CHINESE GARDENS.

SHOCKING DISCLOSURES

Melbourne, which depends largely for its supply of vegetables on Chinese gardens, received a nasty shock last week when the Board of Health Inspector reported on the methods of the growers. Dr Reid's report states that in various quarters the gardens are placed amid thickly populated centres, most of them being managed by companies or syndicates of Chinese, who live on the premises. The residences are generally old houses which have fallen into a state of ' delapidation. Overcrowding is the rule, three or four sleeping in a room 10 feet by 10 feet, from which light and air are excluded, the outhouses are condemned, and the drainage arangements are extremely bad, very often no provision whatever being made to carry away liquid wastes.

With regard to the washing of vegetables a disgraceful state of affairs is disclosed. For the purpose of irrigatin S the gardens water is collected in shallow pits. In washing vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, radishes, celery, etc., one of the pits is used, and the vegetables are scrubbed with a large brush, and then placed in small stacks on a mat. The water, the report adds, is said to be changed as oiten as washing takes place, but the condition of the water in some pits was most offensive. Very few pits are brieFed the majority' being uniined with the exception of boarding round the top for the purpose of standing upon. The mud turned up with a stick from the bottom was most foul smelling, and on© was forced to the conclusion tha.t the pits were never properly cleaned. In several cases it was noticed liquid wastes from the kitchen were able to gain access to the washing pit. The report also infers although no positive evidence could, be obtained, that a most disgustingly filthy practice prevailed with regardto sprinkling growing vegetables. Ine universal practice of dumping the manure down on the ground and not covering it was condemned as a nuisance, and it was stated that manure is earned round the garden in baskets which at other times are used £&i, C?3Ji eyinß veSetables ; apparently w i ? e °r no gashing. The market carts were often used to convey manure from the stables.