SHELTER. 



way for fences, but just enough to give them the necessary strength and compactness 

 required for the purpose of protection against the elements. Those who have seen 

 the gardens and nurseries of Europe know how highly hedges are esteemed for shelter ; 

 in fact, they are considered indispensable. In Skirving's nurseries at Liverpool 

 there are many miles of them, intersecting the ground in all directions, to break oft' 

 the cold sea winds that, but for the hedges, would prevent the culture of many tribes 

 of plants that are now grown most successfully. 



In the second volume of the Horticulturist, page 58, Mr. Downing gave an account 

 of Mr. Tudor's gardening at Nahant, which furnishes a very striking illustration of 

 the benefits of shelter. We must give it in Mr. Downing's own words : 



" Of course, even the idea of a place worthy of the name of a garden in this bald, sea- 

 girt cape, was out of the question, unless some mode of overcoming the violence of the 

 gales and the bad effects of the salt spray, could be devised. The plan Mr. Tudor has 

 adopted is, we believe, original with him, and is at once extremely simple, and perfectly 

 effective. It consists merely of two, or at most three, parallel rows of high open fences, 

 made of rough slats or palings, nailed in the common vertical mannei", about three inches 

 wide, and a space of a couple of inches left between them. These paling fences are about 

 sixteen feet high, and usually form a double row, (on the most exposed side a triple row,) 

 round the whole garden. The distance between that on the outer boundary and the next 

 iuterior one is about four feet. The garden is also intersected here and there by tall trellis 

 fences of the same kind, all of which help to increase the shelter, while some of those in 

 the interior serve as frames for training trees upon. 

 ' " The effect of this double or triple barrier of high paling is marvellous. Although like 

 a common paling, apparently open and permitting the wind free passage, yet in practice it 

 is found entirely to rob the gales of their violence, and their saltness. To use Mr. Tl'dor's 

 words, ' it completely sifts the air.' After great storms, when the outer barrier will be 

 found covered with a coating of salt, the foliage in the garden is entirely uninjured. It 

 acts, in short, like a rustic veil, that admits just so much of the air, and in such a manner 

 as most to promote the growth of the trees, while it breaks and wards off all the deleterious 

 influences of a genuine ocean breeze — so pernicious to tender leaves and shoots." 



A valuable lesson is taught by this mode of successful gardening under difficulties. 

 We commend Mr. Tudor's example to men who are continually lamenting the 

 sacrifices they have to make on account of their exposed situations, and yet make no 

 eftbrt whatever to improve it. Providence will not work miracles in our behalf. 

 Every man who cultivates the earth must contend with the elements ; and now that 

 in this country we are making some serious attempts at gardening, we expect to see 

 such a thing as shelter, which is the very foundation of success, receive due attention. 

 It is worthy of note that we generally find, both at home and abroad, the best examples 

 of gardening where the greatest diiiieultics have to be met. In the best climates, 

 where tolerable success can be obtained without any special eftbrt, imj>rovements are 

 apt to be slowly made. BlackwooiVs Magazine was not far wrong in classing " a 

 moderately bad climate and a tolerably sterile soil," among the " prerequisites neces- 



to originate and cherish a love of horticulture." They are certainly necessary ^ 

 iken energy and forethought. 



