Of Gardens. 441 



their natural state, are but little calculated for human food, 

 being hard and difficult of digestion ; but by cultivation they 

 are rendered succulent and tender. They contain little nu- 

 tritious matter, but are useful for counteracting the putrescent 

 and stimulating qualities of animal food. Vegetables of this 

 kind have a laxative tendency, and are useful in summer, to 

 relieve the bowels, when costiveness takes place, which often 

 happens in that season of the year, from the increased dis- 

 charge by the skin. 



A portion of garden ground is also employed in raising 

 pulse, in particular beans and pease, with a view of procu- 

 ring the more delicate sorts, and much earlier in the season, 

 than could be expected from field culture. The consumption 

 of pulse however, as human aliment, is necessarily circum- 

 scribed. In their earlier state, as green succulent food, they 

 are generally acceptable ; and even when they have reached 

 maturity, they may be used in soups ; but if ground into meal, 

 when fully ripe, they are only calculated for those who have 

 strong powers of digestion ( 398 ). Some of these vegetables, 

 however, are of immense importance, as a resource in times 

 of scarcity, since two or three crops of them might be obtain- 

 ed, while" we are waiting for those of grain. 



We shall now proceed to consider, 1. The advantages of 

 gardens in general ; 2. The different sorts ; 3. The rent of 

 gardens ; and, 4. The means of their improvement. 



1 . Advantages of Gardens in general. 



These are evident, both from the great number of indi- 

 viduals which they employ, and the immense quantity of va- 

 luable produce raised by them. 



The quantity of productive labour depending upon the gar- 

 dens in the neighbourhood of London, is peculiarly great. 

 The digging, hoeing, trenching, harrowing, planting, graft- 

 ing, pruning, budding, gathering and marketing the fruit, 

 and other productions of the garden, together with the car- 

 riage, and the great number of dealers, who either sell the 

 articles at the market, or hawk them about the numerous 

 streets of the metropolis, and adjoining villages, must furnish 

 a very great amount of labour and profit to numerous indivi- 

 duals ( 399 ). 



There are said to be 14,000 acres occupied as fruit and 

 kitchen gardens, for the supply of London with fruit and ve- 

 getables ( 40 ) ; the average produce of which, even at the pre- 



