THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



27 



different from that, so cold and hard, which is 

 laboriously brought thither from wells. 



To summarise the above explanations, it will readily 

 appear that aU considerations attached to grounds of 

 limited extent as a whole, decide the fact that the 

 kitchen garden should, if possible, be situated north 

 or eastward of the residence. By this arrangement, 

 fruit, or protective fences, walls, or tree screens, &c., 

 will act beneficially in regard to such residence. 

 Besides, the approach to it will be "set off" to 

 great advantage, loy having the most cheerful aspects, 

 and their varied garniture in form of crops and trees, 

 facing both the residence and the more direct ap- 

 proach (see illustration) ; whereas a kitchen garden 

 at the western side must be approached and entered 

 to a disadvantage in these respects, to say nothing of 

 the fact that all space south or west will be far more 

 eligible for flower garden, lawn, and shrubberies. 



Size. — The extent of the kitchen garden is to 

 be determined by the extent and habitual require- 

 ments of each family. It is important also to con- 

 sider whether other arable land exists, in connection 

 with the estate, wdiereon some of the common, albeit 

 most important crops so essential to household uses 

 can be grown. These consist of potatoes, turnips, 

 and such other very hardy subjects as could be 

 most successfully grown as main crops, leaving only 

 early supplies to be furnished from the garden itself. 

 M^here no such aid exists, more space whereon to 

 grow these things should be allotted. It is surmised 

 by many that the potato supply is as cheaply pur- 

 chased as grown. This is not so, however, where 

 a proper sj'stem of successional cropping is carried 

 out. 



To form a kitchen garden possessing the ut- 

 most usefulness in produce, and pleasing in appear- 

 ance, it must be so laid out that good walks exist 

 for enjoyable pedestrianism, and easy access and 

 working. Small side-wall and side-walk divisions 

 or borders should be formed, whereon, in the 

 former case, to winter and produce early crops, and 

 sustain the roots of fruit-trees grown against the 

 wails ; and in the latter case, to grow bush, espalier, 

 and pyramidal fruits, the lesser kinds of herbs, &;c. 

 A garden thus neatly arranged will occupy more 

 space than an ordinary piece of vegetable ground ; 

 and it should not be less, supposing potatoes, &c., 

 Tdc grown for the main crop, than an acre in extent, 

 if it is to furnish aU the supply for a moderate-sized 

 family maintaining an establishment of dependents. 

 The question of labour has also something to do 

 with this matter. It is universally admitted that 

 one man's time will be fully occupied the year 

 round upon one acre of kitchen garden. Upon 

 this basis a proper calculation can be made on 



this score : a calculation, when desirable, which 

 should always be made in conjunction with flower 

 and pleasure gardens and glass structures. Nor 

 should the fact be overlooked, that it is cconoinical 

 to possess a glass structure, whether for fruit or 

 otherwise, where labour can be economically main- 

 tained in activity during inclement weather, &c. 



Neat and eftective kitchen gardens, including bush 

 fruits, &c., may be arranged in connection with 

 villa residences upon a space comprising half an 

 acre of ground. It is always desirable, however, to 

 exceed requirements rather than limit the space, 

 Avhere the real supply of a family is contemplated. 

 Additional fruits, &c., can always be grown, which 

 in themselves are a minimum tax only on the labour 

 bill. Eising from the villa garden up to ducal 

 kitchen gardens and requirements, a variety of 

 sizes exist in the country, up to as many as ten or 

 twelve acres. It has been held that a rood of 

 ground will produce a supply of vegetables pur et 

 simple for four persons. 



But much may be done far short of supplying the 

 entire necessities of a family. A few choice or early 

 vegetables out of " one's own garden," fresh, not 

 only seem to, but really do taste different to any 

 other ; and not a few manage, by dint of skill and close 

 cropping to get most welcome, and what almost seem 

 ample supplies out of the tenth or twentieth part of 

 a rood. By successional and what is called express 

 cropping, that is, the dri\ing of two or more crops 

 abreast on the same land at the same time, an amazing 

 amount of produce maybe obtained from a few square 

 yards of ground in the course of the season. But 

 such small-size kitchen gardens, which are intimately 

 connected with allotment gardens, averaging one or 

 two rods in extent, require comparatively quite as 

 much super^-ision as do those of greater extent. The 

 chief object in regard to all is to grow the greatest 

 quantity possible of excellent crojDS. There is no 

 good tangible reason why all the best kinds of hardy 

 vegetables should not be produced by owners of vege- 

 table ground ver}^ limited in size. For instance, 

 Asparagus, considered so very difiicult to grow, and 

 so great a luxuiy, is as easily grown as any crop, 

 and should be essentially an amateur's plant ; and 

 more especially if its culture be undertaken on the 

 modern principle advocated by advanced growers 

 during the last few years, i.e., united row ciilture, 

 rather than the older plan of separate beds and their 

 attendant expense. Two or thi-ee rows sown across 

 even an allotment space will give constant crops by 

 means of such simj^le preparation only as will be 

 found under the head "Asparagus." Besides, the 

 space may be conveniently utilised to grow early 

 lettuces upon, providing always the seeds are sown 

 very thinly, and plants grown so also. By these 



