Gardening, to a certain extent, must necessarily differ in different climates, some of which are favourable to the growth of fruits, some to flowers, and others to vegetables; for the rearing of the latter, low, moist climates are the most suitable, and in this respect, England may perhaps be considered to equal, if not surpass, every other country in Europe.

The first thing we have to look to, then, is the formation of the kitchen garden - a subject embracing a variety of considerations, among which the following are of paramount importance:

Situation

This should be as near the dwelling-house and offices as is consistent with convenience and other arrangements. It should be on a gentle declivity, towards the south, and either in the rear or on the flank of the house, but never in front; as, independently of its appearance, the necessary traffic with the garden would always be offensive. It frequently happens that artists are more often guided by circumstances than favoured by choice; but, if possible, low situations and the bottoms of valleys should be strictly avoided, as in the first instance there is a sourness in the soil that cannot be eradicated, and in the second they are subject to damps and fogs, which are very prejudicial to plants in vernal evenings, by moistening the tips and rendering them liable to injury from frosts which mostly succeed them; neither should the situation be so high as to be exposed to boisterous winds which would be equally baneful, but an aspect between these two extremes will be found the most desirable.

Exposure

The next consideration is exposure, which should not be surrounded by close woods or plantations, because a foul, stagnant air is frequent in such confined situations, and is very injurious to plants growing therein, but should be open and free to admit sun and air to the plants. The inclination of the ground should be about one foot in thirty.

Aspect

The aspect is an object of great importance in the laying out; it should be about south-east, or it may be a point or two more to the east, when the sun will be upon it soon after rising, and its influence will increase regularly as the day advances, which has a very beneficial effect in dissolving the hoar-frost that the preceding night may have lodged on the tender tops of plants. On the contrary, when the sun is excluded from the garden till ten or eleven o'clock in the morning, and then darting upon it with all the force derived from considerable elevation, the aspect is bad; the powerful rays of heat at once melt the icy particles, and acting upon the moisture thus created, tends to scald the tender tops of the most delicate plants, which very much injures them. The covering of the hoarfrost is otherwise of itself a particular preservative of the vegetable creation from frosty winds.

Extent

In respect to the extent of a garden, but little can be said, that depending altogether upon the demand of the family. Few gentlemen's gardens in the country contain less than three roods, and from this they increase, according to different circumstances, to ten or twelve acres. The farmer and cottager have generally small portions allotted in the most convenient part or corner of the homestead, in which they frequently grow the most common kitchen-garden crops, as potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbages, etc, and the flavour of such vegetables is much superior to those raised in the field, or even a garden by force of manure; but nevertheless a moderate amount of stimulant is positively necessary. The labourers' gardens vary in respect to size as much, in proportion, as the farmers' or the "squires'," and are in general equally, and sometimes better managed - at least in some parts of the country it is the case. But to give some idea respecting the quantity of ground for a garden, we will say, by way of illustration, for a family of four persons -exclusive of servants - a rood, and so on in proportion, allowing it to be larger, rather than too small.

Shelter

In order to bring the produce of the soil to the greatest perfection, the garden should be sheltered from the east, north, and west winds by rising ground furnished with trees; but these shelters should be at such a distance, on all sides, as not to prevent the sun's rays in the spring, when every one is of the utmost value.

Shade

This is a matter of vital importance, and requires to be so nicely balanced, that it shall neither overpower the plants by its long duration, nor tantalize them by its swiftness; but should, on the contrary, remain with them so long as it can benefit them, and no longer. Our readers will therefore see the necessity of considering well previous to erecting buildings, planting trees, and so forth.

Soil

With the exception of situation and exposure, the soil of a garden is, as a matter of course of the most consequence. In a word, this should be of a light, mellow loam; and if of a sandy nature, so much the better. In any case, it should not be of a binding nature in summer, nor retentive of an undue quantity of wet in winter; but of such a texture as may be worked at any season of the year. This said soil ought not to be less than eighteen inches deep; but if twenty-four inches so much the better, for when the plants are in a state of maturity, if the roots of most kinds are minutely traced, they will be found to penetrate into the earth in search of food to not less than the latter depth; indeed, they frequently descend lower where the soil is of a nature to admit them easily. The worst of all soils is a heavy clay, and the next a light, loose sand; a moderate clay is, however, preferable to a very light soil, even allowing it to be not so pleasant to manage. The former may be got into good working order with a little trouble and expense, but the latter will need no end of both. The circumstances before mentioned having been duly considered, it will rarely happen that the soil should be exactly to mind.

No, it will either prove too poor, too strong, or too light; and, in either case, it must be carefully improved without delay. To do this, we must be guided solely by its nature, so as, if possible, to render it subservient to most general purposes. Hence our duty is to endeavour to hit on that medium which suits the generality of vegetables grown for the table. Should the bottom, or subsoil, be of a wet, cankering nature, judicious draining will be found the most eligible means of restoring it; but where the soil is stubborn, small gravel, sand, lime, brick-kiln ashes, or indeed anything of an opening nature, are the best substances to be applied. These will, if carefully and well worked into the ground by digging in the winter months, or, indeed, at all times when not under crop, soon bring the ground into a proper texture for most purposes. The ground should be laid up in ridges, in order to give the greatest possible extent of surface for the weather to act upon. Where the soil is poor sand or gravel, clay or clayey loom, scourings of ditches which run on a clayey subsoil, pond-mud from a similar situation, or scrapings of roads which lie in a clayey district, and the like, are great improvers.

But all of these are of little use unless the ground is well worked and pulverized, which is of itself a very obvious improvement, and which is indeed applicable to most soils, and that in proportion to their adhesive texture.