398 VILLA GARDENING part v 



because the conditions under which it is carried on are too indefinite 

 and changeable ; and in some respects gardening would lose much 

 of its charm if the desired result could be obtained by the same 

 means everywhere. 



CHAPTER II 



Cropping the South Border. — No matter how small or badly 

 situated the garden may be, there must be an early border, where 

 vegetables and salads may be sheltered and their growth hastened. 

 It is an advantage if this border can have a sheltering background, 

 such as a wall, hedge, or bed of shrubs ; or, if nothing of the sort 

 is available, make a rough fence with some stout laths, and line it 

 with straw or reeds. Early produce is so valuable that every effort 

 should be used to obtain it. Having marked out the site in a 

 suitable situation, if needfid a drain should be made. In very 

 cold situations, where the subsoil was a cold heavy clay, I have 

 known it pay to take out the soil 18 inches deep, and place in a 

 layer of brick rubble and stones. When the bottom is made dry 

 and comfortable the soil of the border can be improved gradually, 

 as means may be found. The surface should possess a good fall to 

 the south to catch the early sunshine which is so valuable to the 

 early struggling crops. Biu-nt earth, the sweepings from the 

 potting shed, and other sundries, in the way of odds and ends of 

 composts, should be reserved for the early border until the soil is 

 a yard deep, and then it will grow anything. Plants growing on 

 a shallow soil, if the situation be dry and warm, soon suffer for 

 want of moisture, and it is absolutely necessaiy that the early 

 border have depth of soil. Among the early vegetables which are 

 indispensable, and which cannot be obtained too soon, are Peas, 

 Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Horn Carrots, Turnips, Lettuces, 

 and Radishes. The rows of Peas may come at intervals of 12 feet 

 or so. Some people sow first in November, and in sheltered 

 situations there is not much risk run on a warm dry site. I have 

 discontinued sowing Cauliflowers in Augvist, preferring to sow 

 about the end of November on a shelf near the glass in one of the 

 houses, pricking the plants off into single pots when large enough, 

 still keeping them in a gentle warmth near the glass, and harden- 

 ing off and planting out about the end of March or beginning of 

 April. Plants raised in this way never bolt, and there is a degree 

 of certainty about them which no other system gives ; and as each 

 plant is kept in a pot by itself, there is no check when planted out. 

 French Beans may be raised in pans or boxes, and planted out 



