254 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



said in the earlier chapters of this book that straight lines 

 should be avoided in the garden in favour of curves. But 

 if we sow our tall Garden Peas in curved rows we shall be 

 more than disappointed with the crop. In curved rows 

 one side of the row gets very little sunshine and thus very 

 few pods can swell. So, although we may dislike straight 

 lines, we must have them in this case, and the same may 

 be said of rows of Scarlet Runner Beans and Broad Beans. 

 Where, however, Dwarf Peas are used, the rows need not 

 be straight, for owing to the dwarfness of their growth 

 the sun can get to both sides of them. 



Rows of Tall Peas, Scarlet Runner Beans, and Broad 

 Beans should always run directly North and South if 

 possible. This is not necessary in the case of dwarfer 

 subjects : their rows may run in the direction most pleasing 

 to the gardener, or most adaptable to the circumstances. 

 In a South border, for instance, the usual advice given would 

 be to have short rows running North and South, but it 

 looks a great deal better in using dwarf crops to have longer 

 rows roughly in the direction of East and West. 



So the general idea is to sow or plant your dwarfer 

 vegetable crops in any direction which pleases you best, 

 and to plant your tall crops in straight rows running North 

 and South. 



Before passing on to another scheme it is well for me 

 to say a few words about general arrangement. I have 

 suggested the inclusion of Carrots, Beet, Spinach, and 

 Spinach Beet, Kohl-rabi, Turnips, Salsafy, Leeks, Onions, 

 Parsley, etc. A good idea is to reserve a portion of the 

 bed entirely for such crops as Leeks, Salsafy, and Onions. 

 The Leeks are best put in the back row, then should come 

 the Salsafy, and then the Onions, edged with a row of 

 Parsley. Another portion may be reserved for Spinach, 

 Spinach Beet, and Beet, the Chilian, black-leaved and 

 crimson sorts being included. Spinach Beet being a tall 

 growing subject, should be given the back row, then may 

 come a row of Crimson Beet, then a row of ordinary 

 Spinach (which will want renewing several times during 



