LAYIXG-GUT OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN. 177 



ticular spot, the range, for example, might he throvm. 

 into divisions of lean-to or span-roofed houses of greater 

 or less extent, placed at snch distances as not to shade 

 each other. These might be made to abut against a 

 wall running east and west ; and on this wall might be 

 formed glazed comdors between the divisions commu- 

 nicating with the main structui'es, and uniting the whole 

 into one general range of ornamental glass. A number 

 of other arrangements on similar principles might be 

 suggested : we merely hint at them, to show that those 

 disjointed accumulations of plant-houses, set down ap- 

 parently at hap-hazard, and not unfi'equently seen in 

 ill-arranged nurseries, ai'c not at all necessarily incident 

 to the botanic garden, and ought therefore to be sedu-^ 

 lously avoided. Perhaps some of the faults of this kind, 

 to be found in better establishments, are to be ascribed 

 to the circumstance that the buildings in question were 

 after-thoughts. 



The next error to which it is needftd to advert is the 

 too-common practice of planting mixed belts of trees 

 along the exterior boundary walls. These are generally 

 unnecessary ; for in a botanic garden there is no need of 

 that seclusion which is often desirable in the ^illa. At 

 the same time, the moderate veiling of the walls, and 

 the secmnng of a proper degree of shelter, render the 

 groupiug and massing of trees and shrubs indispensable. 

 This want can be nearly, if not completely, supplied by 

 the skilful distribution of the arboretum. The arrange- 

 ment of trees and shrubs should be such as to thi'ow 

 them into groups towards the external walls in some 

 places, and towards the inteiior of the grounds in 

 others : by this means a variety of open spaces, both in 

 front of the walls and in the centre, will be left for col- 



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