108 T HE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Fee. 



others low and moist, it may be some advantage, as the higher or 

 sloping ground will suit some early crops, and serve for wintering 

 several sorts of plants that are impatient of copious moisture in that 

 season, such as artichokes, spinage, corn sallad, lettuce, &c; and 

 the low ground will be eligible for late summer crops, as beets, 

 kidney-beans, cauliflowers, cabbages, lettuce, and several others. 

 However, as to choice of situation and soil, this only is practicable 

 in large estates; but where persons are limited to a moderate space, 

 they must be content with such as nature affords; observing in this 

 case, that if the natural soil is of a proper temperament and depth, 

 you need not be under any great anxiety about the situation if it is 

 moderately dry, and not apt to be overflowed in winter; even in 

 that case, it may be remedied or greatly helped, by digging two or 

 three long narrow canals, and from these some under-ground hol- 

 low drains, the earth from which will help to raise the contiguous 

 ground higher, and the water in the canals will be convenient for 

 watering the plants. Remarking that a situation too wet in winter 

 should be guarded against as much as the nature of the place will 

 admit; for in such land you can never have early nor good general 

 crops, nor will the fruit trees be prosperous. 



With respect to soil, that for a kitchen garden of all others, re- 

 quires to be naturally good, of depth enough for the growth of the 

 large perpendicular esculent roots, as carrots, parsneps, red beet, 

 horse-radish, &c. also for the growth of fruit trees, a very material 

 article; so that the proper soil for these general purposes should, 

 ifpossible.be from about a foot and a half to two feet deep, or 

 more; but much less than a foot and a half depth will be a disad- 

 vantage: so much depends upon the quality of the soil for a kitchen 

 and fruit garden, that where there is scope of ground to choose 

 from, we cannot be too cautious at first in fixing on a proper spot 

 where the soil is good and deep enough, as above, before gravel, 

 clay, or other bad soils are come at, which should always be more 

 particularly attended to when designed to furnish the ground with 

 a choice collection of fruit trees, either for walls, espaliers, or 

 standards; for, without a due depth of good earth, these will neither 

 bear well nor be of long duration. 



Different sorts of soils are met with in different parts, as loamy, 

 clayev, sandy, &c. A loamy soil, either of a brown or black colour, 

 is the best that can be for this purpose, more particularly a light 

 sandy hazel loam, which always works pliable at all seasons, not 

 apt to be too wet anil cloggy at every shower of rain, nor bind in 

 dry hot weather; this soil, however, although in many places it is 

 the most general superficial earth, is not common to all parts. A 

 clayey, strong, stubborn soil, is the worst of all earths, and must 

 be mended by sandy materials, ashes, and other loosening light 

 substances. A sandy soil is common in many places, which is of 

 a verv light sharp nature; this must be fertilized by plenty of rotten 

 dung and strong earths, when they can be easily procured. 



It is observable that ground which constantly produces good 

 crops of grain and grass, is also proper for the growth of all escu- 

 lent herbs and fruit trees. 



