FRENCH GARDENING 381 



into a bad one for the reason that the inhabitants of the 

 district were scattered over a wide area, well provided 

 with cottage gardens and allotments. An agricultural 

 district is rarely good for French gardening, because 

 most of the people eat nothing but plain vegetables at 

 the natural seasons for them ; moreover, manure is 

 difficult to obtain, the farmers, fruit-growers and hop- 

 cultivators all clinging jealously to the supplies of their 

 stables and yards for home use. 



Nearness to a very large town has distinct disad- 

 vantages. In the first place land is costly. Secondly it 

 is difficult to get access to the retail tradesmen, and 

 business has to be done through the public markets, 

 where competition is fierce and middlemen rampant. 



The best chance of success is in a district where there 

 are several small towns, in which connections with the 

 local tradesmen can be opened up direct ; or within 

 reasonable distance of a large health resort, particularly 

 one which draws visitors throughout the year. In such 

 a place there are hotels of good standing, high-class 

 boarding houses, nursing homes, convalescent institu- 

 tions, large private schools and other places in which 

 there is likely to be an opening for choice vegetables at 

 remunerative prices. In such a case, a grower would 

 have to consider whether it would be best to endeavour 

 to deal direct with the various establishments, or through 

 the principal shops ; tradesmen would not permit him 

 to do both. If he did a private trade he would have to 

 provide means for a daily delivery from house to house, 

 just as a shopkeeper does. He would receive higher 

 prices for what he sold, but might not dispose of a large 

 quantity. If he dealt with the shops alone, he would 

 have to charge less, but would have an enlarged output. 

 Experience would probably teach him that the latter 



