Birmingham Botanical Horticultural Garden. 427 



houses need be gravelled in the first instance; not only on 

 account of the expense, but because, as the soil under them 

 will in many places have been loosened to a considerable 

 depth, one whole year, at least, will be required for its con- 

 solidation. 



The hollow wall for peaches, &c, forming the south-east 

 boundary for the experimental garden, may be deferred till 

 the second or third year ; because the circular walling or 

 fencing (Jig. 77. fff\ at the back of the pits, will supply 

 all that can be wanting for some time. The holly hedge 

 round the wall should be planted without delay. The surface 

 of the pleasure-ground and of the botanic garden should be 

 trenched, smoothed, and otherwise prepared for marking out 

 the situations of the beds and trees, and for sowing those 

 parts not occupied with beds with a proper mixture of grass 

 seeds. 



The planting of the botanic and ornamental gardens, as 

 there are to be no duplicates, will amount to a very trifling 

 expense ; and it is supposed that almost all the plants will be 

 received in presents, or in exchange, from other public esta- 

 blishments. 



With respect to the expense of management, much will 

 depend on the use made of the interior of the kitchen, fruit, 

 flower, and American gardens : if these are to be kept as 

 nurseries for the propagation and culture of young plants for 

 sale, they will require the labour of at least three men the 

 greater part of the year ; but if the orchard be occupied as 

 an orchard, and the surface of the ground among the trees 

 only kept clear of weeds by hoeing, the kitchen -garden 

 cropped with the commonest crops, and the American garden 

 occupied with large single specimens, then the whole work of 

 these four gardens, exclusive of the walks, may be done by 

 one man; that is to say, for 40Z. a year one man will under- 

 take it, and will accomplish it. For the same sum, another 

 man may be found who will undertake the surrounding hedges, 

 the walks, and (furnishing him with a mowing machine) all 

 the grass of the pleasure-ground and botanic garden. There 

 will remain for the curator, the hot-houses, the beds in the 

 pleasure-ground and in the botanic garden, and the expe- 

 rimental garden ; and this, we think, he might accomplish 

 with the assistance of one man and an apprentice. 



It is to be particularly observed, that this calculation is 

 made on the supposition that the whole of the open garden 

 is made and planted, and that there is nothing whatever to 

 do but to keep it in repair. It is also supposed in this guess 

 estimate, that there are no pits or frames in the reserve garden. 



