BOOK I. 



WALLS. 



465 



northern projection in the form of a semicircle (fig. 417. e\ were fovorfte forms with 

 the late W. Nicol. These opinions, it is to be considered, refer more properly to the 

 space enclosed by walls than to the whole garden, which ought to be considered as com- 

 prehending the entire space included in the ring-fence ; which fence, choice or accidental 

 circumstances may produce in any shape from the circle { fa. 424.) to the most irresular 

 figure. (Jigs. 420. 422.) 



2434. The oval, polygonal, and trapezium forms have been adopted for the walls of a 

 garden, in order to procure a more equal distribution of sun and shade ; but the incon- 

 veniences attending the culture and management of the compartments of such gardens 

 are considerable ; nor does it appear an equal distribution of sun is so suitable, as that 

 of having some walls as advantageously exposed as possible for the more delicate fruits ; 

 and others less so for hardier sorts, for retarding fruits, and for growing plants to which 

 shade is congenial in the borders. No figure whatever can add to the quantity of gun's 

 rays received by the whole form, but merely vary their distribution. 



2435. Even irre- 



422 



M 



gular figures are ad- 

 missible, such figures 

 (Jig. 422.) being 

 surrounded by wood 

 (i), and interspersed 

 with fruit-trees, will 

 form very agreeable 

 * shapes in walking 

 through them ; and 

 while the compart- 

 ments are thrown in- 

 to right-lined figures 

 to facilitate culture, 

 the angles can be 

 occupied with fruit- 

 trees or shrubs, per- 

 manent crops, as 



strawberries, asparagus, &c. with the hot-houses (e), or other buildings (6), or with 

 ponds (/), and other adjuncts. Some of the walks may be wavy (a), as a direction 

 indicated by the outline of wood, and one main walk (d, d) may be formed) broad and 

 straight, to display the whole. 



SECT. VIII. Walls. 



2436. Watts are built round a garden chiefly for the production of fruits. A kitchen- 

 garden, Nicol observes, considered merely as such, may be as completely fenced and 

 sheltered by hedges as by walls, as indeed they were in former times, and examples of that 

 mode of fencing are still to be met with. But in order to obtain the finer fruits, it be- 

 comes necessary to build walls, or to erect pales and railings. 



2437. Placing, proportioning, and construct- 423 

 ing the walls of a kitchen-garden, is a matter in 



which the artist may display a degree of taste 

 as well as fitness and propriety. " If these," 

 Nicol continues, " be properly set down, so as to 

 answer the cast of the ground (Jig. 423. ), and be 

 raised to proper heights, according to its extent, 

 the rest is easy, and follows as a matter of course. 

 In this particular branch of gardening, utility 

 and simplicity ought to go hand in hand, other- 

 wise true taste will be wanting. It is not in 

 curves, circles, and ogees, we shall find satis- 

 faction. The walls, if the ground admit of it, 

 should all run in direct lines, corresponding to the slopes on which they are placed (a, 6, 

 c, d) ; they may be built level, or they may be inclined, so as to suit the general cast of 

 the ground ; but the nearer to a level the better they will please. The mind is dissatis- 

 fied and distracted in beholding any building apparently unstable. We can look upon 

 a mast placed oblique, or on a tree growing aslant, with firmness and satisfaction, because 

 we know the one is supported by ropes, and the other by roots ; but on a wall running 

 much off the level, we look with a degree of distrust or of fear. If the north wall can be 

 placed quite level, and also the south wall on a lower level, and so as that the east and 

 west walls shall fall, from north to south, a foot in thirty or in twenty-five ; and if the 

 ground be lengthened from east to west, in the proportion of three to two, the extent be- 

 ing two or three acres, on such a spot may be formed a garden that will not fail to please. 



Hh 



