174 THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



soil. Since we do not want the garden to be soggy, we shall 

 be disappointed if below the loam we find clay or hardpan, 

 which will not let the water drain away, and which will 

 keep the roots from striking deep. We want, if we can get it, 

 a sandy or a gravelly subsoil, which will not let the water 

 stand near the surface, but will drain it away, letting in air 

 at the roots of the plants. 



With all these various considerations, we shall find it 

 hard to choose where our garden shall be. One site may seem 

 best for some reasons ; another will be better for others. 

 What we must do is to balance the advantages and disad- 

 vantages as best we can, and decide on the place which, 

 all in all, seems the best. 



One thought may comfort us if it happens that we must put 

 the garden where all the rules say no garden should be. 

 The position may be frosty and shady, the soil may be 

 clayey and sour, the exposure may even be toward the north, 

 which is the worst of all. Let us remember that every spot 

 will grow some plants well, and many plants pretty well. 

 Doing our best with what we have, we should be able to 

 achieve something quite worth while. 



But better still, we can ourselves improve the conditions 

 under which we must work. We cannot change the exposure; 

 but perhaps we can cut away the tree, or the bough, that 

 makes too much shade. We cannot change the frosts, but 

 we can be ready to protect the plants against them. And 

 we can make the soil almost entirely over. We can break 

 up the hard subsoil, and drain the extra water away. We 

 can put sand and manure and lime into the cold, heavy, 

 sour soil, and make it warm, quick, and sweet. 



There is no reason to be discouraged, therefore, with the 

 site that we must choose. Let us watch it carefully for a 

 week or so, study the shadows and the compass, and find the 

 best corner that we can. Then let us study how to improve it. 



