II. ENCLOSING, LAYING OUT. 



off ; and, in certain cases, it is absolutely necessary that 

 the water should not run away j but have time to soak 

 gently into the ground. I have had great opportunity of 

 acquiring knowledge in this respect. Part of my ground 

 at Kensington forms a very gentle slope. The soil of 

 this slope is as good, both at top and bottom, as any 

 ground in the world j but I have always perceived, that 

 seeds never rise there with the same alacrity and the 

 same vigour that they do upon the level part, though 

 there the soil is much inferior. This is particularly the 

 case with regard to strawberries, which will grow, blow 

 like a garland, and even bear pretty numerously, on the 

 side of a bank where scarcely any moisture can lodge ; 

 but which I have never seen produce large and fine fruit 

 except upon the level. The same may be said of almost 

 every garden plant and tree ; and, therefore, if I could 

 avoid it, I would always have some part of a garden not 

 upon the slope. Slopes are excellent for early broccoli, 

 early cabbages, winter spinage, onions to stand the 

 winter, artichokes to come early, early peas, early beans, 

 and various other things -, but there ought to be some 

 part of the garden upon a true level ; for, when the 

 month of June comes, that is the part of the garden 

 which will be flourishing. 



18. As to shelter, hills, buildings, lofty trees, all serve 

 for the purpose j but the lofty trees ought not to stand 

 too near. They ought not to shade by any means j and 

 none of their leaves ought to drop into the garden 

 Leaves from such trees, blown into the garden by high 

 winds, are merely a temporary inconvenience ; but shade 

 would do injury, though, perhaps, if not too deep, coun- 



