GAR 



GAR 



approaches nearest to it, is probably the most 

 convenient. In other cases, especially where 

 the principal part of the work is, from the diffi- 

 culty of procuiing labourers, and the increasing 

 expense of them, to be executed by the plough, - 

 the oblong and circular forms may be the most 

 suitable, as they may be wrought with greater 

 facility and convenience. 



The size of kitchen-gardens should always be 

 fully sufficient for the extent of the family, va- 

 rving from half an acre, to four, five, or more, 

 within the fence. The first quantity, where 

 there are wall and espalier trees, will furnish 

 sufficient employment for one man, and afford 

 due supplies of vegetables and fruit for fami- 

 lies consisting of a dozen or more persons. But 

 much in these respects depends upon proper 

 care and management. 



The best mode of inclosing garden-ground is 

 by means of brick walls,- where that sort of ma- 

 terial can be easily procured, and expense is not 

 an object. But oak paling fences answer the 

 purpose very well. These fences, whether made 

 of brick or wood, shoultf be eight, ten, or twelve 

 feet in height. When the extent of walling is 

 sufficient, "Mr. Forsyth thinks ten feet walls 

 better than such as are higher, as being more 

 convenient for various purposes. He also ad- 

 vises that they should have borders or slips on 

 the outsides of them, of from forty to sixty feet 

 or more in breadth, where the ground can be 

 spared, which should likewise be inclosed by an 

 oak paling, six or eight feet in height, having a 

 chevaux de frise at the top to strengthen the 

 fence and render the garden more secure. The 

 latter may be conveniently formed, he says, by- 

 planing a piece of wood four inches in breadth, 

 and an inch and quarter in thickness, into the 

 shape of the roof of a low pitched house on the 

 upper side, then drawing a line on each side 

 from end to end, at the distance of about an inch 

 and quarter from the upper edge, driving twelve- 

 penny nails through them in regular rows, at 

 the distance of four inches from each other, so 

 as to come out near the upper edge of the con- 

 trary side ; each being opposite the middle of 

 the space between two nails on the other side. 

 The nail heads should be sunk, and strips of 

 wood nailed over them, tenter-hooks being 

 driven in between the nail points, and the whole 

 nailed fast to the outside top of the fence ; con- 

 tinuing pieces in this way till the whole is com- 

 pleted. 



By means of these inclosed borders or slips 

 on the outside of the garden walls, Mr. For- 

 syth thinks there will be plenty of ground for 

 gooseberries, currants, and strawberries, and 

 rjoth sides of the walls may be planted with treeSj 



by which there will be a considerable increase of 

 wall-fruit. And where there are parts of such 

 slips lying near to the stables, sufficiently shel- 

 tered and exposed to the sun, they may be con- 

 verted to the purpose of a forcing ground for 

 raising melons, cucumbers, and other similar 

 kinds of fruit. 



The advantages of this are, that there will be 

 no litter carried within the walls, to dirty the 

 walks ; the beds will be concealed from the 

 sight, and much time and labour saved in cart- 

 ing and wheeling the dung. 



Where there are not these sorts of slips, the 

 forcing-grounds for melons, cucumbers, See. 

 should be made in situations that are warm, and 

 open to the full influence of the sun, being well 

 inclosed, and as contiguous to the stable as the 

 nature of the situation will allow. 



The great objection to having slips or borders 

 on the outsides of the walls of gardens is that of 

 the vast expense of erecting two fences, where 

 one is capable of answering the purpose, and by 

 proper attention in the distribution of the inter- 

 nal parts, with perhaps nearly equal advantage. 



In the distribution of the quarters or parts of 

 the garden, attention should be had to the na- 

 ture, form, and extent of the ground, so as that 

 they may be laid out in the best manner, in re- 

 spect to the convenience of managing them, 

 exposure, and size ; but they should never be 

 made too small, as there will be much loss of 

 ground by the walks which are essentially 

 necessary in their cultivation. With regard to 

 their form, it may vary according to circum- 

 stances, or the taste of the proprietor; but the 

 most convenient and economical one, in respect 

 to ground, is the square, where the garden has 

 been laid out in that manner. 



It is usual to have borders round the whole of 

 the inclosing fenres, whether they be construct- 

 ed of brick, stone, or timber; and when there 

 are cross walls, they are likewise generally in- 

 troduced on the sides of them. The breadths of 

 these should be proportioned to the height of 

 the walls or palings, and the extent of the gar- 

 den, as from six, to eight, ten, and twenty 

 feet, especially those which have a southern 

 aspect, and are intended for the reception of 

 fruit-trees, «ls their roots wilt have more room 

 to extend themselves and procure due nourish- 

 ment. Besides, wide borders are the most ad- 

 vantageous and economical in the culture of 

 different vegetable crops. 



When the gardens are large, other borders may 

 be carried along on the sides of the walks, be- 

 t%veen them and the espalier or standard fruit- 

 trees; but in other cases this is inconvenient, as 

 taking up too much of the quarters. These 



