SlTtXATIOX.] 



PEACTICE Oi^ HOETICULTUEE. 



[soil. 



SITUATION. 



As convemence of situation is one of the 

 first considerations tliat concerns us in the 

 taking of a house, so ought it to be in making 

 choice of the ground intended for a garden. 

 In making this choice, the bottoms of valleys 

 and all low situations should be avoided. 

 "The greater warmth of low situations," 

 observes Dr. Darwin, " and their being gene- 

 rally better sheltered from the cold north-east 

 winds, and the boisterous south-west winds, 

 are agreeable circumstances ; as the north- 

 east winds, in this climate, are the freezing 

 winds ; and the south-west winds being more 

 violent, are liable to do much injury to 

 standard fruit trees in summer, by dashing 

 their branches against each other, and thereby 

 bruising or beating off the fruit ; but in low 

 situations, the fogs in vernal evenings, by 

 moistening the young shoots of trees, and their 

 early flowers, render them much more liable 

 to the injuries of the frosty nights that 

 succeed them, which they escape in higher 

 situations." Thus, of two evils, choose the 

 least; and Professor Bradley adduces a fact 

 decisive of Dr. Darwin's opinion. A friend 

 of his had two gardens, one not many feet 

 below the otiier ; but so different that tlie 

 low garden often appeared covered with the 

 evening mists, when none appeared in the 

 upper one ; and, in a letter to Bradley, he 

 mentions, that his lower garden is much 

 injured by the vernal frost, though his upper 

 one has escaped. A similar fact is mentioned 

 by Lawrence, who observes that he has often 

 seen the leaves and tender shoots of tall ash 

 trees after thick mists, to be frozen, and, as it 

 vrere, singed in all the lower parts and 

 middle of the tree; while the upper part, 

 wliich was above the mist, remained un- 

 injured. 



As the selection of ground for a garden is 

 a most important point, we vvill dwell upon it a 

 little longer, and adduce several other opinions 

 as to situation. Abercrombic says that this 

 should not be so elevated as to be exposed to 

 boisterous and cutting winds ; nor should a 

 very low situation bo chosen, if circumstances 

 afford any choice : but it should be situated 

 conveniently for access from the house. 

 Nicol and Forsyth agree in preferriu"- a 

 930 



' gentle declivity towards the south, a little 

 inclining to the east, to receive the rays of 

 the morning sun. " If it be situated in a 

 bottom, the wind will have the less effect upon 

 it ; but then damps and fogs will be very 

 prejudicial to the fruit and other crops. If 

 situated too high, although it will, in a great 

 measure, be free from damps and fogs, it will 

 be exposed to the fury of the winds, to the 

 great hurt of the trees, by breaking their 

 branches, and blowing down their blossoms 

 and fruit." Respecting the situation of the 

 kitchen garden Nicol speaks very strongly. 

 In relation to the house, he considers the 

 most awkward situation for the kitchen 

 garden is to be in its front ; especially if 

 placed near, so that it cannot be concealed by 

 some sort of plantation. " Generally speak- 

 ing," he remarks, " it should be placed in the 

 rear or flank of the house, by which means 

 the lawn may not be broken and rendered 

 unshapely where it is required to be most 

 complete. The necessary tiaffic with this 

 garden, if placed in front, is always offensive. 

 Descending to the consideration of more 

 humble gardens, circumstances are often so 

 arbitrary, with respect to their situations, as 

 that they cannot be placed so as to please or 

 give satisfaction by their products. There 

 are cases where the kitchen garden is neces- 

 sarily thrust into a corner, and, perhaps, is 

 shaded by buildings, or by tall trees, from the 

 sun and air ; where they are placed on steep 

 slopes, in a northern aspect, the subsoil is a 

 clayey or cankering gravel, and the site cold 

 and bleak. Such situations as these are to 

 be avoided, and may be considered among the 

 worst possible. The next worst are open, un- 

 sheltered plains ; but even there, if the soil is 

 tolerably good, and the subsoil not particularly 

 bad, shelter may be formed, so that, in a few 

 years, the garden may produce a return for 

 the expense laid out in its improvements." 



SOIL. 



As a good man may often enhance the 

 respect of a humble ofiice, so may a good soil 

 make a fair garden, even in an indifferent 

 situation. A bad man, however, degrades the 

 best of positions ; and a bad soil, let the situ- 

 ation be what it may, will never make a 

 good garden. But it is within the power of 



