IK) THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Feb. 



Different sorts of fences are used for inclosing this ground, as 

 walls, palings, and hedges, &c. 



Sometimes board fences or palings are used, both for protection 

 and for training fruit trees to. When such are intended for trees, 

 the boarding should be tongued and closely joined edge to edge, so 

 as to form a plane or even surface for the commodious training the 

 branches. 



In gardens where no wall trees are intended, a hedge, or bank 

 and hedge is a very proper fence; which may be so trained as to 

 form both an effectual fence against men and beasts, also to shelter 

 particular parts of the ground for raising early crops: a hawthorn 

 hedge is the most proper, though other sorts may be used. 



No fencing, however, for a kitchen garden where intended to 

 have wall trees, especially in the more northerly parts of the Union, 

 is equal to brick walls, which are considerably stronger, warmer, 

 and more durable than paling fences; and their natural warmth, 

 together with their reflection of the sun's heat, is the most effectual 

 for the growth and ripening of the latest and more delicate kinds 

 of fruit. 



Hot walls for forcing by fire heat, &c. are often erected in large 

 kitchen gardens; for an account of which see page 44. 



Preparing and laying out the Ground. 



The whole ground should be regularly trenched two spades 

 deep; observing if the soil is poor or of bad quality, and wants 

 amendment, either of dung or any of the materials before men- 

 tioned, such must previously be added, and then trenched in betwixt 

 the bottom and top pits, so as next year when it comes to be digged 

 again, and the compost being well meliorated, will be worked up 

 and mixed with the natural soil. 



Do not omit enriching and improving the borders for the wall* 

 and espalier trees, by adding a considerable portion of rotten dung; 

 and if the natural soil is not good, add also, if possible, some good 

 loamy earth from the surface of a field or pasture common, either 

 to the whole, or rather than fail, a few barrowfulls at first to each 

 place where a tree is to stand, and improve the rest afterwards by 

 degrees at leisure. 



The ground must be divided into compartments for regularity 

 and convenience. A border must be carried round close to the 

 boundary walls or fences, not less than five, but if six or eight feet 

 wide, the better, both for raising various early and other kitchen 

 crops, and for the benefit of the wall trees, if any, that their roots 

 may have full scope to run in search of nourishment: and moreover, 

 the annual digging and stirring the ground for the culture of the 

 herbaceous esculents, greatly encourages the trees: hence the utility 

 of having a broad border. Next to this border a walk should be 



* Observe that all trees planted against and trained to either paling or 

 board fences, &c., producing fruit on one side only, are denominated wall 

 trees, as well as if planted to actual brick or stone walls; in contradistinction 

 to espalier trees, which produce fruit on both sides. 



