(1) Plants of the same natural order should not follow each other.
(2) Crops which have occupied the same ground for several years should be succeeded by others of short duration. This gives an opportunity for constantly stirring and cleaning the ground.
(3) Plants grown for their roots, or bulbs, should not be followed by others grown for the same purpose. Plants grown for their seeds should also not succeed each other.
THE YEW TREE AVENUE KNOWN AS “THE NUN’S WALK,” IN THE COUNTESS BATHURST’S GARDEN, PINBURY, NEAR CIRENCESTER.
Photograph by Pictorial Agency.
In a small garden, it is best to grow only early potatoes. Others can be bought as cheaply as they can be grown, and the space they would occupy is valuable. A piece of ground may be under early potatoes these should be cleared by the middle of June, when a sowing of peas can be made, selecting one of the early varieties for a late crop. When they come off, they can be followed by turnips, which are drawn off during the winter. In January the ground can be bastard trenched, but not manured. Let it lie fallow awhile; then put in carrots, parsnips, or beet. The order can be varied indefinitely, so long as the rules are followed, and the plot of ground kept well trenched, and manured every fourth year.
The next things to consider are the crops still on the ground, and those coming on. In a fairly well-managed garden late peas, runner beans, cauliflowers, and marrows all “in cut,” should still be found in the autumn. The runner beans and the marrows should bear until they are cut down by frost. Their bearing capacity can be prolonged by careful picking, by a mulch of well-rotted manure, or with a drenching of liquid manure, according to whether the season is wet or dry.
If there is likely to be a shortage of winter stuff, fully ripe marrows can be hung up in an airy place, and runner beans put down with salt. A breadth of celery should be found coming into use, and parsnips that will stand until they are required. The main crop of carrots and beet will still be there to store, and there should be a break of sprouts, kale, and other things to come in later. If the supply is likely to run short, it will not be too late to plant cabbage and colewort.
First then, clear off all crops that are over, such as peas, early cauliflower, and potatoes. Burn all this refuse, as well as the weeds, and return it to the ground. Keep on hoeing. If there is no winter spinach in, make a sowing at once, and also make a sowing of turnips.