242 



THE VILLA KITCHEN-GAEDEN.— No. IL 



BY J, C. CLARKE, 

 Head Gardener at Cothelston House, near Taunton. 



pE WALKS.— The proper width of walks should be 

 decided by the extent of the ground. If the garden is 

 one acre in extent, then a five-feet walk ought to be 

 formed, but if the garden is only half that size, then a 

 four- feet walk must suffice ; but anything less than 

 four feet I do not advise. With a narrower walk than this the 

 garden is cut up, and appears to be really of less dimensions than it 

 is, as a narrow walk is suificient in itself to create the idea that the 

 extent is limited, and in the case of a villa garden it is a matter of 

 the first consideration that we should make the most of its dimen- 

 sions, for without creating such evidence of the fact, there are too 

 often many other unavoidable circumstances which force upon the 

 eye the reality of its limited extent. 



BoEDEES. — As one of the first essentials to a well-arranged 

 garden, I have made ample provision for borders, as a long course 

 of years of experience has convinced me of their utility for working, 

 and of their value for many crops. In the first place, I have (see 

 page 201) shown borders all round next the wall. These are gene- 

 rally called walled borders. Then follows the walk, and next this a 

 marginal border. Ten feet is the proper width for a walled border, 

 but the width of the marginal borders must be decided by the pur- 

 poses for which they will be used. On the design I have supposed 

 the width to be four feet, at the extent of which are rows of black 

 dots, showing the positions of lines of pyramid trees, either grown 

 on dwarfing stocks or subjected to root-pruning. But if fruit-trees 

 are not grown there, then a distance of three feet from the walk 

 will suffice for ordinary low-growing crops of vegetables and herbs. 



Aeeangement or Feuit-Teees. — If pyramid fruit-trees are 

 used, I should advise they be planted as recommended above in the 

 positions shown. On the south side, pears. On the north, apples. 

 On the east and west, plums ; in the space marked figure 1, rasp- 

 berries ; at 2, white and red currants ; at 3, gooseberries. On 

 the north border at figure 4, late raspberries ; at 5, black 

 currants; at 6 late strawberries. On the south border, 7, early 

 strawberries ; at 8, successional strawberries. The south wall 

 should be occupied with peaches, nectarines, and apricots. The 

 north with plums and Morella cherries. The west with early 

 cherries and figs. The east with pears. By these last directions 

 I mean the wall looking south should be furnished with peaches, etc, 

 and so on throughout, 



Aeeang£:ment of some other Peemanent Ceops. — On the 

 east border at figure 9, rhubarb ; at 10, sea kail ; at 11, globe 

 artichokes ; at 12, Jerusalem artichokes ; at 13, horseradish ; at 14, 

 asparagus beds. 



Aeeakgemei^t or Annual Crops. — At 15, early peas ; at 16, 



