KITCHEN GARDEN. 



THE site of a Kitchen Garden must depend chiefly on convenience, 

 on soil, and on aspect ; while the character of the house generally 

 determines the extent of the Kitchen Garden and its propinquity. 



For a moderate country house, the area would profitably be two 

 acres enclosed within walls, with space outside the walls and beyond, 

 for the potatoes and coarser vegetables. This enclosed garden 

 should also be easily accessible from the house and at a moderate 

 distance, say between 300 and 500 yds. An ideal site would be on 

 a hillside, slightly sloping towards the south, to the north-east 

 or north-west of the house and intervening stabling ; with a 

 wooded hillside above giving shelter from northerly winds. There 

 should be, if possible, good communication with the main road. 

 Water also, preferably that drawn from a river or lake, is a desirable 

 adjunct. If water has to be forced from springs or a stream at 

 a lower level, it is good to have it brought to a service reservoir 

 exposed to the air, with short pipes conducting thence to the houses, 

 and fixed hydrants. It is all-important, especially in clayey soils, that 

 the drainage should be perfect. The depth and distance apart of 

 the drains must depend on the nature of the soil, and if this be 

 hard and impervious, they should be filled up to within 12 or 15 in. 

 of the surface with some porous materials. The subsoil should be. 

 improved by trenching, by the addition of manure, lime, or other 



