VI 
INTRODUCTION 
time, which would otherwise chance to be consumed in needless 
loitering.” 
Cowley says of gardening, “ It is one of the best-natured de¬ 
lights of all others, for a man to look about him, and see nothing 
but the effects and improvements of his own art and diligence ; 
to be always gathering some fruits of it, and at the same time 
to behold others ripening, and others budding ; to see his soil 
covered with the beauteous creatures of his own industry ; and 
to see, like God, that all his works are good.” 
We shall here state, concisely, some of the principal pre¬ 
requisites for successful horticulture, directing our observations, 
chiefly, to what relates to the kitchen garden. Gardens are 
usually classed under the following heads the kitchen garden ; 
the fruit garden ; and the flower garden . The flower garden, 
being designed principally for ornament, should be placed in the 
most conspicuous part, that is, in front, or next to the back part 
of the house; the kitchen garden and fruit garden may follow 
in succession. With respect to the natural situation of a gar¬ 
den, Nicol and Forsyth agree in preferring a gentle declivity 
towards the south, a little inclining to the east, to receive the 
benefit of the morning sun. A kitchen garden should not be 
situated at any great distance from the house, lest, being too 
much out of sight, it should be out of mind, and the necessary 
culture of it too much neglected. It should be placed adjoining 
to a stable, whence the dung may be easily conveyed into the 
inclosure. It should be sheltered, as much as can be, from the 
north and east, to prevent the blighting winds from affecting the 
trees. The best soil for a garden is a sandy loam, two or three 
feet deep, according to Forsyth; but if deeper, the better. The 
earth should not be of a binding nature in summer, nor retentive 
of rain in winter, but of such a texture that it can be worked 
at any season, when not frozen, without difficulty. 
A garden should have a close fence, that the winds may net 
drive seeds of weeds into it. The fence should be at least 
seven feet high, and picketed to prevent the entrance of thieves 
