46 MV HANDKERCHIEF GARDEN. 



If the house is at the south end of the yard, its shadow 

 will be on the walk antl the warm sunny corners 

 will be at the opposite end of the yard. The plants 

 needing the most light will therefore go to the north 

 end. As the morning sun is better than the after- 

 noon sun, the west border (facing east) is the next 

 most valuable place. The aspect is, therefore, of 

 value in this order : First, the north border ; then the 

 west border, and, lastly, the east border. The north 

 border is best for tomatoes, cucumbers or melons, 

 the west for beets or carrots, and the east border for 

 celery or lettuce. 



In such a very limited garden it will not be worth 

 while to attempt a great variety of plants. It is too 

 small to carry all that would be needed in a family of 

 live, and the best that can be done is to have a few 

 kinds only, and of these only those that will thrive in 

 partial shade. One of the first things to set out in 

 spring should be rhubarb. Six good roots planted 

 near the north end of the west border will be enough. 

 This is in the nature of a permanent plantation, and 

 once set will last for years. The roots must be bought 

 quite early in the spring when the rosy tips of* the 

 leaves are just showing above ground. The roots are 

 usually cut into small pieces, and they should stand 

 in the center of the border three feet apart. The 

 soil should be made as rich as possible before plant- 

 ing, good barn manure being best. If it cannot be 

 obtained, use commercial fertilizers at intervals dur- 

 ing the summer, as the plants grow. Set the roots in 

 the ground with the growing point just under the 

 surface. As the plants grow let them spread as they 

 will. Do not cut any of the stalks the first season. 

 When the flower stalks appear cut them off, as they 

 only tend to weaken the plants. Rake the soil round 

 the plants after every rain, or as often as weeds ap- 



