ASPECT. 



13 



our worst storms are from that direction. A north-west- 

 ern exposure, though cold and late, is less liable to injury 

 from late and early fr-osts, as vegetation in such situations 

 is sheltered somewhat fr-om the rising sun, and does not 

 suffer so much if it becomes slightly frozen. It is not the 

 frost that injures plants so much as the direct heat of the 

 sun falling upon the frozen leaves and blossoms. 

 . Cabbage, cauliflower, strawberries, spinach, lettuce, and 

 other salads, are much more easily brought to perfection 

 in a northern aspect. Many of these run up to seed im- 

 mediately if .exposed to the full sun. The soil, too, is 

 usually richer, and will retain its fertility longer, other 

 things being equal, in a northern exposure. It is a great 

 . advantage, if the garden slope at all, to have it slope in 

 more than one direction, giving a choice of exposure, and 

 generally also of soil, as it is thus adapted to both late 

 and early crops. But when the drainage is good, a level 

 is to be preferred, as by the aid of the fences any desired 

 exposure can be obtained for particular plants. Indeed in 

 this climate nothing is more to be regarded than the in- 

 clination of the soil. "Whatever be the situation or aspect, 

 a garden must be as level as possible. Any considerable 

 inclination in this latitude subjects the richest portion of 

 the soil to the danger of being washed away by our 

 violent storms. In the rich mellow soil of a garden culti- 

 vated as it should be, if there be any perceptible slope, a 

 single storm will cause a loss of manure and labor that 

 will rec[uire considerable expense to repair. If the ground 

 is not level at first, it will be economy to throw it at once 

 into terraces of convenient breadth. The steeps of these 

 can be clothed with blue grass or strawberry plants, to 

 prevent them from washing. 



Size. — A garder should be proportioned to the size of 



