Requisites 



15 



seasons of protracted drought. Then again, if you 

 have ground enough, lay off two plots so that you 

 can take advantage of the practice of rotation, al- 

 ternating grass, potatoes or corn with the vegetable 

 garden. Of course it is possible to practice crop 

 rotation (see page 106) to some extent within the 

 limits of even the small vegetable garden, but it will 

 be much better, if possible, to rotate the entire gar- 

 den-patch. 



All these things, then, one has to keep in mind 

 in picking the spot best suited for the home vege- 

 table garden. It should be, if possible, of conven- 

 ient access ; it should have a warm exposure and be 

 well enriched, well worked-up soil, not too light nor 

 too heavy, and by all means well drained. If it has 

 been thoroughly cultivated for a year or two pre- 

 vious, so much the better. If it is near a supply of 

 water, so situated that it can be at least plowed and 

 harrowed with a horse, and large enough to allow 

 the garden proper to be shifted every other year or 

 two, still more the better. 



Fill all of these requirements that you can, and 

 then by taking full advantage of the advantages you 

 have, you can discount the disadvantages. After all 

 it is careful, persistent work, more than natural ad- 

 vantages, that will tell the story ; and a good garden 

 does not grow — it is made. 



