122 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [FEB. 



mellow and mouldy, that these long roots can readily make their way 

 straight through in their perpendicular, downward growth ; for when 

 the dung manure is rank and lumpy, it is very apt to impede the 

 young descending radicle, and occasion the main root to fork or grow 

 crooked, more especially the carrots, which also in some fresh-dunged 

 ground are sometimes apt to canker. 



All manuring should generally be performed in winter or spring, 

 to be dug in at the general annual digging, taking opportunity of 

 frosty or very dry weather to wheel in the dung for the principal ma- 

 nuring, as it may then be performed more easy and clean without 

 clogging or spoiling the walks, or tearing up the ground ; laying it 

 in heaps by barrowfuls at equal distances ; afterwards spread it evenly, 

 and dig it in one spade deep or more. 



In regard to cropping the ground, the proper situation for, and 

 method of raising the different plants, is fully explained in the dif- 

 ferent months under their respective heads ; I will therefore only hint 

 here, that it is eligible to allot the driest, warmest, and most sunny 

 situation for the early crops, and the other parts for the main crops. 



The south borders are proper for raising the earliest plants, as 

 early peas, beans, radishes, spinage, lettuce, carrots, small salad-herbs, 

 kidney-beans, &c. ; the east and west borders for succession of early 

 crops, and the north borders, which, being shady and cool, serve for 

 raising and pricking out many small plants, slips and cuttings in 

 summer; though all these borders, in every exposure, may be made 

 useful at all seasons. The borders next the espaliers are proper for 

 crops of small plants at all seasons of the year, as lettuce, endive, 

 spinage, small salad-herbs, strawberries, and several others, both to 

 stand and for transplantation, according to the mode of culture of the 

 different sorts ; and by keeping all the borders constantly well fur- 

 nished with various esculents, disposed according to their different 

 growths, they, besides their usefulness, effect a delightful variety. 



In the internal parts, called the quarters, should always be raised 

 the larger principal crops, such as cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, 

 cole worts, peas, beans, kidney-beans, onions, leeks, carrots, parsneps, 

 beets, potatoes, turnips, artichokes, celery, general crops of lettuce, 

 spinage, horse-radish, &c. 



As many of the esculent plants succeed best in rows, such as peas, 

 beans, cauliflowers, and all the cabbage kinds, transplanted lettuces, 

 endive, potatoes, artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes, celery, and some 

 others, particular regard is requisite that the rows are at proper dis- 

 tances for the plants to have full scope to grow, and would advise that 

 all the tall-growing sorts, sown in drills, such as peas, beans, kidney- 

 beans, &c., for early crops, have their rows ranging north and south, 

 if possible, that the sun may shine on each side of the rows more 

 effectually, as well as on the ground between the rows ; both of which 

 are of more advantage to early crops than may be generally imagined; 

 for when the rows range east and west, one row shades another, so 

 that when the plants grow up, they cannot all receive an equal benefit 

 of the sun. 



The great art in cropping a kitchen garden, is to make the most of 

 every part of the ground where necessary, by having each quarter 



