INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 7 



after ; but here again the small gardener unfortunately com 

 mits the serious mistake of planting main-crop varieties requiring 

 long growth, instead of the quickly-developing early sorts, such 

 as Sharpe's Express, Puritan, or the Ashleaved varieties. 



I think much of the trouble centres around that word " early." 

 In the case of some people, it is really a misnomer, for it is taken 

 to indicate a class of vegetables, of delicate constitution, fitted 

 only for the forcing-house or intensive cultivation ; whereas 

 the " early " sense indicates precocity, quick growth, early 

 maturity. As vegetables with these qualities are usually small, 

 they are often looked askance at ; yet they are the most profit- 

 able of all, for they come into use at a time of scarcity. 



Fortunate indeed is the individual who becomes possessed 

 of a garden wherein soil, site, and aspect combine to produce 

 the ideal ! Such a garden, unless its extent affords a 

 The variety of situations from which a choice can be made, 

 Ideal is a rarity, and greatly to be prized. However, nothing 

 but good can result from keeping the ideal before us, 

 as a pattern whereby to weave our garden schemes into some- 

 thing approaching perfection ; for skilful and intelligent 

 manipulation can achieve wonders of transformation. A few 

 words upon the ideal vegetable-garden, therefore, should prove 

 helpful. 



A flat surface is to be preferred for most ordinary crops, but 

 the sloping portions of the garden may be utilized for hastening 

 or retarding certain crops. A slope to the south or east, it 

 may be noted, is far preferable to a slope towards the north. 

 As the sun is the agent in bringing vegetable life to perfection, 

 a moderate exposure to sunshine, winter and summer, and a 

 free current of air, is very necessary. If the ground has no 

 shelter on the north side, some contrivance to produce one 

 should be invented. A wall on that side will create a south 

 border for trained fruits and seed-beds on gentle slopes ; and 

 this would be favourably situated for sowings to produce crops 

 that are wanted early in the spring. A slightly elevated and 

 sloping piece of land, facing the east, moreover, will be 

 admirably situated for the first crop of early vegetables, and, 

 indeed, of many other things, for the frost will be melted there 

 long before it disappears from other parts of the ground. 



Trees and shrubs in the immediate vicinity of a garden often 

 prove injurious by intercepting the sun's rays, and preventing 

 free circulation of air. To be well placed in all respects, a 

 garden should haye efficient shelter on the northern and 



