On tJie most favorable sliual'ion for a Garden. oG5 



Art. II. On the most favorable situation for a Garden. By 

 J. W. Russell, Superintendent of Mount Auburn. 



A GARDEN, if possible, should be on a gentle declivity towards 

 the south, a little inclining to the east, to receive the morning 

 sun. If it be situated in low ground, the wind will have the less 

 effect upon it; but there it will be subject to early and late frosts, 

 which will be found to be very prejudicial to the fruit, and other 

 crops; and if situated on high ground, although it will, in a great 

 measure, be free from early and late frosts, it will be exposed to 

 the fury of the winds, to the great injury of the trees, by break- 

 ing their branches and blowing off the blossoms and fruits. A 

 garden should be well sheltered from the north-west and east 

 winds, in order to prevent the blight from affecting the trees. 



If a garden be not naturally sheltered from the just mentioned 

 obstacles, with gentle rising hills, which are the best shelter of 

 any, plantations of forest trees made at proper distances, so as 

 not to shade it, will be found the best substitute, at the same 

 time there ousht to be a free admittance for the sun and air. On 

 that account, a locality surrounded by woods is a very improper 

 one for a garden or orchard, as a foul stagnant air is unfavorable 

 to vegetation; and it has also been observed, that blights are 

 much more frequent in such situations than in those that are more 

 open and exposed. 



In the laying out of a new garden, another very essential point 

 is, to make choice of a good soil. It should be from eighteen 

 inches to two feet deep; but if deeper the better, of a mellow, 

 pliable nature, and of a moderately dry quality; and if the ground 

 should happen to have an uneven surface, I would by no means 

 attempt to level it, for by that unevenness, and any little differ- 

 ence there may be in the quality, you will have a greater variety 

 of soil adapted to different crops. The best soil for a garden is 

 a rich mellow loam, and the worst, a stiff heavy clay; alight 

 sand is also a very unfit soil for a garden. The cleaning of 

 streets and ditches will be found very proper to mix with a strong 

 soil, and if the ground should be cold, a large quantity of coal 

 and wood ashes, sea sand, or rotten vegetables, should be laid 

 upon it, in order to meliorate and loosen the soil, and render it 

 easy to work; lime rubbish, or light sandy earth from fields and 

 commons, will also be found of great service to stiff clayey 

 ground. If the soil be light and warm, well decomposed cow's 

 dung, or neat's dung, is the best dressing you can give it. It 

 horse dung be ever used, it must be completely rotted and mix- 

 ed with peat or bog soil, otherwise it will burn up the crop, if 

 there should happen to be a spell of dnj, hot weather. 



