AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. — 
Garden—continued. 
admit of the division and arrangement of the inclosure 
being carried out in a uniform manner, the latter allowing 
a much larger surface of wall exposed to a southern 
aspect than the former—-an important consideration in 
many localities, as the borders share the same advantage. 
Whether the walls should be direct north and south, or 
facing a little to one side, is a matter on which opinions 
differ. If set on an angle from the south, they 
should certainly face a little in an easterly direction, to 
obtain the full benefit of the sun’s rays before midday. 
Fruit-trees, suitable for all aspects, may be selected so 
as to cover both sides if desired. Thus, the walls having 
a southern aspect, should accommodate Peaches, Nec- 
tarines, Apricots, and some of the best Pears; the eastern 
would do for Plums and good hardier Pears that are too 
tender for succeeding in the open; the western for more 
Plums and Cherries, also for Apricots in some localities ; 
and the northern for Morello Cherries, late Gooseberries 
and Currants. In northerly or extreme cold districts, some 
of the first-named of these trees require a glass cover- 
ing as well. The proper levels for every main point 
will be one of the first conditions to be fixed in laying 
out, and this, on a large scale, will necessitate the use of 
instruments that are seldom kept by gardeners. Such 
main points should be decided so as to insure a means of 
drainage and other necessaries before any of the positions 
for the walls are fixed, and they should be disposed so 
that the intermediate spaces may be regulated from them, 
and the whole work proceed on a definite system thus 
arranged at the outset. Generally, three or four main 
walks, intersected with others at right angles, are sufficient 
for any walled-in Kitchen Garden, the quarters thus 
formed being sub-divided, for convenience, with paths cut 
in the ground. The fruit-tree borders should be at least 
10ft. or 12ft. wide, and the outer main walk should follow 
their limit at that distance from the wall. Trained fruit- 
trees are usually placed parallel with the main walks, suffi- 
ciently far back to form the boundary for other borders 
that should preferably be utilised for growing Roses and 
hardy flowers for cutting, or for some crop such as a 
salad. In many Gardens, a range of forcing houses through- 
out a good portion of the length is thought desirable, 
and they usually present a fine appearance if built on 
a plan and of a size proportionate with the surroundings. 
In most instances, it is, however, advisable to place the 
glass structures by themselves, just sufficiently far apart 
to admit of all equally sharing a full amount of sunshine 
and light. This allows of all being more conveniently 
connected with a heating apparatus without having re- 
course to an unnecessary number of boilers. Additional 
space will usually be required for fruit culture beyond 
that inside the Garden walls, and an adjoining site should 
be selected, if suitable, and included within the boundary 
fence. The soil, subsoil, draining, &c., will need similar 
attention to be bestowed as in the interior or any other 
part of the Garden where such trees are planted. Where 
a good orchard is at command for the supply of Apples, 
&c.,a material advantage is gained in the Garden, by an 
extra amount of land being available for vegetable culture. 
It is always best to allow crops plenty of room to develop 
themselves, as the soil in the intermediate spaces may 
be more easily cleaned, and the produce will invariably 
be of a superior quality. 
Shelter. An important requisite in connection with the 
site selected for a Kitchen or Fruit Garden, is shelter. 
“The most destructive winds are those from the East and 
North-east to North-west. If natural shelter from these 
quarters can be procured at the outset, so much the better; 
but otherwise, a screen must be prepared in some way, 
to neutralise the force of the wind, and to render its 
effect on tender vegetation less dangerous. This is most 
effectually provided by planting a double avenue of 
trees, or forming a wide plantation, so as to include 
Garden—continued. 
trees or shrubs that are of a quick-growing nature, and — 
are known to succeed in the locality. Scotch Firs, Pinus 
austriaca, P. Laricio, and several others of this family, 
Poplars, Larches, Elms, &c., may be freely used where 
they are known to succeed. Garden walls, 10ft. or 12ft. 
high, afford some shelter to the part inclosed; but the evil 
effects of cold, cutting winds have always to be guarded 
against, not only for the sake of outside plants, but also 
for those in forcing or other warm structures. South- 
west winds are frequently very rough and destructive. 
It is also advisable to provide a shelter from these, but 
it should be further away, so as to avoid excluding sun 
and light. High trees of any description are not desir- 
able near the southern exposure. Those recommended 
for planting on the northern and eastern sides may com- 
mence at a distance of about thirty yards from the 
Garden boundary. 
FLOWER GARDEN AND PLEASURE GROUND. By 
these terms reference is made to departments entirely 
devoted to the cultivation of flowers, shrubs, and trees 
of an ornamental character, selected and arranged with 
the natural scenery, &c., around, to form a place of 
resort for interest and pleasure at all times. A Flower 
Garden is considered an indispensable adjunct to every 
residence; combined with Pleasure Grounds, it has a 
more extensive significance as applying to that adjoin- 
ing or surrounding a mansion. It must, of necessity, be 
within easy access, so that the most attractive parts 
may be seen from the windows, or reached in a short 
time from the outside. The embellishment of Flower 
Garden beds, and the continued attention required to 
keep all in good order throughout the year, most 
seriously affect the other departments where the num- 
berless plants have to be prepared, especially if carpet- 
bedding is introduced. Where the means at command 
for storing and growing these plants are totally inade- 
quate for supplying enough to properly fill the space, 
it would be better to reduce the number of beds, or 
to devote some of them to select hardy perennials, 
than to attempt too much with an insufficiency of — 
material, and so destroy the effect of the whole. This 
is a matter requiring attention when first planning and 
laying out a Flower Garden. The extent of Pleasure 
Grounds may be as much as desired, or according as 
the woods surrounding the mansion will admit. They 
are frequently made to form a connection between this 
latter and some other building or permanent place of 
interest, such as the Kitchen Garden. Apart from the 
natural scenery and the free use of ornamental trees and 
shrubs, the introduction of many hardy flowering plants 
may be recommended, as suitable positions for their 
development may, perhaps, be better found here than 
in the Flower Garden proper. The various tastes pos- 
sessed by proprietors or their friends, with the size of 
the establishment and the extent to which gardening may 
be carried, will each have an effect on individual cases, 
and prevent the following remarks from being more than 
those of a general character. It is well, if possible, to 
avoid extremes in the matter of taste, as there is plenty 
of room for all styles, if restricted to places in which 
they are appropriate. 
Site and Extent. Most of the mansions built some 
two or three centuries ago are situated in a valley or 
the lower part of an extensive park. A somewhat ele- 
vated position is now invariably chosen, as the great 
importance of fresh air has become more fully recog- 
nised. Extended views of landscape are usually selected | 
for the front or principal outlook; and as these already 
exist, and, perhaps, form part of the design in fixing 
the site for the building, neither of them should be © 
selected for the Flower Garden, if another place in the 
vicinity can be obtained without interfering with that 
which exhibits natural beauty in itself. An open expanse 
