Feb.] the KITCHEN GARDEN. X09 
Choose, however, the best soil you can, according to the situation 
and extent of jour ground, and if it happens to prove unfavourable 
art must assist^ for if it is of a light sandy nature, it may easily 
be mended by adding a quantity of any kind of rotten or other good 
dung; and if of a very light, sharp, hungry temperament, earths of 
stronger substance, such as loam and the like, if it can be easily 
obtained, must be added occasionally, along with plenty of dung, 
working the whole with the natural soil of the garden; and should 
your garden be of a clayey, cold, damp nature, add light materials, 
both of rich composts and light sandy soils; nothing is more proper, 
where it can be had, than plenty of coal ashes,- &c. for opening and 
warming all tough, stubborn, cold soils. 
Water is a very essential article in a kitchen garden in summer, 
to water all new transplanted plants and others that cannot subsist 
without a due supply of moisture during the drought of that season; 
therefore, in large gardens, where practicable, one or more reser- 
voirs of water should be contrived in the most convenient part of 
the ground, either in basins or narrow canals, and supplied with 
water from some contiguous spring, river, brook, pond, well, &c. 
The necessary space of ground proper for a family kitchen gar- 
den, may be from about a quarter of an acre, or less, to sis or eight 
acres, or more, according to the appropriated limits of ground, the 
number and demand of the family, the consumption by sales, or the 
expense the proprietor would choose to bestow on the making and 
general culture. A kitchen garden of an acre will nearly employ 
one man, especially if it be furnished with espalier and other fruit 
trees, and so in proportion to a garden of smaller or larger extent: 
a garden of the above size will produce a very plentiful supply of 
esculent herbage and fruit sufficient at least for a family of ten or 
fifteen persons; but on large estates, and where the family is con- 
siderable in proportion, and not limited to space of ground three or 
four acres of kitchen garden may be necessary; and some very large 
families have them of six or eight acres extent. 
If the produce is intended for sale, the garden must be large in 
proportion to the demand. 
Fences for inclosing the Ground. 
With respect to fences for inclosing the ground, it is most neces- 
sary to have an effectual fence of some sort around the kitchen- 
garden, both for security of the produce and to defend tender and 
early crops from cutting winds. 
Previous to fencing the ground, the proper shape or form for the 
garden is to be considered; the most eligible form for a kitchen- 
garden is that either of a square or oblong square; but the figure 
may be varied as the necessity of the case may require; keeping, 
however, as near as possible to the square or oblong form, espe- 
cially if the ground is to be fenced with materials for training fruit 
trees; no other shape answers so well for that purpose; for trial 
having been made of circles, ovals, semicircles, angles, &c., none 
succeed near so well as the square form. 
