Asparagus, Sea Kale, and Rhubarb--and on the other three keep the crops
revolving in some such order as this: No. 1, Potatoes, Celery, Leek,
Carrot, Parsnip, Beet, &c. No. 2, Peas, Beans, Onions, Summer Spinach,
&c., followed by Turnips for winter use, Cabbage for spring use, and
Winter Spinach. No. 3, Brassicas, including Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts,
Kale, &c. In the following year the original No. 1 would be cropped as
No. 2, and No. 2 as No. 3. In the third season corresponding changes
would be made, constituting a three-course system. The cultivator must
use discretion in cropping vacant ground. As an example it will be
obvious that land cleared of Early Potatoes will be very suitable for
planting Strawberries. Another point is worth attention: Peas sown on
the lines where Celery has been grown will thrive without any
preparation beyond levelling the ground and drawing the necessary
drills. This is a West of England custom, and it answers exceedingly
well.

THE CHEMISTRY OF GARDEN CROPS

A Consideration of the chemistry of the crops that engage attention in
this country will afford an explanation of one great difference between
farming and gardening. And this difference should be kept in mind by all
classes of cultivators as the basis of operations in tillage, cropping,
and the order and character of rotations. The first thing to discover in
the cropping of a farm is the kind of vegetation for which the land is
best adapted to insure, in a run of seasons, fairly profitable results.
If the soil is unfit for cereals, then it is sheer folly to sow any more
corn than may be needful for convenience, as, for example, to supply
straw for thatching and litter, and oats for horses, to save cost of
carriage, &c. On large farms that are far removed from markets it is
often necessary to risk a few crops that the land is ill fitted for, in
order to satisfy the requirements of the homestead, and to save the
outlay of money and the inconvenience of hauling from distant markets.
But everywhere the cropping must be adapted to the soil and the climate
as nearly as possible, both to simplify operations and enlarge to the
utmost the chances of success. In the cropping of a garden this plain
procedure cannot be followed. We are compelled certainly to consider
what the soil and climate will especially favour amongst garden crops,
but, notwithstanding this, the gardener must grow whatever the household
requires. He may have to g