THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES. 
9 
rows, 3 feet apart, with 2 feet 6 inches between the plants. On 
each side of the plot a row of Peas, running east and west, was grown. 
On June 8, in the same rows as the Cauliflowers, between the plants, 
Brussels Sprouts and Victoria Kale were planted, whilst between the 
rows Leeks were put in at one foot apart for six rows, and Turnips 
were sown between the remaining rows. As the Cauliflowers matured, 
they were cut, the ground cleared and deeply hoed. 
The whole result was absolutely satisfactory, and the Brussels 
Sprouts &c. have been, and are still, a first-rate crop. 
This idea can, of course, be extended, altered, and elaborated 
upon in various ways, but it serves to illustrate what can be done in 
the direction of intensive cultivation. 
Sowing, Thinning, and Planting. — The word " intensive " calls to 
mind what is far too often a fault in vegetable culture, the overcrowding 
of plants. Too frequently do we see poor, struggling crops suffering 
from the mistake of planting too closely together, and with insufficient 
space between rows, and especially so is this the case with Peas and 
Beans, vegetables which people usually sow far too thickly. Not only 
does this thick sowing waste seed and labour, but it has the damaging 
effect of weakening the seedlings, and they never recover from this. 
A good rule is to only sow twice as thickly as plants are to grow and 
thin out when the seedlings are quite small. 
When sowing small seeds, the soil should be raked down to a fine 
tilth, and the seeds only covered by their own depth of soil. It is 
profitable at the time of sowing to take the necessary steps to keep 
off enemies such as slugs, birds, mice, rats, and ground game. 
To plant out efficiently, practice and care are required. The 
seedlings must be carefully handled, planted with the aid of a trowel, 
some of the finest soil worked round the roots, and the ground made 
firm, but left loose at the ground level to prevent the seedlings damp- 
ing off. The plants should be watered in at once, and if necessary, 
shaded until established. 
In all well-ordered gardens, large or small, the crops should be 
correctly labelled as they are planted or sown. Ordinary wooden 
labels 15 to 20 inches long, and from 1 inch to i| inches wide, are most 
useful. Paint each with a coat of white paint, and write the name 
on with a pencil whilst the paint is moist, adding date of sowing or 
planting, and seedsman's name for reference. 
Hoeing, Mulching, and Watering. — These three operations are very 
closely connected, and are very important. By keeping the hoe 
constantly at work between growing crops, the troublesome weeds 
are defeated and destroyed, whilst the top soil receives that great 
benefit — aeration ; also the soil, when in a finely broken, loose state, 
retains moisture far better and does not crack like unattended soil. 
Mulching is resorted to as a means of conserving moisture during hot, 
dry weather, and the operation consists of spreading a good layer of 
long stable litter, or similar material, about growing crops. It is of 
considerable advantage, from the point of view of keeping the soil 
