THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



7 



Jongation of the season of most vegetables and small fruits is 

 very desirable ; the size of such a piece of ground might be 

 in the proportion of one-fifth or one-sixth of the size of the 

 whole garden. 



Gardens of great fertility and earliness are often to be met 

 with on the sides or near the bottom of hills, particularly if 

 sheltered from the colder points by lofty rocks, the reflection 

 or concentration of the rays of heat from them rendering the 

 situation peculiarly adapted for bringing crops of the most 

 delicate kinds to perfection at an early season. Situations of 

 this kind are not only desirable on account of these advantages, 

 but they are generally very romantic and picturesque, or they 

 may be rendered so bv a judicious mode of decoration. 



SITUATION AS REGARDS SOILS. 



Having expatiated on the necessity and advantage of shelter, 

 our next object, and one not less important, is a good soil. 

 Where the soil is naturally good, it is generally much better, 

 for the majority of purposes, than any that can be made by 

 artificial means, and ultimately must prove a great saving of 

 expense. The soil, if not very bad, is more easily and readily 

 improved, or even entirely made to suit the dispositions of the 

 various crops to be reared, than it is to provide sufficient 

 shelter by artificial means, and is sooner accomplished even on 

 a large and extensive scale. Of whatever description the soil 

 may be, it is absolutely necessary that it should be completely 

 drained, as the basis on which all the future improvement of 

 it is to be effected. If wet, strong, and clayey, draining is of 

 still greater importance; if light, and even dry and sandy, 

 drains should also be introduced at the first formation of the 

 garden, as this operation cannot be either so efiectually nor 

 yet so conveniently done at any subsequent period. In the 

 first instance, it is necessary to drain well to carry off the 

 stagnant water, with which the sub-soil may be overcharged f 

 and in the second, to provide against a superfluity of water 

 from heavy rains or other causes. The drains should be so 

 contrived tliat they may be brought to discharge their contents 

 in larger channels under the walks, and these again should 

 discharge themselves beyond the garden boundary. 



