306 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



have his efforts impeded by any outside con- 

 siderations. This demands the elimination of 

 what some so enthusiastically recommend as 

 an ornament to the vegetable garden; namely, 

 the flower border. For a border of flowers 

 crossing the ends of the vegetable rows means 

 that, in passing from row to row with his wheel 

 hoe, the gardener must always be hindered by 

 the necessity of avoiding them. Even though 

 he does not work with a wheel hoe — but how 

 shall that be! — he still must watch his step as 

 he approaches the end of each vegetable row, if 

 the flower border is allowed. 



Unquestionably the best vegetable-garden 

 layout does not admit a border of any kind, 

 unless this is wholly outside of the vegetable 

 space, as in the case of its being on the outer 

 side of a walk which extends around the gar- 

 den. Such a walk is excellent; for crossing the 

 ends of the rows it affords just the turning space 

 which the gardener needs, whatever implement 

 he is handling. Whatever the garden space, 

 therefore, secure if possible this feature of a 

 walk at the ends of the rows. If these are more 

 than fifty feet in length it is well also to break 

 them by a walk midway; for of some things con- 

 siderably less than fifty feet of row will serve 

 ordinarily. Avoid unusual forms in the layout 



