soldiers' gardens. 375 



among themselves or their officers, some one will probahly be 

 found competent to plan and to carry out the work. In this 

 part of the project, general effect is to be regarded, and not the 

 wishes of individuals. 



7. The grounds having been laid out as a whole, the next step 

 will be to allot plots to individuals. 



8. Generally speaking, a space of 50 feet long by 50 feet broad, 

 of good, culturable ground, will suffice for each man ; minor paths 

 should be led off from the secondary walks at suitable points, 

 and from these each man will draw off a small path for his own 

 plot. The plots can be separated from each other by edging, 

 gravel walks, or such fences as the men fancy ; a space of 2 or 

 3 feet should be allowed as the boundary of each plot. "Within 

 his plot each man should be free to do as he pleases, provided he 

 does nothing to offend his neighbours or to injure their gardens. 

 No one should be allowed to enter another's plot without his per- 

 mission, or in any way to molest or interfere with him. The ground 

 should be made over to him in fair condition, and he should be 

 allowed to cultivate it as he likes : one man will raise vegetables ; 

 another flowers ; a third will train vines ; and so on as individual 

 tastes incline. The main object will be attained : the men will 

 be drawn away from the canteen, and will have an agreeable and 

 a healthy occupation, while, under other circumstances, they 

 would be idle, drinking, or getting into trouble. 



9. The garden, as I propose it, would be open to all the regi- 

 ment, and would be a pleasant place of resort for them. The 

 men, their wives, children and friends, would be free to walk 

 about the place as much as they pleased, and to roam over the 

 whole, except the appropriated plots, to which the owners alone 

 could give them access. Thus the garden would be a benefit to 

 all : those who have no taste for gardening would have an agree- 

 able lounge ; those who like that pursuit would not only be able 

 to indulge their taste, but would have the additional gratification 

 of seeing their friends going about admiring and enjoying the 

 results of their industry, and this would have the best effect in 

 stimulating them to greater exertions. A good extent of ground 

 is the great desideratum to secure both these objects; and it 

 should be remembered that all the ground not actually required 



