THE VEGETABLE GARDEN, 



SOILS. 



The success of a kitchen garden largely depends upon 

 the character of the soil and the exposure. Of course in 

 the majority of cases circumstances control the selection, 

 but in a multitude of cases much more suitable selections 

 can be made than are made. Especially is this the case 

 on the part of persons, who, leaving the cities, select sub- 

 urban or rural residences. Beautiful views, commanding 

 sites, and numerous other considerations too often deter- 

 mine the problem in selecting a rural home, whilst the 

 adaptability of the site for gardening purposes is rarely, if 

 ever, considered ; although upon this point much of the 

 enjoyment and comfort of a rural home depends, as well 

 as the cost of keeping it up. 



Sandy soils, especially those having a loose, gravelly 

 subsoil, are the least retentive of moisture, and accord- 

 ingly seriously sufler from drought ; but there are cases in 

 which sites having a deep sandy soil, and surrounded by 

 higher land, are constantly moist, as the water from the 

 higher lands drains or percolates through the substratum 

 of the sand, and the action of the sun, in causing evapora- 

 tion from the surface, draws up the moisture from below, 

 bringing it in contact with the roots of the crops, thereby 



