168 GARDEN 3JAXAGEMEXT. 



as manure, or by mixing them up in trenching ; but an admixture of light 

 Bandy soil mixed with the manure is more economical and equally efiective. 



395. The same remarks apply to stony or sandy soils. A stony soil may be 

 retentive and none the worse for being stpny, except in working : I have 

 seen some good crops grown on light stony soils. If the soil is sandy, let 

 mulching foi-m one of the chief items in its tillage, and it will repay the 

 cultivator. 



396. In selecting a piece of groimd for garden cultivation, its situation as 

 to hills, large trees, buildings, and to water, is important. Generally speak- 

 ing, land situated on the banks, or \erj near large pieces of water, is cold and 

 bleak ; the process of evaporation, continually going on, renders the air cold 

 and raw in such localities ; and cold air, cutting winds, and cold soil, are most 

 imfavourable to gardening. A thick brick or stone wall and row of trees on 

 the water-side would reduce the one, and if the ground slope down to the 

 water with a sufficient fall, good drainage will remove the coldness of the soil. 

 If the land lies too low to be drained, the water lies stagnate, and the roots 

 of the crops lie in an imhealthy cold bath, a situation in which few things 

 will flourish. 



397. In no case should trees be so close to the kitchen-garden that their 

 roots obtrude into the borders : no culinary plant can get its proper supply while 

 the fibres of a vigorous tree are appropriating the lion's shai-e of its sustenance. 

 Another objection to trees as a shelter is, that when most required they are 

 least efficient. Denuded of their leaves in these seasons, they afford little 

 shelter in the winter and early spring months. Where trees or buildings lie 

 between the garden and the sun, crops which do well in the shade should be 

 grown there. There are not many vegetables which prosper in such situations ; 

 certainly it would be useless to try peas, beans, potatoes, or cabbages, under 

 such circumstances ; but rhubarb, seakale, Scotch kale, and salads may do. 

 On the other hand, it may be observed as a rule, that where a cabbage will 

 grow vigorously and make a good heart, there any kind of kitchen crop will 

 flourish. Hilly ground may be favom-ably situated or otherwise, according to 

 the aspect. A northern aspect will probably be bleak, a south one warm and 

 dieltered ; but success or failure depends on a combination of, — rather than on 

 particular circumstances ; and a useful lesson in cultivation may be drawn 

 from the weeds which flourish on the natural soil in the neighbourhood. If 

 buttercups, docks, thistles, couch, and suchlike weeds grow luxuriantly, peas, 

 cabbages, celery, &c., may be made to flom-ish : such weeds are an excellent 

 criterion of fertilit}'. 



39S. The kitchen -garden suitable for a suburban \illa will altogether depend 

 on the extent of ground attached to those residences. Let us, however, take 

 one of medium size, inclosing an acre of ground, arranged as a pleasure- and 

 kitchen - garden, as far from the house as possible, beyond bad smells; 

 although these may be prevented by means of lime, charcoal, or some other 

 deodorizer. The melon-ground, like the kitchen-garden, will be gi-eatly 

 benefitted if some trees of dense habit, such as a belt of larch or other pines. 



