Book I. WALLS. 467 



garden not directly to the four points, the north wall is greatly advantaged by having 

 more sun. 



2441. The best aspect for a fruit-wall in Scotland, Nicol observes, " is about one point 

 to the eastward of south, such walls enjoying the benefit of the morning sun, and being 

 turned a little from the violent west and south-west winds. South-east is, for the same 

 reasons, accounted by many a better aspect than south-west." Dr. Walker, on the 

 other hand, with reference to the same country, states, that the six hottest hours of 

 the day are from eleven to five o'clock, and that it is not a wall of a south-east, but 

 of a south-west aspect, which enjoys this heat. (Essays on Nat. Hist. p. 258.) 



2442. The height of walls for training fruit-trees generally approved is from ten to 

 twelve feet ; but it is more commonly determined by the size and form of the garden, 

 and the inclination of its surface. The following judicious observations of Nicol are 

 the best which have appeared on this subject. The irregular surfaces on which gardens 

 are often obliged to be formed in Scotland, require the greatest attention and nicety 

 from the designer, and hence the fulness of his remarks. 



2443. With respect to the height of fruit -walls, considered merely as such, the matter might easily be 

 determined. I would say, twelve feet, that height being very convenient for the operations of pruning, 

 watering, gathering the fruit, &c. and admitting of a sufficient. expansion of the branches of most trees. 

 But the height of garden-walls should be regulated by the extent, or by the apparent extent, of the ground 

 enclosed by them. I say by the apparent extent, as well as by the real extent, because much depends on 

 the form and cast of the ground, in how much the eye shall be pleased. If it be a square, it will seem less 

 than it really is ; and if a lengthened parallelogram, larger ; and according to its flatness or its elevation, 

 the eve will be deceived. 



2444. A small pot surrounded by high walls has a bad effect and a gloomy appearance. The walls being 

 of different heights give relief. In a garden of an acre, being a parallelogram of the best proportion, and 

 gently elevated, the north wall may be raised to the height of fourteen feet; the east and west walls to 

 twelve ; and the south wall to ten feet above the ground level. If the ground slope considerably, the 

 breakings in the respective heights of the walls may be less ; they may be only a foot ; and the relief will 

 be the same, or nearly the same, to the eye, in ranging along their surfaces. In a garden of greater 

 extent, the walls may be raised to a greater height ; but by no means in proportion, if it extend to several 

 acres. The extreme height of the north wall of any garden should not exceed eighteen feet ; and containing 

 suppose four acres, the east and west walls should be fifteen, and the south wall only twelve feet high, in 

 order that it may give the necessary relief to the eye. In a garden four hundred feet long and three 

 hundred feet broad, which forms a handsome parallelogram, and contains something above two English 

 acres, if the ground lie on an easy slope, a very eligible height for the north wall is sixteen feet ; for the 

 east and west walls fourteen ; and for the south wall twelve. But if the ground be quite level, or nearly 

 so, the north wall being the same height, the east and west walls should only be thirteen and a half feet, 

 and the south wall eleven feet in height; or the cast and west walls may only be thirteen, and the south 

 wall ten feet high, if it be a dead level. (Kal. p. 145.) 



2445. Fruit-walls five or six feet high, Hitt observes, will do very well for peaches, 

 cherries, vines, and figs, but he would not advise the planting of plums, apricots, or 

 pears, on such walls, they requiring more room, and to stand longer before they 

 bear. 



2446. Fruit-walls ten feet high are preferred by Forsyth, but he says they may extend 

 to fourteen feet. 



2447. Many low walls, or stout ranges of paling, Abercrombie observes, "will pro- 

 duce a greater total of effect in accelerating fruit, than the same expenditure in high 

 walls." 



2448. The situation of the garden-doors in the walls demands attention. We have 

 already shown the importance of entering the garden from the south, south-east, or south- 

 west sides ; and this circumstance must not be lost sight of for main entrances. Doors in 

 the north wall, or north ring-fence, should be considered as exclusively for the operators 

 of the garden. Doors, in short, should be so contrived, as never to invite visitors to the 

 north slip, or so as to get behind the hot-houses. The width of doors depends on the 

 extent of the garden, and whether the melon-ground and compost-ground are within the 

 walls, or in the external area. In general the doors in the ring-fence, and the walk round 

 the outside of the garden, should be such as to admit a one-horse cart for bringing in 

 manure and soils. 



2449. The sloping or bevelled walls, recommended by the author of Fruit Walls 

 improved by inclining them to the Horizon, are disapproved of by Switzer, because, 

 " though the author's very curious calculation is, perhaps, no whit inconsistent with 

 truth, yet experience has taught (and that in a sloping wall at Belvoir Castle, I think, of 

 the author's own directing), that though the sun may act with more vigor in its solstitial 

 capacity on a sloping than on a perpendicular wall, yet it is as deficient in its performances 

 in the morning ; and by the author's own arguments, as well as the observations of 

 almost every body that has made any observation at all, that dews are expelled at least an 

 hour in the morning sooner from a perpendicular wall than a sloping one ; so that what 

 is gained at one time is lost at another." (Pract. Fr. Gard. p. 314, 315.) 



2450. Other modifications of kitchen-garden walls. Hitt observes, " I have seen some 

 walls stuck with tiles projecting, called horizontal shelters, some built with large pillars, 

 and others with curves ; all these are attended with evils of one kind or other ; for the 

 horizontal shelters are great receptacles of noxious insects, particularly of the small green 



Hh2 



