344, QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Noy., 1898. 
ON MARKET GARDENING. 
No. 1. 
By H. W. GORKIE, 
Horticulturist, Queensland Agricultural College. 
THE SITE. , 
In selecting the site of a garden there are four essential points to be 
considered—namely, water, soil, aspect, and shelter. Of course in growing 
garden stuff for sale there is also the question of convenience to rail and 
market to be taken into account. 
I have placed water first in my list of essentials, because to attain any 
degree of success in gardening a good water supply is an absolute necessity, 
Asa rule, the best situation for a garden is on the bank of the creek, or near a 
lagoon or waterhole; but if none of these are available then you had better 
sink a wellin your garden, for water you must have. ' 
True there may be months and months during which no watering 
will be required ; but it is quite certain that sooner or later a dry spell will 
come, and then, if no water is to be had, you will probably lose the result of 
months of labour, and perhaps, as in the case of valuable fruit trees, of 
ears, 
: Therefore, above all things, be certain that, whether you are going to plant 
-twenty acres or only one, you will be able to command a sufficient supply of 
water in time of need. 
Now as to soil— 
THE SOIL. 
In the first place you may be assured that you cannot have soil too good 
for gardening ; but at the same time, if it is impossible to obtain very rich soil, a 
liberal and judicious use of manures will ensure the same results, although, of 
course, at some additional expense. For plants of the Brassica family, such 
as cabbage and cauliflower, which are greedy feeders, you must have rich soil ; 
and, if not rich naturally, it must be made so by liberal manuring. 
The deep alluvial flats commonly found near the banks of many of our 
creeks and rivers are ideal soils for this class of produce, being, as a rule, very 
rich in humus, and containing all the elements necessary to produce high-class 
vegetable crops. 
A light sandy loam is better for such crops as onions, carrots, &e.; but as 
it is not always possible to get several kinds of soil within the limits of a 
garden, it follows that the soil must be made, as far as practicable, to suit each 
different crop by varying methods of treatment and manuring. 
In locating the garden it is well not to have it too far from the dwelling ; 
in fact, if the house is 7z the garden so much the better. 
As to aspect, if the garden is ona slope, the fall should be to the east ; 
but a level site is preferable, as level ground can be more easily and 
economically worked than a slope; and there is not the danger of both soil 
and crops being washed away during heavy rains, which is always to be feared 
when the garden is on a hillside. Then, if possible, the garden should be 
protected from the prevailing winds by a ridge or a belt of timber. 
In clearing scrub lands for a garden it is advisable to leave a belt of trees 
standing on the side from which the prevailing winds blow. This belt should 
be two or three chains wide, and not sufliciently close to the garden to interfere 
with the free access of light and air to the plants. 
If no natural shelter exists, it is advisable to plant a belt of such trees 
as camphors, silky oaks, or loquats on the exposed side. 
This belt should consist of two or three rows of trees; the trees in the 
rows not being all in one line, but alternating with each other. This mode of 
planting breaks the force of the wind more effectually than straight rows. It 
1s, of course, impossible to obtain a garden site fulfilling all the conditions you 
would like; but get the best you can, and then try to supply yourself what 
Nature has left out, 
