35 



box or other live edgings. Live borders do not present so neat an appearance, 

 besides both harbouring slugs and impoverishing the beds. In the laying 

 out of either of these gardens the strictest nicety will be required ; and as it 

 is enclosed, and therefore sheltered, such may be appropriated to a winter 

 garden. The walks should be made perfectly dry, — flags, indeed, being prefer- 

 able to gravel ; and the dug compartments should be furnished with early 

 spring flowers, and small interesting evergreen shrubs, with as many winter 

 flowers as possible. It would add materially to the comfort and utility of 

 such a garden as a winter promenade, if one or more of the walks were 

 covered in with glass, which, from its present cheapness, I may venture to 

 suggest, will be more generally used for such purposes. Thus winter exercise 

 would be afforded at all times when the weather might happen to be too 

 jirecarious for out-door recreation. I have, therefore, suggested an idea in 

 the annexed sketch. I would cover the winter walk by circular span roofs, 

 supported by neat pilasters resting on plinths or dressed stone, with upright 

 window-like sashes, of somewhat the following dimensions, namely, from the 

 plinth to the top of the sashes from seven to ten feet, and the plinth thirty- six 

 inches ; the width of house thirty-two feet or more. If permanent plants are 

 to be grown, a strip of earth between the walks must be formed, and the 

 earth concealed by tropical mosses and small ferns ; or, if employed as a 

 greenhouse, stone stages are intended. In either case a stone shelf, twelve 

 inches broad, 



next the glass, Figure 13. 



level with the top 

 of the plinth, and 

 all round the 

 house, is pro- 

 posed, on which 

 to place plants 

 in pots, as illus- 

 trated at fig. 13. 

 Such ' a house 

 will require to be 

 furnished with all 

 the early flower- 

 ing plants possible. Or, in place of a centre house, (shown in plate 4), tht 



f 2 



