LAYING OUT GARDENS. 69 



covered with ivy and creepers ; on, a clump of American plants with orna- 

 mental vases, statues, and pedestals; n, a collection of choice herbaceous 

 plants ; o, a wooded knoll, having an open grove of pine-trees on the summit ; 

 p, shady grass walks ; q, a wire fence on the top of a concealed wall, or ha-ha ; 

 r, wall and fruit border facing the south ; s, gardener's cottage ; t, a plot for 

 aromatic herbs ; w, melon-ground, sunk three feet beneath the general surface, 

 and surrounded by a box hedge ; v, the kitchen garden ; «", a piece of rock- 

 work projecting into the lake, and covered with creepers and rock-plants on 

 the west side ; x, a fruit-wall and border, with v/estern aspect ; y, an octagon 

 arbour or summer-house, in the centre of which the proprietor has placed a 

 magnificent vase from the antique ; z, a descent of three steps from the draw- 

 ing-room to the garden. 



i66. The objects attained by this arrangement of the ground are, the utmost 

 amount of space for exercise within the wall, with as much of variety 

 and privacy as was consistent with views of the surrounding scenery, and 

 the usual supply of fruit and vegetables. The more choice peaches and 

 nectarines are placed on the wall r, which has a due south aspect ; the 

 wall p:, with a western aspect, being covered with choice figs, apricots, and 

 the more choice cherries, plums, and pears ; apples, pears, plums, and cherries 

 being also distributed through the grounds, as standard trees, along with some 

 walnut, sweet chestnuts, mulberries, quinces, medlars, and service trees. 

 Mr. Loudon's objection to this design, which, however, he considered almost 

 perfect, was, that the lines were too formal and unbroken, and he proposed to 

 remedy it by substituting for the defined margin of the American clump 

 in, the same plants, the lines being gradually lost on the turf, and by 

 the introduction of more formal-shaped beds. At z, the kitchen-garden, 

 he considered a necessary evil, having no beauty as such, but placed so as 

 to interfere as little as possible with the area of space sought to be created. 



167. Hitherto our attention has been directed to gardens of considerable 

 extent : we nov/ propose, with Mr. Chitty's assistance, to deal with a single 

 acre of land, which is to include house and offices as well as garden. 



168. Here much the larger portion is usually devoted to lawn, flower-garden, 

 and shrubberies, say two-thirds, which leaves one-third for the kitchen- 

 garden, exclusive, we will suppose, of melon-ground. The latter ought 

 to be about twenty yards square, walled or fenced round to the height 

 of six feet, with a gateway leading into it large enough to admit a horse 

 and cart. The drainage of the melon-ground should be perfect, the water 

 from the pits and houses falling into a tank placed sufiiciently deep in 

 the ground to receive all the drainage from the dung-beds and compost- 

 heaps. If this tank is within the kitchen-garden, it will be an advantage, being 

 invaluable in the cultivation oi flowers and vegetables. Here also are 

 placed the potting-sheds, nnd sheds for the preparation of composts, which 

 should always be prepared under cover ; and as the yard is by no means orna- 

 meutal, it should be placed as far as possible from the house. 



