To produce some vegetables and fruits much is required; in other
growths, very little.
In laying out a garden there are several points to be considered.
The proprietor may be more desirous of securing some degree of
beauty in the arrangement than of obtaining the highest condition
of productiveness. If this be true, he may plan to make down its
centre a wide, gravelled walk, with a grape-arbor here and there,
and fruit-trees and flowers in borders on each side of the path.
So far from having any objection to this arrangement, I should be
inclined to adopt it myself. It would be conducive to frequent
visits to the garden and to lounging in it, especially if there be
rustic seats under the arbors. I am inclined to favor anything
which accords with my theory that the best products of a garden
are neither eaten nor sold. From such a walk down the middle of
the garden the proprietor can glance at the rows of vegetables and
small fruits on either side, and daily note their progress. What
he loses in space and crops he gains in pleasure.
Nor does he lose much; for if the borders on each side of the path
are planted with grape-vines, peach and plum trees, flowers and
shrubs, the very ground he walks on becomes part of their root
pasturage. At the same time it must be admitted that the roots
will also extend with depleting appetites into the land devoted to
vegetables.
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