FORMATION OF A VEGETABLE OR KITCHEN GARDEN. 9 



pend upon the number of the family, and may vary from a 

 quarter to a whole acre. The walks may be from three to six 

 feet wide, straight or serpentine — the former preferred, how- 

 ever. "Where fancy may dictate, the latter can be adopted, 

 cropping the curves of the ground with flowers, fancy plants, 

 or choice fruits. 



Rotation of Crops. — I admit that the same vegetable can 

 be grown upon the same spot with success, year after year, but 

 I also assert that a rotation of crops will be more produc- 

 tive, which is of great importance in culinary gardening ; there- 

 fore never grow exhausting crops in succession. Substitute 

 those alternately of as different roots and constitution as pos- 

 sible. Keep these objects in view, and even with ordinary 

 management we vouch for a crop. Assiduity in the destruc- 

 tion of weeds, neatness and cleanliness, a constant stirring of 

 the soil, digging deep and manuring freely, must be the con- 

 stant companions of the gardener ; making the business a 

 source of pleasure, profit and advantage to himself, and an ob- 

 ject of admiration to others. 



Of Manures. — We may here premise that no garden will 

 be worth its culture, unless well supplied with manure every 

 year. The present day is a period of considerable agitation on 

 this all-important subject. We have tried several of the new 

 manures, some of them to our loss and (when we have departed 

 from the stable yard) few to our advantage. In Europe great 

 attention has been given to this subject, and many specifics 

 recommended, which, when tried, have had frequently uncer- 

 tain results, though in particular cases they have been crowned 

 with success. In this country, however, our resources of do- 

 mestic materials are abundant, and on every farm and garden 

 much goes to waste. All weeds and useless vegetables, sweep- 

 ings of walks, &c., should be dug into the ground at once. 

 The dung of domestic birds, compounded with fresh soil, is a 

 great renovator ; but, if applied by itself, use it sparingly. 

 Guano can only be safely applied in solution, one pound to five 

 1* 



