The ablest writer is only a gardener first, and then a cook: his tasks are, carefully to select and cultivate his strongest and most nutritive thoughts; and when they are ripe, to dress them, wholesomely, and yet so that they may have a relish. 

Hare likens literary composition to two practical arts: gardening and cooking. First, the writer must cultivate ideas—choosing what is strongest, sustaining, and capable of growth—rather than relying on mere ornament or abundance. Second, once those thoughts are “ripe,” the writer must prepare them for readers: shaping, ordering, and seasoning them so they are both “wholesome” (truthful, morally sound, intellectually nourishing) and pleasurable (“a relish”). The metaphor emphasizes discipline and taste: good writing is not spontaneous display but patient selection, maturation, and careful presentation that respects both substance and style.