24 FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 



that the garden may enjoy the full benefit of the morning 

 and evening sun. 



Shelter is absolutely necessary, particularly in England; 

 and that afforded by natural objects, such as rising grounds, 

 is the best. Where this is wanting, its place should be 

 supplied by masses of forest-trees, disposed at such a dis- 

 tance, however, as not to shade the wall trees, perhaps not 

 nearer than 150 feet. The chief purpose of such screens is 

 to break the force of the winds ; and as every situation is, 

 in this respect, liable to some peculiarities occasioned by 

 the general structure of the country, or by the reverbera- 

 tion of aerial currents from adjacent eminences, these pe- 

 culiarities should be carefully observed and obviated. The 

 idea that crowded plantations increase the warmth of a 

 place is often fallacious ; and^ in the opinion of many, they 

 do more harm than good, by encouraging blight. The trees 

 employed may be of a varied character, but lime-tree, 

 horse-chestnut, beech, sycamore, weeping birch, oak, and 

 the elm, should prevail. There may also be a proportion 

 of evergreen trees, such as firs, pines, hollies, and evergreen 

 oaks. When these masses of wood are planted at the time 

 the garden is formed, poplars, larches, and other fast- 

 growing trees, should be thickly intermixed to act as tem- 

 porary trees or nurses, which are afterwards to be weeded 

 out, as the permanent trees more slowly advance to matu- 

 rity. Walls immediately around the garden, and low 

 hedges intersecting the compartments, are highly useful in 

 preventing radiation during clear nights, which always pro- 

 duces great additional cold. 



A supply of water is equally necessary. Where a 

 streamlet can be made to flow through the garden, and keep 

 a central pool constantly full, it will conduce both to utility 

 and amenity. In many places, such a streamlet cannot be 



