ICO 



FEBRUARY. 



DESIGNS FOR A KITCHEN GARDEN. 



THE Kitchen-garden is a principal district of garden-ground' 

 allotted for the culture of all kinds of esculent herbs and roots for 

 culinary purposes, Sec. 



This may be said to be the most useful and consequential depart- 

 ment of gardening ; since its products plentifully supply our tables 

 with the necessary support of life : for it is allowed that health de- 

 pends much on the use of a proper quantity of wholesome vegeta- 

 bles ; so that it is of the utmost importance for every person possessed 

 of a due extent of ground, to have a good Kitchen -garden for the 

 supply of his family. This garden is not only useful for raising all 

 sorts of esculent plants and herbage, but also all the choicer sorts 

 of tree and shrub-fruits, Sec. both on espaliers and standards ; and 

 the annual cultivation of the ground, by the manuring, digging, 

 hoeing, Sec. necessary in the culture of the esculent herbage, 

 greatly encourages all sorts of fruit-trees, preserves them in health 

 and vigour, so as always to produce large and fair fruit ; for which 

 reason, in the Kitchen-garden should always be planted the choicest 

 sort of fruit-trees, particularly for espaliers and walls ; likewise 

 some standards, if set a considerable way asunder, so as not to shade 

 the under-crops too much ; and when the trees are judiciously dis- 

 posed, there will be nearly the same room for the crops of herba- 

 ceous esculents as without them ; so that this garden may be reck- 

 oned both as a Kitchen and fruit-garden. 



As to the situation of this garden, with respect to the other 

 districts, if designed principally as a Kitchen and fruit-garden, 

 distinct from the other parts, and that there is room for choice of 

 situation, it should generally be placed detached entirely from the 

 pleasure-ground; also as much out of view of the front of the ha- 

 bitation as possible, at some reasonable distance, either behind it, or 

 towards either side thereof, so as its walls or other fences may not 

 obstruct any desirable prospect either of the pleasure-garden, fields, 

 or the adjacent country ; having regard, however, to place it, if 

 possible, where the situation and soil is eligible, as hereafter illus- 

 trated ; and if its situation is unavoidably such as to interfere with 

 the pleasure-gardens, so as its fences may be thought disagreeable 

 to view, they may be shut out from sight by intervening plantations 

 of shrubs and trees. 



But as in many places they are limited to a moderate compass of 

 ground, and in others, though having scope enough, require but a 

 small extent of garden, you may, in either case, have the Kitchen^ 

 fruit, and pleasure-garden all in one ; having the priRcipal walks 

 spacious, and the borders next them of considerable breadth j the 



