung, 

 ready for cauliflowers, onions, garlic, and shallots ; 2nd year, the two latter 

 being planted in November, and also the principal crops of turnips sown 



