GARDEN. We must divide this arti cle under four heads ; viz. the flower, or pleasure garden, the kitchen garden, the nursery, and the forcing department. Of these we shall treat distinctly under the head of GAUDENING.
In this place it is proper to state, that a garden should have a favourable aspect, gently declining towards the south-west, and should be enclosed by a substantial wall, high to the north and to the east, but rather low towards the south and west : the former will preserve the plants from the chilling winds proceeding from those quarters, the latter will allow the genial breezes from the favourable points to circulate freely throughout the enclo sure, while the sun will not be debarred during the cooler months, especially from visiting the interior in general. In the height of summer, as the sun rises and sets to the northward, the southern borders of the garden will be screened during the heat of the day, but will, dur ing the early and late hours of its stay above the horizon, receive sufficient warmth without being scorched. Hence the south side, generally speaking, af fords a shady border.
The soil of a garden should be deep, and clean : without such qualities the produce will be inferior, while the labour and expense will be enhanced in exact ratio with the defect. Nor can a garden be too abundantly supplied with water ; the absence of which, in adequate proportion, will render every effort to wards perfection totally unavailing.
It is of the utmost importance that the whole garden should have a free access of air, and that the subsoil should be wholesome and sound. The great ex haustion occasioned by constant crop ping demands liberal supplies of rich manure, that the soil should be kept in excellent heart. Nor should such parts as are intended for the production of vegetables be crowded with trees, or bushes. We should advise in the strong est manner, that such trees, &c. as spread I their roots widely, be interdicted alto : gether, and that such as may be consi dered as really indispensable be set out at ample distances, and not allowed to over-shadow the beds.
, It is possible, however, to have the soil . of a garden made too rich, that is, for the , production of vegetables in general, , many of which require an open free soil, not too highly dressed. Carrots, par snips, and even turnips, may be injured by over-richness ; while onions, rooms, asparagus, &c. delight in such parts as are manured even to a degree of rottenness.
The directions given under the head Gardening will furnish ample instruction on this subject ; and will give, in a con cise form, the leading features of the art, in such manlier as may prove useful to, and be easily retained in memory by, those who may not be provided with publications treating abstractedly on that subject.