84 



Retrospective Criticism. 



hot-water pipes to all. Next division, the finer sorts of vegetables, and 

 fruits. Third division, pine pits on Weston's plan ; melon and cucumber 

 yard, vegetables, &c. ; asparagus is in great perfection, on a bed drained 

 5 ft. deep, with granite boulder stones. Below this last division is an ex- 

 tensive and well kept nursery for trees and shrubs. The garden is entered 

 from the house side, first through a fine shrubbery walk of great length 

 and beauty, and then through a large piece of ground intended solely 

 for flower ground, commanding one of the finest views of the Wicklow 

 Mountains conceivable. This piece of ground is intended to contain a 

 large and splendid conservatory and orangery. Its western boundary is 

 formed by the east wall of the garden, which is about 200 yds. long, and 

 through its whole length covered with a rare and thriving collection of 

 climbing and creeping plants, and all the most valuable tender shrubs. 

 The present mansion, already condemned, is not handsome, but commands 

 a view of Dublin Bay of the most magnificent description ; more like an 

 Italian than an Irish scene. Mount Anvil Hill is the name of the place. 

 If you wish for more information about it, send me word and you shall 

 have it. 



In your information about making artificial ponds or aquariums, I think 

 you are a little deficient. In gardens where worms are plentiful, an aquarium 

 cannot be formed merely of clay ; as the worms all collect to the water, 

 and pierce holes in the clay, and thus let the water off. This I found by 

 sad experience, only last summer; and in a loamy, sandy, porous garden 

 soil, abounding in worms, I made an aquarium, which, has ever since re- 

 mained perfectly staunch, and in which I have got all the Irish aquatics 

 thriving. The aquarium (Jig. 30.) is an ellipse of 30 ft. by 15. a a are 



the sections of a 9-inch brick wall, surrounding the whole ; between which 

 and the outside 4-inch walls (b b) is a space (c c) of 4 in. for holding pud- 

 dle and salt to keep the worms off". The bottom is composed of flags 

 jointed with Parker's cement, and laid on a bed of well beaten mud or 

 puddle, so dense and dry as not to yield readily to the foot : it is con- 

 tinuous with the puddle of the walls, and under it the ground is well 

 salted. The pond is divided by an arched wall (the convex curve of the arch 

 against the shallower side) into two parts of greater and less depth. My 

 pond is in my rockworks, where I have a large circular one also, and is 

 edged with a border of rockwork, growing such plants as like much 

 moisture. It is supplied by a source which bursts up through the rocks 

 at one end, and trickles into the pond. It looks remarkably pretty, and 

 answers well. I think this plan admirably adapted for making small ponds 

 in all dressed grounds, pastures, &c. 



Amongst the exotic fruits, you do not mention the winter cherry 

 (Physalis peruviana), which I think is worth a place ; the flavour of the 

 fruit is pleasant, and I believe it is wholesome, although it belongs to a 

 suspicious family. 



In your chapters about gates, fences, &c, you might take notice of Mr. 

 Telford's gates of iron (Jig- 31.) on the Holyhead road, made of flat bar 



