THE MANSE GARDEN. 73 



ings to the frost and sunbeams ! Wherefore, on 

 more accounts than one, although stinted in your 

 allowance of wall, it will be wise to give a more 

 liberal breadth to your border. Should the former 

 be only six, let the latter be at least nine feet, and 

 there can be no harm in making it twelve. I am 

 aware that the look is something, and that your 

 greater distance from the wall adds to the meanness 

 of its height ; but a good crop of early cauliflower 

 and better fruits are of far more consequence, and of 

 such real beauty as to conquer the defect. 



Next to the fitness of soil in the furnishing of 

 your wall, the choice and arrangement of trees are 

 to be considered. The depth, the extent, arid the 

 richness of your soil constitute your talents for valu- 

 able productions ; and that your wall, as a splendid 

 page, may display those talents, you have only to 

 observe the rule of good composition " Apt trees 

 in apt places." If your elevation exceed that of 400 

 feet, unless the advantages of local shelter be very 

 great, plant no peach, neither attempt, although out 

 of sight, the best of its species, the Moorpark apricot. 

 It always argues a weakness to strive against nature, 

 and to spend, in badly executing what is above your 

 ability, those labours which, if laid out on things 

 within your reach, might be crowned with abundant 

 success. At a height of 300 feet, with ordinary 

 shelter, the Magdalene peach will ripen well in most 

 years, and the Moorpark apricot in favourable sea- 

 sons. Let this then be your border, observing that, 

 if 100 feet must be added to your elevation, such 

 addition may be compensated only by the utmost 

 advantages of encircling hills, woods, southern as- 



