408 ^■%^- Descri P tion °f a Design for $gsnku& 



the funds available for that purpose did not then exceed three 

 thousand pounds, though a considerable addition to this sum 

 was expected to be obtained, when the garden should be com- 

 menced, and the public had an opportunity of inspecting it. 



With these data and desiderata, we set about devising a 

 suitable design. The first point which we determined on, 

 was that of surrounding the whole sixteen acres with a holly 

 hedge, to be planted immediately within the existing boundary 

 fence of hawthorn : being convinced that, if the ground in 

 the line of the hedge, were trenched and manured, in order to 

 increase the growth of the plants, the holly, in the given soil, 

 situation, and climate, would produce leading shoots, ave- 

 raging 12 or 14 in. a year for several years. The next point 

 which we determined on was, to place the hot-houses on the 

 level area which forms the highest part of the surface. As 

 the entrance to the garden must necessarily be from the only 

 road which passes it, and that road is on the north side, it 

 follows, that, if the hot-houses were built in the usual manner 

 against a wall, they would be approached from behind, and 

 the first object that met the eye would be the back sheds : 

 this is the case in the Liverpool Garden, and must necessarily 

 be so in all gardens in which the hot-houses are placed near 

 the main entrance, without there being a space sufficiently 

 ample to admit of making a circuitous approach to their front. 

 As there is neither an ample space in the case of the Birming- 

 ham garden, nor a fitting situation for the hot-houses any 

 where else in the given area, than this, which is close on what 

 must necessarily be the main entrance, we determined to form 

 these hot-houses on a circular ground plan, because it is the 

 only one calculated to look equally well on all sides. 



A fourth point necessarily resulting from the shape and 

 slope of the grounds, was the zigzag direction of the main 

 walks ; in order to descend with ease from the high to the 

 low grounds, and to ascend in like manner from the latter to 

 the former. This point determined on, led to another; viz., 

 the distribution of the arboretum around and through the 

 garden, along one side of the main walk, instead of around 

 the garden only, as is most frequently the case. 



These leading features being determined on, we made out 

 the details of what the garden should be, when finally com- 

 pleted, as exhibited in^. 72. 



But as, from various economical reasons, the garden could 

 only be completed by degrees ; and as some parts of our plan 

 might, from the expense required, never be executed at all, 

 we so contrived all the expensive parts of the details, as to 

 allow them to be omitted, or have others substituted for them 



