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THE UNIVERSAL HERBAL; 



A SHORT TREATISE ON GARDENING. 



GARDENING is a branch of agriculture, that combines 

 ornament with utility, and employs the utmost vigilance of 

 cultivation to maintain and improve the excellency of vege- 

 table productions. Gardens are of the greatest antiquity; in 

 every age and country, gardening seems to have been the 

 favourite study of mankind, and its pursuit a sort of passion 

 engrafted on the species. They are usually considered as of 

 three classes ; the Flower Garden, Fruit Garden, and Kitchen 

 Garden. The green-house, hot-house, and nursery, are reposi- 

 tories for productions belonging to all these classes. 



Of the Situation, Soil, and Plan of a Garden. 



As a garden usually takes up but a small portion of ground, 

 and as the object of it is often not so much for the profit as 

 the recreation and rational enjoyment which it affords to the 

 proprietor, it will be always desirable to fix it in the most 

 pleasant situation of which the selection is admissible. A 

 site is to be preferred, which is neither very elevated nor 

 very low; and which forms a gentle declivity, screened, if 

 possible, from north and north-easterly winds. Of the two, 

 a situation is better when too low, than when too high, on 

 account of its greater warmth, unless the vicinity contains 

 much stagnant water or marshy ground. The nature of the 

 exposure of a garden is a matter of considerable importance : 

 the best is that of the south-east; but, in an extensive and 

 complete garden, it is desirable that part of it should have a 

 northern aspect, in order that late crops should be raised with 

 advantage. A plentiful supply of water is of great con- 

 sequence, and running water is better than any other ; pond- 

 water will answer equally well for watering plants, but it will 

 not be so wholesome in a garden, if entirely stagnant. Water 

 drawn fresh from a spring is too cold for watering plants ; 

 and if no other can be procured, it should be exposed some 

 time to the atmosphere before it is used. 



There are various opinions respecting the most proper and 

 advantageous forms of a garden ; but though much must 

 depend on the nature of the situation,0et the square shape, 

 or that approaching nearest to it, is probably the most con- 

 venient. But where this shape 8annot be adopted, some 

 ingenuity will be required to lay the ground out to the best 

 advantage. The annexed Engraving, "How to make the 

 most of a small irregular Piece of Ground," will convey to 

 the tasteful gardener some ideas on this subject. 



The size of Kitchen Gardens should always be fully suffi- 

 cient for the extent of the family, varying from half an acre 

 to a larger extent, within the fence. That of half an acre 

 will, where there are wall and espalier trees, furnish sufficient 

 employment for one man, and afford due supplies of vegeta- 

 bles and fruit for a family of more than a dozen persons. 



Unless the soil of a garden be good, and sufficiently deep for 

 the largest plants it is designed to maintain, the subsequent la- 

 bour it will require will be immense, without being successful ; 

 and its productions will constantly exhibit symptoms of disease, 

 which no attention can eradicate. A mellow loam, which is 

 friable when tolerably dry, and neither clammy nor wholly un- 

 adhesive when wet, may be fully approved, as moderate labour 



and expense will fit it for any purpose, if it be sufficiently 

 deep. Its depth should never be less than two feet, where 

 trees and shrubs are required ; even three feet is rather 

 shallow ; and for a really fine garden, even four feet of good 

 soil may be considered necessary. Some think a medium 

 loam the most proper, as being capable of sustaining different 

 degrees of lightness in different parts, by the addition of sand 

 and other similar materials, so as to suit different sorts of 

 vegetables ; and in others, of various degrees of tenacity and 

 heaviness, by the use of clay or other cohesive substances. 

 Where the under-soil is of the retentive kind, great care 

 should be taken to have it well drained, since, unless this be 

 effectually accomplished, healthy vegetables or trees can sel- 

 dom be produced. In cases where fruit-trees, especially 

 those of the finer sorts, as well as Apple and Pear kinds, are 

 to be planted, a greater depth of good soil, as well as a 

 greater degree of dryness, is in general necessary: if these 

 do not exist, the expense of the garden will in the end 

 be the least possible, if it be artificially increased. It is 

 advisable to make the soil uniformly deep in every part, as 

 well where the gravelled walks are to be made, as for the 

 borders. 



Where Gardens of the Ornamental or Flower kinds are 

 wanted, they should be laid out so as to have open, sunny, 

 sheltered exposures; forming, if possible, the connections 

 between the pleasure-grounds and the kitchen-gardens, ac- 

 cording to the general nature and situations of such grounds, 

 so as to afford the most striking effect and variety that are 

 possible. The nature of their forms may vary in proportion 

 to the distribution of the lands, and the particular circum- 

 stances of their situation, being made square, circular, ob- 

 long, or in any other manner, according to the taste of the 

 proprietor; the parts approaching the pleasure-grounds being 

 mostly separated by walks, and the introduction of different 

 sorts of the most curious, hardy, flowering, shrubby plants. 

 The interior parts should have a neat ornamental distribu- 

 tion, so as to produce the most striking variety when the 

 flowers are in bloom, and afford the greatest convenience in 

 their cultivation. Gardens of this nature should contain all 

 the different sorts of hardy, curious, ornamental flowering 

 plants, whether of the bulbous, tuberous, or fibrous-rooted 

 kinds, and be constantly kept in the neatest order. 



The Kitchen Garden should be laid out in different me- 

 thods, accoiding to the differences in the circumstances of 

 the ground. It is sometimes so managed, as to constitute a 

 part of, or communicate with, the pleasure-ground ; but where 

 there is a sufficient extent of land, it is better to be distinct, 

 or detached from it ; and, in every case, as much concealed 

 from the house as possible. The most convenient distribu- 

 tion is at some distance behind it; but on the sides it may 

 answer very well, especially when not too contiguous, or so 

 situated as to interrupt any particular prospect or view of 

 the adjacent country. With regard to the nature of the 

 situation most proper for this purpose, it should, when con- 

 venient, be whtre there is a gentle declination towards the 

 south or south-east, in order that it may have the full advan- 

 tage of the morning sun. 



