Page:The Art of Living in Australia.djvu/22

 viii PREFACE. with this admission there is not much reason for congratulation from an olitory point of view. Few — only very few — of the more commonly known varie- ties are grown. For if the potato and the cabbage were taken away, Australia would be almost bereft of vegetables. There are, however, many others, which are delicious and wholesome, which are easily grown, and which would make a pleasing addition to the present monotonously restricted choice. And there is something even more than all this. It is, that market gardening is a healthy and profitable calling ; that it settles the people on the land ; and that it creates a class of small landed proprietors — the very bone and sinew of any population. In the chapter relating to Australian Food Habits it will be found that many of these desirable vege- tables are enumerated. Their good qualities are highly appreciated on the Continent and elsewhere, and there is no earthly reason why they should not be grown here. The history of the introduction of the tomato into Australia is instructive in this connection. For years and years it struggled desperately, but unsuccessfully, for a place, and the attempt to bring it into use was on the point of being abandoned in con- sequence. But at last its undeniable merits were acknowledged, and to-day it is in universal request. Now, it is perfectly safe to assume that the same recognition would be awarded to many other vege-