THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES. 
7 
My preference is for agricultural drain-pipes covered with coarse 
brick rubbish or gravel, or a combination of both. This method 
will prove serviceable and effective for a number of years. 
Manuring. — This is a big subject which, for the purpose of this 
paper, must be confined to very narrow boundaries. Manuring in 
horticulture is a very important matter, nearly always a source of 
deep mystery to the average amateur cultivator, and even, in some 
cases, to professional gardeners. In dealing with the mystery, let 
us first of all consider the purposes of manuring. 
What do we manure the ground for ? Manuring is for the purpose 
of rendering soil fertile or sweet, of a proper constituency for producing 
vegetable growth, and to supply those mineral salts necessary for 
feeding plants in which the particular soil being treated is deficient. 
There are two main forms of manure, viz. Natural and Artificial. 
Under the former heading (Natural) I would group such as animal 
manure and guano, decayed vegetation, leaf-mould, and seaweed, 
and under the latter all forms of chemical manures, including wood 
ashes, lime, soot, &c. 
Natural manure should be used in preference to artificial, as in 
this form the principal foods for plant life are found in their best 
forms, which are so difficult to reproduce or imitate, with effective 
results, in artificial manure. 
Manures act in different ways according to the soil, and therefore 
care should be exercised in selecting the manure requisite for a plot. 
On heavy soil long stable litter is by far the best, as it helps to lighten 
the mass, and decaying vegetation will here assist, but on a light 
or sandy soil cow or pig manure is best, owing to its effectively com- 
bining with the loose earth, to make a suitable soil from which plants 
can properly obtain their nourishment. 
The use of lime is a matter requiring careful consideration, as many 
soils contain it in some form or another, such as lime, chalk, limestone 
&c. If soil contains much lime, it is, of course, a waste of time and 
money to add more, but if there is a deficiency, it must be made up. 
A soil without sufficient lime is generally sour or acid ; this can be 
tested easily, as there are one or two simple tests which can be applied 
for soil acidity. 
An old garden, which has for years been heavily manured, should, 
for a change, receive a good dressing of lime and wood ashes, be 
deeply trenched in autumn, if the soil is heavy, or in spring, if light, 
and it will be found to be re-established with the necessary cultural 
properties. 
Quicklime destroys soil pests, and is very beneficial where members 
of the Brassica family suffer from " Clubbing." 
Seaweed is as good as farm manure, and, where obtainable, should 
be applied fresh on heavy soils and in a partly decayed state to light 
or loamy soils. 
Guano, or bird manure, is very rich, going eight times as far as 
horse manure, but care should be taken in storing it to keep it as air- 
