98 THE FLORIST. 



hand, where neatness is an object, they may be most fittingly placed 

 in the garden suburbs, and be equally serviceable, as I do not think 

 they are, as at present constructed, very well adapted for the interior 

 of a garden, unless carried out to a large extent. The principle of 

 an orchard- house is a good one when adopted on a large scale; and 

 my idea of such a building would be embodied in covering a large 

 area of the garden with glass, and allowing fruit-trees to be planted 

 to grow both as standards and espaliers. Such a building would be 

 suitable for a hundred purposes, such as grooving winter salads, 

 early vegetables, &c. At the same time, I admit I am not sanguine 

 as to the adoption of such erections being undertaken by private 

 individuals, although I have an idea that such may answer suf- 

 ficiently well for commercial purposes and enterprise. 



I now come to glass-walls, but owing to the time since their 

 introduction being so limited, their advantages or disadvantages have 

 not yet been fully tested. In 1852, the first thing of the kind was 

 erected here late in the spring of that year, but not too late to have 

 the trees planted, all of which did well the succeeding summer; 

 and last year we had some very fine fruit. The crop of Figs was a 

 most excellent one, and the Peaches (what were of them) were re- 

 markably fine and highly-coloured, with the most delicious fiavour 

 I find that the leaves of fruit-trees in the wall here grow unusually 

 large and robust ; which may in some degree be attributed to their 

 being protected from cold, dry biting winds, and having a full ex- 

 posure to light. One objection brought against glass-walls is, that 

 they are cold during winter; instead of this being a defect, it is a 

 great advantage, as it puts it in the power of the gardener to keep 

 the fruit-buds from pushing too early in spring, and this attended 

 with little or no trouble, as the lights are merely required to be left 

 open during night and day. This last season I have had the trees 

 continually exposed, with the exception of the time the frost was so 

 severe; and at the 'present time nothing can hardly exceed the pro- 

 mise of the Peach-trees for a large crop of fruit. Indeed, in the whole 

 course of my experience; I have never seen any thing equal to them ; 

 and whatever the result of the crop may be, I will make it known in 

 the autumn. 



When these walls are made of sufficient width for a person to 

 walk up the centre of them, they form delightful promenades, besides 

 being structures of considerable beauty and elegance, and any order 

 or style of architecture can be applied, such as that most suitable to 

 the mansion or neighbourhood ; and where hot- water pipes are in- 

 troduced, they become excellently adapted for early fruits and 

 flowers. 



I am of opinion, if such are made use of throughout in a large 

 garden, to the exclusion of brick and stone walls, there would be a 

 beauty and utility in their adoption that has not yet been attained in 

 English gardens. 



Bodorgan Hall, Anglesea. Charles Ewing. 



