Garden Memorandums. 



677 



152 



{fig- 152.), from the suitableness of the situation, the stability and simpli 

 city of che form, and the durability of the 

 materials. Somethinsj also must be attributed 

 to the weather and the state of our feelings 

 — the day being fine, and we just relieved 

 from ten days' incessant excitement ; and 

 with money enough in our pockets for a fort- 

 night's free enjoyment in that first of all 

 our enjoyments, travelling in search of in- 

 formation. Had this buikling been placed in 

 a flat field, it would probably have escaped our notice : 

 effect of structiu-es in the country depend on situation. 



so much does the 

 In the town the 



153 beauty of buildings is in a great measure absolute; in the 



country it is almost always relative. Draining tiles {fig- 153.) 

 : nd the pressing plough {^fig. 1£4.), are much in use in this 

 country. The pressing plough consists of two cast-iron wheels 

 which follow a common plough, and form two small gutters 



on the back of the 



furrow ; the furrow 



being laid flat to admit 



of two wheels passing 



along it. Each of these 



wheels is kept clean by 



a scraper, {fig. 155.) 



The advantages of using 



the pressing plough are said to be, that the seeds root into a firm bed, and 

 I - ^--^>^ '^'"^ therefore not so likely to be thrown out by the 



frost; and that the plants rise in rows, which admits 

 of their being trod or harrowed between. In light 

 t;^s.^^« \j^ sandy soils it is considered as good as dibbling; and 



^^5o\ we see no reason why a small drill should not be 



added to the pressing plough, so as to deposit the 

 seed with greater accuracy than can be done by the hand broadcast. A 

 broad-leaved elm, apparently what is called the Scotch elm, is here conunon 

 in plantations and hedge rows; its timber is superior to that of the narrow- 

 leaved elm, and it is not apt to throw up suckers; but as it is a widely 

 spreading tree, it is more injurious to crops : in masses or strips it is 

 valuable, and in a f)ark it is very desirable. Pigeons are here remark- 

 ably common. Instead of lead for the ridges of roofs stone is used, cut and 

 painted to imitate that metal, from the ambition of being thought rich enough 

 to use it, or at least from an allusion to the mansions of the rich ; in London 

 lead is sometimes painted in imitation of stone, to prevent the colour from 

 attracting thieves. The lime of this part of the country, when made into 

 mortar, sets underwater; consequently external plaster and the jointing 

 in brickwork and masomy are very durable. Plaster flooring is also 

 common, and is at once durable and less sonorous than boarded floors ; 

 if executed on brick arches abutting on cast-iron rafters, tied by wrought-iron 

 rods, as invented by Mr. Strut of Belper, and practised in building most 

 manufactories, and in the whole of the building operations going on by 

 Colonel Wildman at Newstead Abbey, they become fire proof To turn 

 such arches in the best manner two sizes of bricks are necessary, the smaller 

 for the middle part of the arch. In dwelling-houses these arches and ribs 

 may form the groundwork of very handsome coved ceilings ; and if they 

 were to become general, the improvement would be not less elegant in ap- 

 pearance than important as lessening the risk from fires. The roads here 

 are generally metaled with round land or river stones, and it is a gratifying 

 sight to see the comparatively interesting manner in which these stones are 

 broken ; we say gratifying and interesting, because breaking stones upon a 

 public road has hitherto been considered as the lowest and dullest descrip - 



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