October i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
HORTICULTURE. 
(Prom the Asian, 30th August 
The Vegetable Garden. 
The vegetable garden in Bengal, and 
Calcutta or any othti 
especially war 
as a rule, a 
sadly neglect 
viduals, even 
space at the 
grow their o 
aiuly difficul 
but little oa: 
doubtless, an 
our markets 
fcment. Very few private indi- 
have the requisite amount of 
nd, care to take the trouble to 
ible?. Why this is so it is cert- 
lain, for, with the majority, 
irod to grow them well. Many, 
he idea that during the season 
ill supplied with every kind of 
vegetable, and at such moderate prices, that it is 
not only cheaper but far less trouble to procure daily 
whatever may be required. Undoubtedly this is, to 
a certain extent, true ; but is this the only thing to 
be thought 
the quality ol veget 
Admitted that mo: 
high state of perfe 
but that is all thai 
quality is invariabl; 
reason for this is -\ 
versant with the si 
grown of the olde 
but, as a rule, aro 
which, in many in; 
eame locality for > 
admitted fact that 
deteriorate by beiu 
soil. How much n: 
iu this country, win 
culties to contend 
eners are under tin 
object to be attainc 
of rivalry amongst 
mens of cabbages, 
thcr than this tlici 
content to grow th 
and possibly their 
Take the following 
lat can be said with reference to 
tables procured from our markets ? 
ist of them are grovu to a very 
eotion as far as size is concerned, 
it can be said in their favour ; the 
ly of tlie poorest description. The 
very plain to any one at all con- 
ubjeet. Not only are the varieties 
est and most inferior description, 
i produced from acclimatised seed, 
istances, has been growing in the 
years. Even in Europe it is an 
ly every kind of vegetable 
vn successfully on tlie same 
this likely to be the case 
/ have also many other ditli- 
;,? As a rule, native gard- 
ossion that size is the one 
amount 
1 speci- 
jut fur- 
liey are 
fathers, 
them, 
nety of 
cabbage grown for the Calcutta markets 
head or cttle cabbage; tlie only turnip, the "Flat 
Dutch "; the only lettuce, green hammersmith ; the 
only pea, a variety known as " patna pea," which 
is the common white English Held pea, and the same 
with nearly every vegetable, only one or two of the 
oldest varieties are to be found. But why should our 
market growers care to make a change : They cert- 
ainly can «ce no reason for doing so, for they find 
that, not only aro they able to dispose of what they 
now grow readily, but also that to secure good prices 
for their produce size is the only desideratum, and 
yet how often wo hear it remarked "that vegetables 
iu this country have not the flavour they possess at 
Lome." I believe this to be an entirely mistaken 
idea, aud such a conclusion can only be come to by 
tho consumers of bazar produce. If these grumblers 
could or would grow their own supplies, and grow 
thtin as they ought to be grown, and not leave them 
entirely to tho tender mercies of tho make, they 
would soon give a different verdict, for providing 
good seed of good varieties is procured and properly 
cultivated, not only will our vegetables be iu no way 
inferior to those produced in Europe, but in many 
instances will be infinitely superior, for during tho 
cold season horo wo have a climate probably equal to 
auy in the world for tho successful cultivation of 
nearly every description of European vegetable 
Seeds. 
The Bret step towards success in tho vegolablo gard- 
eu in tho proper selection of soods. If no attention 
is paid to this important point, no matter bow much 
care may be bestowed on their cultivation, good 
crops e.m never be ob .iined. Some recommend the 
93 
use of acclimatised seeds, but I should say, with the 
exception of the cauliflower, havo nothing whatever 
to do with them, except as a "dernier ressort" in 
the event of failure of imported seeds. Others, again, 
are in favour of American seeds, but these are almost 
invariably composed of second class varieties, and 
the only point that can be urged in their favour i3 
their superior germinating power. English seeds, when 
procured from a source that can be relied on, invari- 
ably give better results than any other, their germ- 
inating power, provided they have been properly 
packed for this climate, beinL' almost equal to those 
imported from America, and tbeir produce is in every 
way superior. 
Sowing. 
This is an operation that should never bo entrusted 
to a native gardener, unless done in your presence. 
Honesty is a virtue hardly known or practised amongst 
them, and a very common trick is to substitute wort i- 
lees bazar seeds for those that have been entrusted 
to them to sow. For very early crops, which must 
be sown before the expiration of the rainy season, it 
is necessary to make beds raised three or four inches 
above the surrounding soil. These may be of any 
length required, but should not be more than three 
feet, or at the most, four feet wide. They should 
have a narrow drain running between them to carry 
off any excess of moisture. For later sowings, when 
the rains are over, the old native method of laying 
out the ground is certainly the best. This is done 
by dividing it off into beds three or four feet wide, 
with a raised path running between them about one 
foot wide, and three or four inches high, which must 
be well beaten down. This serves a two-fold pur- 
pose — giving free access to the vegetables for needing 
aud watering, and also retains a much larger amount 
of moisture at the roots of the crops thau when the 
sowings are made on raised beds. Care must be taken 
that the soil in the beds has been either trenched 
or dug to the depth of at least eighteen inches, or for 
root crops even two feet will not be too much. After 
being well pulverised, a liberal supply of well-rotted 
manure should be added ; the quantity will, of course, 
depend on the kind of vegetable to be grown in the 
bed, for their requirements differ to an enoenioua 
extent. Take, for iustance, the cabbage or cauliflower, 
for which a soil can hardly be made too rich ; but 
supposing peas were grown in the same soil, the prob- 
ability is they would delight their happy possessor, 
with the vigour of their growth at least for a time, 
till he found that all their strength had been ex- 
pended in the production of haulm, for in such cases, 
although they may possibly bloom freely, the pods 
rarely set at all. But not only is it necessary to 
regulate the quantity of manure according to the crop 
to be grown, but it is also equally essential that the 
description of manure best adapted for the require- 
ments of each particular plant should be employed. 
It is, of course, a well known fact that the proper- 
ties of various animal manures differ very considerably 
in their component parts, some being rich iu ammonia, 
others in lime, potash, &c. Iu like manner also each 
particular vegetable possess one or more properties, 
generally to a much greater extent thau tho soil 
naturally is ablo to sustain. If, therefore, we employ 
a manure possessing thoso ingredients necessary to 
tho life and well being of the plant, it naturally 
follows it must bo benefited thereby ; but, on the other 
hand, if a manure is used whi se principal part is ouo 
found but in a minute degree in the olas- of plants 
to which it is applied, and which in most casss would 
exist naturally in the soil to a greater exunt than 
is actually required, it follows that the crop it in 
no way benefited, and in many cases would lu> seri- 
ously "injured thereby, besides the manure being cu- 
tirely wasted. 
