November 3D, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



389 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN.— No. 2. 



r^^^Bi^HE first thought that naturally occurs to 

 ^-'■^^'■'•■- those who come to the determination to 

 form a garden is that of selecting a favour- 

 able situation, and I would say that there 

 is no more important matter in connection 

 with a garden than that of selecting a suit- 

 able spot for it. It requu'es the most care- 

 ful deliberation, sound judgment, and good 

 taste, and if these be combined a satisfactory 

 result v.'ill be tolerably certain. It is easy 

 to make a mistake, but by no means an easy matter to 

 rectify it. 



In large places where there is plenty of scope it is much 

 less difficult to steer clear of a fault than it is with the 

 amateur's small plot of land, though it is desh-able in 

 both cases, and perhaps I may say compulsory in the 

 latter, to connect the garden with the other surroundings 

 of an estabUshment in as compact and convenient a 

 form as possible. Doubtless there is economy ia this ; 

 but I know of no rule that can be laid down whereby 

 both the large landed proprietor and the amateur can 

 work by one plan, so as to enjoy the same advantages of 

 situation, aspect, shelter, and soil. The former, if ho 

 wants a garden, must make up his mind to sacrifice some 

 of the pleasures which breadth of land and natural ad- 

 vantages give ; but the latter in his enthusiasm is often a 

 match for all this, and is able to find pleasures in things 

 that run a risk of being unobserved by those possessing 

 larger scope. By this I mean that from surrounding 

 circumstances the proprietor of a humble residence is not 

 the person to regard his kitchen garden as a necessity 

 only to supply his household with vegetables, but would 

 rather regard it also as one of the chief objects of his 

 attention and care. This is as it should be, for a kitchen 

 garden skilfully laid-out, and well planted and kept in 

 order, is as beautiful as any other department of the 

 garden, and certainly in this way it affords a considerable 

 degree of pleasure. 



Taking it in this light, there is no impropriety in. having 

 the garden as elo.=cly connected with the house as is 

 consistent with the arrangement of the little "shrubbery, 

 rosery, or flower garden, and even these in some places 

 where the space is small may bo made to work-in with 

 it, or perhaps suiTound it, in such a tasteful way as to 

 completely exclude the garden from sight, and yet afford 

 a privacy in walking about not to be found or secured in 

 any other way. Again, avoid if possible placing the garden 

 in sight of the principal rooms of the residence ; and it 

 would certainly be considered bad taste to place it in 

 front of the house, even if it be a respectful distance from 

 it, unless, by judiciously banking-up and planting, the 

 view of it can be effectually exchided. This arrange- 

 ment, however, is not likely to bo adopted, except when 

 there is no alternative, as it would detract much from 

 the appearance of the residence, and confine it to such a 

 degree as to do away with the appearance of freedom 

 or extent. 



No. 6e«,-Voi. XXV., New SEWEe. 



Elevated or exposed situations, especially if they incline 

 to the north and are open to cutting winds, are among 

 the worst situations possible — even a low and damp posi- 

 tion is not to be dreaded so much ; but neither thould 

 be chosen unless absolutely unavoidable. About the best 

 situation appears to be somewhere in the rear of tlio 

 dwelhng, yet at such a distance from it as neither to be 

 inconvenient nor to interfere with other features of the 

 place. If the residence has its principal frontage duo 

 south, the garden may be placed on either the west or 

 east side, yet nearly or quite in a line with the house, if 

 other cu'cumstances are favourable to this being done ; 

 one of these is that whether the garden is bounded by a 

 hedge or a wall, before such a position is decided on it 

 must be considered if there are facilities for effectually 

 planting-out or hiding the formal appearance which the 

 wall or hedge would create when placed in a line with 

 the house. 



Again, before finally deciding upon a spot for a garden, 

 other important matters must receive attention ; one of 

 these is a suitable aspect, and that one which is generally 

 considered to be most favourable is where the ground 

 has an inclination to the south ; or no great objection 

 need be made if there is a gentle slope towards the east, 

 because the garden receives the benefit of the morniug 

 sun ; but the slope must not by any means be steep, 

 otherwise it looks badly, and is objectionable because it 

 is diflicult to shelter such a spot from cold and cutting 

 winds. The natural result would be that in too much 

 of an eastern aspect the crops would be late and the 

 ground generally colder ; the same may be said of a 

 northern aspect, which should likewise be avoided if 

 possible. However, these unfavourable aspects do some- 

 times place one in a favourable position ; for I well re- 

 member that I onco had charge of a kitchen garden 

 sloping sharply towards the east, and with no shelter 

 beyond what a neighbouring hill afforded with its clothing 

 of high trees half a mile away. When a dry summer 

 occurred I was far before my neighbours with abundant 

 and superior crops of vegetables, particularly Peas. I 

 that year gi'ew the Ne Plus Ultra as a late Pea, and it 

 cropped so well that I have gi'own it as the best lato 

 Pea every year since. In large establishments, where a 

 long succession of large quantities of vegetables and other 

 crops is essential, it may be as well to select a piece of 

 gi'ound with an aspect favouring these conditions. 



Looking at things in a gardening point of view, it hag 

 often occurred to mo as a pity that when the position for 

 a residence and out-door offices is being decided upon, 

 a little more thought has not been bestowed upon tho 

 garden, so that each might have a share of the advantages 

 of the best positions. I am induced to think so only when 

 I observe the garden pitched, an it were, into a corner or 

 some other makeshift place, where produce has to bo 

 reared at a great disadvantage. In places allotted to villa 

 residences I am afraid there is very little chance of over- 

 coming this difficulty; but with others where a few acres 

 of gi'ound arc attached to the house a more advantageous 

 position for the garden might without difficulty be obtained. 



No. 1812.— Vol. L., Olb Sesies. 



