238 PARKS AJ^T) PLEASURE'GROUXDS. 



60 prominent a feaiure in a well-laid-out pleasure- 

 ground. Still, we tliink that much more of it might 

 be secured than is commonly accomplished, or even 

 attempted in these gardens. At present, we can oflfer 

 only a few hints ; and these rather in the way of j)oiut- 

 ing out 'faults to be amended, than as a full exposition 

 of a subject of some intricacy, and requiring a consid- 

 erable amount of minute detail. 



The site of the plant-houses is a matter of ruling 

 importance, in the arrangement of the several parts 

 of a botanic garden, as their position generally forms 

 the starting-point from which the leading walks set 

 out, and to which, indeed, every thing is related. These 

 houses should not be allowed to occupy quite a central 

 place in the garden, as tiiey sometimes do ; for, in that 

 case, they leave only a narrow strip of ground behind 

 them, and but a limited extent of free space in front. 

 On level ground of a rectangular form, they should be 

 toward either the north or south end — the former 

 being the preferable, as affording greater facilities for 

 forming back-courts and propagation-pits, and as giv- 

 ing greater freedom of access to carts bringing fuel 

 and soils. By this means, most of the ornamental 

 grounds may be kept in front of the liouses, which will 

 then form an elegant and appropriate back-ground. 

 These houses are usually erected in ranges, and in that 

 way they often produce an imposing effect ; but we 

 are sometimes disposed to question the propriety of 

 this arrangement as a general rule, particularly when 

 the plain lean-to form, common in forcing-gardens, is 

 adopted ; for it is evident that in that way they can 

 receive light only from the roof, and the upright glass 

 in front. "We should prefer to have them detached, 



