25 JANUARY 1913, Page 13

INTENSIVE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES.

Intensive Culture of Vegetables. By P. Aquatias. (Upeott Gill. 3s. 6d. net.)—The number of smallholders and market gardeners who grow vegetables on the French system of intensive culture is evidently increasing, if we may judge from the demand for literature on the subject. The present work is one of the best practical treatises on the subject -which we have seen. Mr. Aquatias writes from a long experience, and a valuable feature of the book is the detailed calendar of work for every month. Gardening on this system is an expensive business in the beginning, and needs capital and courage. Mr. Aquatias calculates the cost of two acres of land (4150), 300 lights, 100 frames, 2,000 cloches, 550 mats,

• irrigation, tools, horse, cart, shed, and stables at 4680 10s., and he puts the working expenses of the first year, including 400 tons of horse manure, at 4397 10s. The supply of horse manure, we learn without surprise, is becoming a really difficult problem in England. Horses have everywhere being displaced by motor-cars, and the cost of carriage of manure from a distance may be a very serious item. "Wo must bow to the march of the times," Mr. Aquatias concludes ; but he sugl;ests that there is a good deal of manure wasted, chiefly owing to the cost of railway carriage.