118 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [FEB. 



Do not omit enriching and improving the borders of the wall* and 

 espalier trees, by adding a considerable portion of rotten dung; and 

 if the natural soil is not good, add also, if possible, some good loamy 

 earth from the surface of a field or pasture common, either to the 

 whole, or rather than fail, a few barrowfuls at first to each place 

 where a tree is to stand, and improve the rest afterwards by degrees 

 at leisure. 



The ground must be divided into compartments for regularity and 

 convenience. A border must be carried round close to the boundary 

 walls or fences, not less than five, but if six or eight feet wide, the 

 better, both for raising various early and other kitchen crops, and 

 for the benefit of the wall trees, if any, that their roots may have 

 full scope to run in search of nourishment; and moreover, the annual 

 digging and stirring the ground for the culture of the herbaceous 

 esculents, greatly encourages the trees ; hence the utility of having 

 a broad border. Next to this border a walk should be continued also 

 all around the garden of proper width, as mentioned below ; then 

 proceed to divide the interior parts into two, four or more principal 

 divisions and walks, if its extent be large ; first, if the ground is of 

 some considerable width, a straight walk should run directly through 

 the middle of the garden ; and another, if thought necessary, may 

 be directed across the ground, intersecting the first ; and if the gar- 

 den extends any considerable length, two or more such cross walks 

 may be necessary; the width of the walks may be from about five 

 to ten or twelve feet, in proportion to the extent of the garden ; and 

 each of the quarters should be surrounded with a five or six feet 

 wide border ; and a range of espalier fruit-trees may be planted along 

 towards the back part of each border, so that every quarter will be 

 inclosed with an espalier, which will be ornamental in growth, and 

 profitable in the annual production of superior fruit of different 

 kinds. 



I would not, however, by any means advise dividing small or 

 moderate-sized gardens into too many walks and small quarters, espe- 

 cially if they are to be surrounded by espaliers, which would render 

 them too confined for the proper growth of culinary herbage ; besides, 

 it would be wasting too much of the ground in walks. 



In one of the quarters a place should be allotted for the framing 

 ground ; that is, a place for making the hot-beds for raising early 

 cucumbers, melons, and other tender plants ; fixing on a spot for this 

 purpose, full to the sun from rising to setting, sheltered as much as 

 possible from the northerly winds, and conveniently situated for 

 bringing in the dung for the hot-beds. 



This place, if not so situated as to be sheltered by the walls or 

 other fences of the garden, it will be of much advantage to inclose 

 it with a close fence of some kind, serving both to break off the 

 winds, and by having a door to lock, will preserve your crops more 



* Observe that all trees planted against and trained to either paling or 

 board fences, &c., producing fruit on one side only, are denominated wall 

 trees, as well as if planted to actual brick or stone walls ; in contradistinc- 

 tion to espalier trees, which produce fruit on both sides. 



