14 Present State of Gardening in Ireland. 



but in the ordinary life of man what could reproduce the 

 others ? Every one conversant in the localities of Ireland 

 knows well the truth of what we have here stated. 



In order to obviate such irreparable consequences, we 

 would warmly recommend to such gentlemen as from neces- 

 sity or choice wish to curtail their expenditures in this depart- 

 ment, to lay down as much of the garden and pleasure- 

 grounds as are possible in grass, and to retain the gardener, 

 with as much assistance as may be necessary, to keep the 

 trees and other ornamental plants in due order. The expence 

 in this case is ultimately a mere trifle compared to the line of 

 proceeding we have just condemned. 



Merville, the delightful villa of Lord Downes, is situated 

 about two miles south of Dublin, and is unquestionably one 

 of the best kept places in the empire. The garden is not of 

 great extent, but it contains an excellent collection of fruit 

 trees, which are kept in perfect order. The forcing houses 

 are very complete : there is nothing particular in their form- 

 ation ; like the greater part of the hot-houses in this country, 

 they are nearly the same as those delineated by Nicol in his 

 earlier editions of the " Scotch Forcing Gardener." A range 

 of pits for the growth of pine apples, on the plan of those so 

 common about London and Liverpool, have been lately built, 

 and answer well. It is to be hoped that the recent improve- 

 ments effected throughout England in the growth of this in- 

 comparable fruit, by which so much time and expence are 

 saved, will, ere long, render every gardener familiar with its 

 culture. In the flower-garden there are two remarkably neat 

 houses, with copper sashes and metallic rafters ; one is used 

 as a green house, the other as a stove for plants, and they 

 both contain an excellent collection. The parterre in front 

 of these houses is remarkably pretty, and here, in the proper 

 season, may be seen the best collection of spring-flowers in 

 the kingdom. The figures in the parterre are, in our opi- 

 nion, rather formal. We hope ere long to see the stiff geo- 

 metrical figures which have so long held a place in the flower 

 garden entirely exploded, and fancy, aided by correct taste, 

 have its flight in this department of gardening. The kalei- 

 doscope exhibits many figures which will greatly assist the 

 imagination in matters of this kind. Detached from the gar- 

 den, there is a small American ground, where are the best 

 private collection of bog plants we know of in the vicinity of 

 Dublin. They are judiciously planted and in great health. 



Dublin, 28th October, 1825. 



( To be continued.) 



