CHAPTER XV. 



" Oh the incredible profit by digging the ground ! 

 for though it be confessed that the plough beats 

 the spade out of distance for speed (almost as 

 much as the press beats the pen), yet what the 

 spade wants in the quantity of the ground it 

 manureth, it recompenseth with the plenty of 

 the fruit it yieldeth, that is set multiplying a 

 hundredfold more than that which is sown." Fuller. 



It will be remembered that, in Chapter III., where we followed the prospective 

 owner through the process of choosing the site and deciding what use to make of its 

 various parts, the first portion of the pleasure grounds to receive attention and to have 

 its locality and size determined was the kitchen garden. 



This may seem to be an inversion of the natural and correct order of things to 

 those people who look upon the kitchen garden and orchard as purely utilitarian 

 departments of the domain, to be kept out of sight and as far from the pleasure grounds 

 as possible ; but there are many old examples throughout the country, especially in 

 Scotland, which are in every way the most delightful portions of the grounds, giving 

 sheltered walks at all seasons amidst trees and plants " good for food and pleasant to 

 the eye," imparting variety and interest perennially. 



To the " soul attuned to sympathy " no pleasure exceeds that of being able to 

 wander round a prim walled-in garden, enjoying the fragrance of the blossom in Spring, 

 and watching the setting of the fruit and its various developments through the succes- 

 sive seasons until the in-gathering. To remove it to a distant and inaccessible site 

 where the owners and their guests cannot enjoy this, is to rob them of a source of 

 pleasure and instruction. 



But, it will be asked, is it possible to make the kitchen garden a successful part 

 of the pleasure grounds, and give it aesthetic value without impairing its usefulness, and 

 if so, what are the materials which we may use for the purpose- with appropriateness 

 and without affectation ? The answer to the second of these questions also supplies 

 that to the first. We have one great asset in the herbaceous borders which that 

 most commendable fashion of keeping the house fresh and gay with large quantities of 

 flowers, renders necessary, the espaliers for fruit trees, from which pleasant vistas may be 

 contrived, fruit walls to aid the aesthetic effect by giving an enclosed appearance, pro- 

 pagating and other glasshouses, which, as we have shown in a previous chapter, may 



The placing 

 of the 

 kitchen 

 garden. 



/Esthetic 

 possibilities 

 of the 

 kitchen 

 garden. 



233 



