THE FLOHAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 121 



eighteen inches six months out of twelve, and the whole exposed to 

 the bitterest east wind that ever blew in any part of the home 

 counties. We have other pieces much more favourably situated, but 

 we are bound to say of these adjuncts to the home garden that we 

 obtain from them a great variety and an abundance of vegetables 

 and fruits of the finest quality, the result simply of suitable manage- 

 ment. In what the suitable management consists will be explained 

 as we proceed ; our object in referring to these gardens is simply to 

 indicate at starting that we do not for our own use possess gardens 

 representative of the essential primary principles. In all practical 

 matters there is a compromise of some sort to be accomplished, and 

 hence in working out a theory or a scheme, allowance must be made 

 for friction, the defects of material, and human fallibility. 



It is well, however, to keep in mind all that is required, for 

 much may be done by the exercise of skill and patience to remove 

 or modify the various impediments to success that will have to be 

 encountered as we go on. Whatever the soil or situation, the 

 "laying out" should be a very simple matter. It may be prudent 

 to plant a shrubbery, and intersect it with winding walks and flower 

 borders, on one or on all sides of the kitchen garden. But whatever 

 the kind of boundary taste or convenience may suggest, we must 

 have rectangular plots, and symmetrical angular divisions, where the 

 work of the kitchen garden is to be carried on ; and the amateur who 

 enters upon the business with no experience to fall back upon, may 

 be content for a time with grass walks, or narrow ways marked with 

 a few inches of coal ashes, and by the aid of these carry on the 

 work until a definite idea is arrived at as to the most convenient and 

 serviceable method of settling the configuration of the ground. In 

 taking an old garden, you take the system with it, and, generally 

 speaking, it will be well to adapt operations to that system, even if 

 it be a bad one, rather than to attempt a revolution, for that is sure 

 to prove a costly business. Before altering an old garden, a prudent 

 man will consider the cost, and the probability that it is better 

 adapted to the locality and to the circumstances of its owner than at 

 first appears. At all events, our advice to the amateur who takes a 

 garden ready made is make the best of it as it is, and be in no haste 

 to make important alterations, for they will cost money and inter- 

 rupt the work of production, and when accomplished may prope to 

 be alterations only, and not improvements. 



In breaking up a piece of grass land, you have at least the ad- 

 vantage of your ideas as to what a kitchen garden should be. Yon 

 can make your boundaries and walks, and the forms and sizes of the 

 several plots and plantations in accordance with your own theory of 

 a perfect garden, so far, at least, as the extent of the ground, the 

 nature of the soil, and other inevitable conditions will allow. Now 

 in this case, the two matters of vital importance are the boundaries 

 and the drainage. In making the boundaries, it will be well to con- 

 sider, in the very first start, to what extent will shelter be needful, 

 and of what should it consist ? A broad belt of wood or coppice 

 allbrds the best of shelter against the keen east winds that in many 

 parts make havoc of our gardens in the months of March and April. 



April. 



