of a Classical Garden. 453 



ornament of a villa, partake, for the most part, of the sa\iie 

 mixed character, differing only in extent: and admitting that 

 in all private gardens this must necessarily be so, still, even 

 in botanical collections, is there to be seen any other arrange- 

 ment than what the climate of this country imposes, or what 

 the peculiar nature of some plants requires? 



A systematic arrangement of plants, whether on the Lin- 

 nean, or according to the Jussieuean or natural orders, 

 can hardly be expected to be made ; because of the almost 

 infinite numbers included in the genera, species, and varie- 

 ties of the vegetable kingdom, their various habitations, 

 and natural differences. But to approach as near as pos- 

 sible to a natural classification, our collections, whether for 

 the amusement of the amateur, the information of the stu- 

 dent, or for what is most essential of all, the rural economist, 

 should be so arranged as to juxta-position, that the spectator 

 may not only see the variety and beauty of vegetable pro- 

 ductions, but also, at the same time, their natural stations on 

 the face of the earth. To accomplish such an object as this, 

 would certainly be worthy of the taste, the wealth, and the 

 refinement of the age. 



It is true, all gardens cannot be so laid out ; but, in what 

 may be called national gardens (such as have been and are 

 now forming in different parts of this country), such a plan 

 should be adopted as would bestow upon them a classical 

 character. To accomplish this, the following ideas are 

 thrown out : — 



Granting that a choice of site and aspect is obtained, let 

 the form of a parallelogram (its longest sides facing nearly 

 S. S. E.) containing from six to eight acres be fixed on. 

 Let this be divided longitudinally and equally ; then divide 

 the whole transversely into five unequal, or geographical 

 subdivisions, representing the five zones of the terraqueous 

 globe. The arctic and antarctic may be but narrow slips : 

 the torrid or centre subdivision may be not less than 150 

 yards ; and what remains on each side of this will answer to 

 the north and south temperate zones. These will form the 

 habitations of all vegetables which have been or may be col- 

 lected from every part of the world. 



Let the most northerly grand division of the ground be 

 appropriated as the botanical part ; along the middle of this, 

 let the principal walk, terminated by the grand entrances, be 

 laid out. Beginning at the western entrance, pass through 

 an arch of rustic rockwork, formed of the native rock of the 

 arctic circle, or from as near to it as can be brought home 

 by the northern whalers. In the interstices of this structure 



Vol. VIL — No. 33. f f 



