BUIST'S 

 FAMILY KITCHEN GARDENER 



THE FORMATION OF A VEGETABLE OR KITCHEN 

 GARDEN, &c. 



Before proceeding witli the subject of vegetable culture, 

 the attention of the reader is requested to some remarks on 

 the formation of a Kitchen G-arden. This subject is forced 

 upon us by a knowledge of how much labor and money are 

 expended in producing one misplaced, badly designed, and 

 unproductive — a most unpleasant attendant upon a country 

 life ; when, by the same labor and expense, one could have 

 been obtained that would have yielded liberally every pleasure, 

 every comfort, and even every luxury for a bountiful table. 



The situation most suitable is a very gentle inclination to- 

 ward the east or south-east, that it may have all the advan- 

 tages of the morning sun. The next preferable, exposure is 

 south or south-west ; if sheltered from the north or north-west, 

 60 much the better. However, avoid the neighborhood of 

 large and spreading trees, as their roots will exhaust the soil, 

 and their shade injure the crops. 



In selecting the ground^ it is of vast importance to have the 

 soil of a healthy quality, being mellow, dry, and capable of 

 being worked with the spade. The best soils are of a friable 

 and loamy texture ; the worst, those of a very light sandy or 

 of a stiff clayey description. 



If the bottom or subsoil be retentive, trench the ground at 



