8 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
tight as possible, as it rapidly decomposes and loses its valuable 
properties when exposed. 
So many excellent brands of patent manures are now sold that 
it would be invidious to mention any particular one. These manures 
are principally useful for applying during the free-growth period of 
a crop, and many will often act like magic in promoting development 
of plant life. 
Rotation of Crops.- — Most vegetables dislike cultivation for two 
successive seasons on the same site, and a little forethought is profitable 
in arranging the planting of crops. A good idea is to prepare a plan of 
the ground showing the arrangement of crops for three or four years, 
and work according to it. By a little care one crop can follow another, 
and find left in the soil just what is necessary for its food discarded by 
the previous crop, which has depended on other matter. For instance, 
Celery can be followed by Peas, which in turn can make way for 
Winter greens or Leeks, whilst Onions can succeed Cabbages, and 
so on. 
All members of the Brassica family should, as far as possible, be 
planted on a fresh site each year, and it is advisable to allow a couple 
of seasons even to elapse before returning to the same place with any 
member of the tribe again. This remark also applies to Peas. If it 
is necessary, owing to lack of space, to return with the same crop, 
deep trenching should most certainly be resorted to prior to planting. 
On the other hand, there are some vegetables which prove excep- 
tions to the rule, and of these Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Artichokes, both 
Globe and Jerusalem, Horseradish, and Carrots will thrive well on the 
same site for a number of years. Potatos too, provided the land is 
deeply worked each winter, can be successfully grown on the same 
ground for several years, suitable enrichment being of course necessary. 
Intercropping is a matter of considerable importance at the present 
time, when it is essential that all the return possible should be obtained 
from the soil. Many will now find their plot of ground restricted in 
size, but intercropping can be practised with very beneficial results. 
I have been very much interested in intensive culture for many years 
past, and have managed to find a certain amount of time for experi- 
mental intercropping. A brief account of intercropping on a small plot 
of ground, measuring about a hundred yards long and twelve yards 
wide, undertaken last year, may prove interesting, as showing what 
can be done to produce vegetables all the year round. 
The plot had been trenched three feet deep the previous season, 
to obtain the highest results from deep tillage and drainage, and we 
had reaped splendid crops of Cauliflowers and Broccoli from it. Early 
last year a small plough was obtained, as shortage of labour, combined 
with a wet early spring, effectively prevented any attempt at spade- 
work. The plough was a success on this plot and other land near by. 
The land was first thoroughly dressed with decomposed garden 
refuse, ploughed twice during March, and then harrowed down to a 
fine tilth. About the middle of April Cauliflowers were set out in 
