96 
Market Gardening in the Vale of Evesham. 
Of the eight main vegetable crops grown, the estimated area 
is as follows : 
Asparagus 
Cabbage (for cutting in March and April) 
Beans (runner) 
Marrows 
Onions (for use a* salad in the early months 
Acres. 
700—1,000 
1,000 
500 
200—260 
of the year). . . . . 
Lettuce (for use in March and April) 
. 2,000—2,500 
70—80 
150—200 
100—120 
Peas 
Radishes . 
These are supplemented by early cauliflowers, broad beans, ridge cucumbers, 
parsnips, leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, and herbs. 
Tomatoes are largely and often profitably grown in the 
district in the open air. Of these it is estimated there are 
grown 250 acres. During 1908 one man alone had 30 acres of 
tomatoes — a risk which some men would not care to take. 
Wallflowers (Gillies) and Narcissi are largely grown as 
catch crops under the fruit trees, and are valuable aids to keep- 
ing the balance on the right side of the ledger. Violets also are 
grown to some extent in beds and borders in the open ; and 
white pinks are grown as a profitable edging to the paths. 
With regard to successional crops or Rotation of Cropping, 
this necessarily varies with the individual grower, and the 
kinds of crops he cultivates. Broadly, cabbage is followed 
by the tomato crop, spring onions are followed by Brussels 
sprouts, radishes are succeeded by marrows or ridge cucumbers, 
or both, and broad beans are grown at intervals between, to 
form shelter. Often early cauliflowers are grown under hand 
glasses, and marrows between them. These, in turn, are 
succeeded by peas (early) or runner beans, and sometimes 
Brussels sprouts. Cauliflowers, if not taken, as befoi'e men- 
tioned, under hand glasses, are planted after spring cabbage, 
the latter being cleared from the ground when quite young. 
The cabbages will have been dressed with some kind of fer- 
tiliser, and will thus leave the soil in “good heart,” and quite 
capable of carrying another “ green ” crop without unduly 
exhausting the soil. 
As animal manure is very scarce, other sources of plant 
food have to be utilised ; and such fertilisers as fish guano, 
soot, nitrate of soda, and blood manure are very largely used. 
In a lesser degree recourse is had to muriate or sulphate of 
potash, kainit, bone meal, and superphosphates. 
There are six vegetable crops at least which receive special 
attention, viz., asparagus, cabbage, marrows, radishes, peas, and 
lettuce. 
Asparagus, in value if not in area, stands first. It is grown, 
in almost all cases, in single rows at 3 ft. or 3 ft. 6 in. apart ; 
