452 THE VILLA GARDENER, 



the compartments might he separated, in the direction of the lines of trees, hy 

 hurdles, which, joined to the trunks of the trees, and partially concealed by 

 their heads, would not be in the slightest degree offensive to the eye. In 

 planting these avenues, there are only a few kinds of trees that could be 

 employed; such as the oak, elm, beech, sycamore, horse-chestnut, svveet 

 chestnut, and a few others. Some might prefer planting the whole with the 

 black Italian poplar, which would produce a splendid effect in ten years after 

 planting ; others might prefer the Lombardy poplar, which would also soon 

 produce a striking effect, and which would do very little injury to the pasture 

 below. The young trees should, if possible, be procured from the nurseries 

 with clear stems, not less than 6 or 8 feet high, and not less than 2 in. in 

 diameter at the collar. To insure the possession of plants of this size, it may 

 be advisable to order them a year or more beforehand, or to procure them, 

 and rear them in a private nursery in the ground, till they are sufficiently 

 large for planting out. Whichever mode is adopted, it must be borne in 

 mind that all the trees of the same kind intended for avenues must be of the 

 same size, and of the same vigour of growth, when planted where they are 

 finally to remain ; and, also, that no more than one kind of tree can be 

 planted in each avenue. The reasons for these dicta are sufficiently obvious ; 

 viz., to insure uniformity of progress and appearance in every part of each 

 avenue. For the same reason, the soil, in every part of an intended avenue, 

 must be trenched, or otherwise prepared, to the same depth ; and, by 

 the addition of manure or compost, rendered everywhere of the same quality. 

 The trees, after being planted on little hillocks, may be protected in Mr. Law- 

 rence's manner, already described (p. 265.) ; or, if it be considered less ex- 

 pensive, each avenue may be enclosed by lines of fencing along its exterior 

 sides. The kitchen-garden will be in strict accordance with the ancient style 

 if surrounded by a hornbeam, beech, holly, or yew hedge ; but stone and 

 brick walls were also used in this style, and, in modern times, will doubtless 

 be preferred, on account of the facilities which they afford of growing the 

 more delicate fruits. No slip is shown round the kitchen-garden, because, in 

 the plans, the boundary fences are hedges with stone piers ; but the introduc- 

 tion of a regular slip i-ound the walls of the kitchen-garden has nothing in it 

 inconsistent with the geometrical style, and may therefore be adopted at 

 pleasure. The compactness of all the garden scenery in the design before us> 

 and in the geometrical style generally, is attended with some economy in 

 management, because the whole is more immediately, and at all times, under 

 the eye of the master, every part being overlooked from the window of the 

 house ; and it may also be more conveniently examined by the female part 

 of the family and by invalids. 



Design XXXII. — Kenwood, the Seat of the Earl of Mansfield, at Hamp- 

 stead. 



499. General observations. — This is, beyond all question, the finest coun- 

 try residence in the suburbs of London, in point of natural beauty of the 

 ground and wood, and in point also of the main features of art. The park 

 may be said to consist of an amphitheatre of hills ; the house being situated 

 on one side, backed by natural oak woods rising behind it, and looking across 

 a valley, in which there is a piece of water, to other natural woods, also 

 chiefly of oak, which clothe the opposite hills: and which,. combined, give 

 the name to the place ; ken, being derived from kern, the ancient British 



