8 VEGECULTURE 



eastern sides ; the south-west being another quarter against 



which some protection is oftei\ desirable. Very high and 



very low positions are equally unfavourable ; in the 



Things first case, the ground is exposed to wintry blasts and 



to be the occasional droughts of summer ; and in the second, 



Avoided severe frosts, and excessive damp in autumn are 



hard to circumvent. 



A " border " is a narrow strip of garden soil, as distinguished 

 from the bulk of ground in the open, running along the garden 

 fence or wall. In the formation and laying-out 

 The Utility of the kitchen-garden, whatever the shape, aspect, 

 of Borders or quality of the soil, it will be found very advan- 

 tageous to secure one or two narrow borders under 

 a wall or fence ; or, perhaps, there may be a continuous border 

 all round on one side enjoying early sun, and the other side 

 being shaded. These borders are of great value. In early 

 spring, when the first sowings of Lettuces, Cabbages, Horn 

 Carrots, and other early subjects are made, a well-drained border 

 under a wall is an ideal place for them, especially if it obtains 

 the morning and mid-day sun. All tender vegetables, sown or 

 planted a little before the usual time, would do well in such 

 a position ; and many of these may be safely sown there at a 

 time when they would surely perish if exposed to the severity 

 of the weather in the more open ground. The first crop of 

 Potatoes, and a small but welcome quantity of every summer 

 vegetable, may be thus obtained a fortnight earlier. From 

 seed-beds in such a position, plants for future transplantation 

 may be advantageously raised. The borders exposed to the 

 north will not be less useful, for the practical gardener will 

 appreciate a shady spot as much as he does plenty of sun else- 

 where ; and many subjects may be had late in the season. 



The walls and borders, if arranged with a continuous walk 

 around them, will leave an open space clear for general opera- 

 tions. Here utility, not fancy, must determine the 

 General plan or lay-out of the garden. The central portion 

 Laying- of the ground, then, should first be divided by narrow 

 Out paths into several square plots, or beds, of soil. 



Permanent walks unless the size of the ground 

 renders such necessary are undesirable ; narrow alleys, to be 

 turned over into garden ground every year and fresh ones made, 

 should be the procedure ; and no path need be wider than will 

 allow of a wheelbarrow to pass along it freely. The plots thus 

 marked out are apportioned to the various vegetables desired 



