AVE 



[103] 



AVI 



when looked at in. front, as when they 

 are. seen from an angular situation, which 

 commands two sides at once, and throws 

 them both in perspective; but a winding 

 lateral approach is free from these ob- 

 jections: it may, besides, be brought up 

 to the house without disturbing any of 

 the views from it; but a straight avenue 

 cuts the scenery directly in two, and 

 reduces all the prospect to a narrow 

 vista. A mere line of perspective, be 

 the extent what it may, will seldom 

 compensate for the loss of that space 

 which it divides, and of the parts which 

 it conceals. These kind of walks were 

 formerly much more the fashion than 

 they are at present : where they are to 

 be made, the common elm answers very 

 well for the purpose in most grounds, 

 except such as are very wet and shallow. 

 The rough Dutch elm is approved by 

 some, because of its quick growth, and it 

 is a tree that will not only bear remov- 

 ing very well, but that is green in the 

 spring almost as soon as any plant what- 

 ever, and continues so equally long. It 

 makes an incomparable hedge, and is 

 preferable to all other trees for lofty 

 espaliers. The lime is very useful on 

 account of its regular growth and fine 

 shade, and the horse-chesnut is proper 

 for such places as are not too much ex- 

 posed to rough winds. The Spanish 

 chesnut does very well in a good soil, or 

 on warm gravels, as it rises to a con- 

 siderable height, when planted somewhat 

 close ; but when it stands singly it is 

 rather inclined to spread than grow tall. 

 The beech naturally grows well with us 

 in its wild state, but it is less to be 

 chosen for avenues than others, because 

 it does not bear transplanting well. The 

 white poplar may also be employed for this 

 use, as it is adapted to almost any soil, 

 and is the quickest grower of any forest 

 tree. It seldom fails in transplanting, 

 and succeeds very well in wet soils, in 

 which the others are apt to suffer. The 

 oak is but seldom used for avenues, be- 

 cause of its slow growth. 



The best example we know of a noble 

 avenue, is from the Chester Lodge to 

 Eaton Hall, in Cheshire; but it is very 

 deceptive in its apparent length, and the 

 hall is not seen to advantage throughout. 

 There is an avenue of limes leading to 



the Duke of Devonshire's villa, at Chis- 

 wick, near London, which has a fine 

 effect, not being in a straight line. 

 Another of the best planted avenues we 

 know, is an approach to Clifden House, 

 now the property of the Duke of Suther- 

 land. The trees are planted on raised 

 platforms, right and left, with an open 

 intervening space between them and the 

 carriage drive. This would have been a 

 better arrangement for the noble avenue 

 of Deodars, lately planted between the 

 new conservatory and the old pagoda, in 

 Kew gardens. When this avenue of 

 Deodars, and others that are now being 

 laid out with araucarias, the Douglas 

 pine, and their allies the Mexican, Ja- 

 panese, and Chinese cypresses, come to an 

 age when they will assume the true 

 characters of these noble cone-bearers, 

 avenues will again become fashionable. 

 In every instance possible, we would 

 recommend the trees to be planted con- 

 siderably above the level of the road, on 

 raised platforms, following any inequali- 

 ties or undulations in the bed of the 

 road. The celebrated avenue in "Wind- 

 sor Park would have appeared much 

 more noble had it been thus planted. 



AVERRHO'A. (Named after AverrJwes, 

 a Spanish physician. Nat. ord., Oxalids 

 [Oxalidacese]. Linn., \0-Decandria 4- 

 Pentagynia). The leaves of A. carmnbola, 

 exhibit that kind of irritability we call 

 "sensitive." The fruit of both species 

 is eaten in India, but its acidity is in- 

 tolerable to Europeans. Stove ever- 

 green shrubs; half -ripened cuttings in 

 April, in sand, under a bell-glass, and in 

 bottom heat ; loam and peat. Summer 

 temp., 60 to 85 ; winter, 55 to 60. 

 A. bili'mbi (bilimbi tree). 8. Reddish yellow. 



August. East Indies. 1791. 

 cara'mbola (carambola tree). 10. Greenish 



red. Ceylon. 1733. 



AVERRUNCATOR (from the Latin aver- 

 runco, to prune), is a small pair of power- 

 ful shears on a long handle, for severing 

 boughs on lofty trees. 



AVIARY. This building, devoted to 



