Market-garden Farm Competition, 1879. 855 
not of a more than average order. A happy combination of 
qualities renders it a most perfect medium for cramming vege- 
tables. The natural fertility of a soil does not go far towards 
the production of, say, 1000 dozens of cabbages upon an acre, 
or 10 tons of onions, or other equally exhaustive crops ; and the 
extraordinary results obtained from extraordinary applications 
of manure upon market-gardens and market-garden farms may 
teach all of us who are engaged in the cultivation of land not 
to put too much trust in the assumed "natural fertility" of land, 
in our ordinary farm management, and to use manures with 
more liberal hands. 
London manure, from stables and cowsheds, is put on for 
almost every crop, at the rate of from 25 to 30 tons per acre, 
not in its rough state, as it comes from London, but rotten and 
short ; which means a thick coat, covering the ground com- 
pletely. Refuse fish from the London fish-market is often 
brought back by the horses that have taken up vegetables, and is 
applied at the rate of from 5 to 8 tons per acre for summer crops. 
This costs about 1/. per ton, and is found to be a good stimu- 
lant, but not lasting. Horn-shavings are also used, and nitrate 
of soda to some extent, in cases where any crops show symptoms 
of flagging energies. Manure is applied with unsparing hands, 
as, from a statement furnished by Mr. Swann, it appears that 
the total sum expended upon this farm last year, ending at 
Christmas time, was 1178/. ; or equal to 9Z. 10s. per acre upon 
the 124 acres of arable land. 
It will be convenient here to describe the state of each field 
upon this farm, with the crop upon it, and the mode of cultivation 
adopted. The number of each field corresponds with that given 
upon the accompanying map (p. 856) of South Hall Farm. 
Upon field No. 1, 27 acres in extent, there was a magnificent 
display of East Ham cabbages, after cucumbers in one part, and 
onions in the other part of the field. These were planted in 
September, and 30 tons of London manure had been put on per 
acre. Nothing could be finer than these cabbages. Hardly a plant 
had missed, and their shape and quality were perfect. They 
were being packed off to market as fast as possible in huge 
spring vans, piled up in rows marvellously high, in two-horse 
loads of 190 dozens cabbages. "Red Bog" potatoes — a quick- 
growing, early-maturing sort — were being dibbled in between the 
rows of plants, the land having been kept mellow and in good order 
by the horse-hoe.* When the cabbages were removed, a narrow 
scarifier was put between the rows of potatoes, to cut up the old 
* These potatoes were dug in August and sent to market, having been planted 
in June ! 
