levellijS'G and laying out. 



161 



chalk, and it has been thoroughly drained by drains inserted 6 inches 

 beneath the chalk-level, the tiles being covered over to that depth with 

 broken stones. The permanent trees, which, as ib is intended to lay the 

 orchard down to grass, must be standards and half-standards, with from 4 to 

 6 feet of clear stem, should be planted in rows, from 30 to 40 feet apart, 

 and in what is termed the quincicnz style, thus • — 



The north or coldest side of the orchard should be planted with walnuts, 

 cherries, medlars, chestnuts, &c., to provide shelter for the others. They might 

 be succeeded by the hardiest plums and apples, to be followed by the tender 

 pears on the south or warmest side. If a gradation of height were also followed, 

 the shelter provided would be more efficient, and the general effect more 

 pleasing. Filberts, mulberries, and service-trees, may also be introduced. 

 But these temporary trees should be inserted as nurses between the permanent 

 trees. Firm-growing varieties that come early into bearing should be chosen 

 for this purpose, and they will not only encourage the growth of the perma- 

 nent trees, but pay their own cost a dozen times over before they will require 

 removal. They must, however, be carefully watched, lest the}^ weaken the 

 energy or destroy the symmetr}^ of the permanent ti-ees. The rows in this case 

 will run east and west, which is, pei'haps, as good an arrangement as any. 



378. No better form can be devised for a kitchen-garden than a square, sub- 

 divided by two centre walks, as in fig. 1, or a long parallelogram, as fig. 2. 

 Something like fig. 3 has also been recommended by Mr. Loudon and others, 

 and the rounded part would make a beautiful fruit-garden. The same figure 

 might also be rounded at both ends. The centre walk 

 should pass through close at each end. a represents the 

 wall, b fruit-tree border, 10 feet wide, c walk, 6 feet wide, 

 and d border for dwarf trees or bushes, or the culture of 

 strawberries, &c., 6 feet wide. Whatever shape is adopted, 

 I think borders should always be introduced on each side of 

 the main walks. Nothing tends more to relieve 

 the heavy appearance of large masses of vegetables, 

 and to confer an air of elegance to a kitchen- 

 garden, than such borders. They are separated 

 from the main vegetable compartments by small 

 walks, from 18 inches to 2 feet wide. These walks 

 can be edged with pebbles, and have a sprinkling 

 of gravel, or simply cut off as alleys, and be left 

 solid earth, at pleasure. If they are formed of some 

 hard substance, all the wheeling can be performed 

 on them instead of on the main walks. 



379. Pei-haps the nearer to a level a kitchen-garden 

 can be formed, the better. A slight inclination 

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