18 SITUATION. 



large trees, and of raising them where they do not already exist. 

 A beautiful writer on this subject has observed, that green- 

 houses in the country, w^ithout trees about them, are like ships 

 divested of their masts and rigging, and impress the mind with 

 the idea of their having wandered from their right position ; 

 and, as Loudon justly remarks, a tree is the noblest object of 

 inanimate nature, combining every species of beauty, from its 

 sublime effect as a whole, to the most minute and refined ex- 

 pression of the mind.^ We cannot too strongly urge the pro- 

 priety of choosing a site where these advantages may be gained. 

 This branch of landscape gardening has been al/eady treated in 

 a masterly manner by various writers ; therefore we consider it 

 unnecessary to dwellany longer upon it.t 



The choice of position may, in some instances, be decided by 

 other circumstances, such as an abundant supply of water. This 

 is indispensable, in hot-houses of every description, though it 

 seldom forms a very important consideration with architects, in 

 their designs, who are perfectly unconscious of the amount of 

 labor and expense subsequently created by a deficiency of this 

 element. It is, therefore, desirable that the site chosen should 

 command a plentiful supply of water, at all seasons of the year, 

 independent of what may be collected from the roof. It should 

 be considered that the period when the largest quantity of water 

 is required for the use of the plants, is also the time when the 

 supply from rains is scantiest and most precarious ; and though 

 ample provision must be made for collecting all the water that 

 falls upon the roof, into tanks and reservoirs, suitably and con- 

 veniently placed for that purpose, yet this supply is not to be 

 entirely relied upon ; and hence water ought to be conveyed by 

 pipes, or some other means, from the nearest source, to supply 

 the tanks when the rain-water is exhausted. 



Where a stream of water is commanded by the position of 



* Loudon's Encyclopedia of Gardening. 



t Those who wish to study the principles of landscape gardening, will 

 find all that is requisite for their instruction and improvement in "Down- 

 ing's Landscape Gardening," the only work we know wherein the prin- 

 ciples of the art are treated in such a manner as to render them perfectly 

 applicable to this country. 



