8o BOOK OF THE COTTAGE GARDEN 



north and south. The espalier trained trees when in 

 full foliage act as shelter screens, without, however, 

 materially overshadowing the vegetables. At the junc- 

 tion of the main paths the ends of the espaliers may be 

 joined by interlacing arches ; over these either the fruit 

 branches or flowering climbers can be trained, thus pro- 

 ducing a delightful dome of greenery, from which 

 miniature vistas in each direction are obtained. In 

 spring the lines of blossom-laden branches will be 

 haunted by bees, and in the blaze of summer days the 

 gorgeous Red Admiral will spread his wings on ripen- 

 ing Pear and Plum. 



Kitchen garden paths require to be carefully made and 

 kept in good repair by being freshly gravelled as often 

 as necessary. The passage of wheel and water barrows 

 soon cuts up the walks in winter, and unless they are 

 raked and rolled before dry weather comes to harden 

 them, they will prove rough and uncomfortable all 

 summer. As a live edging to walks. Box is perhaps 

 best, but it must be kept constantly trimmed and tended, 

 or it will soon become straggling and uneven, a tempting 

 shelter for snails and other vermin. Roughly dressed 

 stone makes the best of all margins, and in counties 

 where it is cheap and plentiful it should be used in pre- 

 ference to anything else. Slate is also good, though 

 hardly so picturesque in colour. Grass is a mistake 

 unless the edge is of sufficient width to enable mowing 

 with the machine. Perfectly plain terra cotta or earthen 

 tiles are durable and effective, but ornamental patterns, 

 either of the twisted or crenelated variety, should be 

 avoided. 



Details as to cropping, rotation, and methods of raising 

 the various vegetables naturally belong to books dealing 

 exhaustively with such matters, and in any case they would 

 occupy too much space in a small volume. But I would 

 recommend owners of small kitchen gardens to devote 



