THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
9 
a breakdown in a case where first principles have been vio- 
lated. Thus we come back to the proposition, that fruits and 
vegetables should be kept apart, generally speaking. 
In the smallest garden the separation is easily effected. 
Where there’s a will there’s a way, and every separate case 
must be considered and disposed of on its merits. 
Suppose for the sake of a hypothetical solution of the 
difficulty, that we put all the fruits at one end, and all the 
vegetables at the other, and make it a law as severe as that of 
the Medes and Persians that neither shall invade the other’s 
department. That we will say is solution No. 1. In working 
it out, we shall plant the trees in rows at sufficient distance 
apart, with rows of black currants and raspberries in between, 
for these fruits thrive in partial shade. The boundary lines 
of the fruit plot we shall plant with red and white currants 
and gooseberries, for these require more air and light than 
black currants and raspberries. This ground is not to be dug, 
for digging is a destructive practice where fruits of any kind 
are growing. If it be said we have not provided for the straw- 
berries, the answer is that they travel about, and require a 
new plot every three years at least, and an open spot among 
the vegetables will suit them admirably. The wise way is to 
plant a row or two of strong runners every year, and every 
year destroy a row or two of the oldest. 
But there are several ways of saving the fruit-trees. Instead 
of planting them all at one end, we may plant them all round 
the boundary. How about the apples that hang over the 
road ? Think of that in time. If they are likely to be safe, 
plant the trees near the roadway to hang over and beautify it, 
and also to utilize the sunshine there which you obtain for 
nothing, for it is of sunshine chiefly that fruits are made. 
But on the inner side of the supposed belt of fruit-trees, you 
must have some protection to prevent the happy peasant who 
may chance to dig the ground from going too near the cur- 
rant and gooseberry trees, which we will suppose form the inner 
boundary next the vegetable plot. Now a safe and sure, and 
easy and convenient, way of disposing of this difficulty is to 
construct a walk And the end of it will be a combined vege- 
table and fruit garden, with none of the absurdity of trees 
everywhere in the way, and always exposed to insult and in- 
jury. This is solution No. 2. 
It is now time to offer a third proposition. Employ as 
