CHAPTER VIII. 



THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



THE garden should be open to the sky, and 

 as far as possible unshaded by adjacent 

 trees from the morning and afternoon sun. It is 

 even more essential that the trees be not so near 

 that their voracious roots can make their way to 

 the rich loam of the garden. 



Now for the soil. We should naturally suppose 

 that that of Eden was a deep sandy loam, with not 

 too porous a subsoil. As we have already seen 

 again and again, such a soil appears to be the lab- 

 oratory in which we can assist Nature to develop 

 her best products. But Nature has a profound 

 respect for skill, and when she recognizes it, "lends 

 a hand " in securing excellent crops from almost 

 drifting sand or stubborn clay. She has even as- 

 sisted the Hollander in wresting from the ocean 

 one of the gardens of the world. 



We must again dwell on the principles already 

 emphasized, that soils must be treated according 

 to their nature. If too damp, they must be drained ; 

 if of the fortunate quality of a sandy loam resting 



