Gardens in England, .54^7 



very pleasing effect On leaving a well-kept lawn adjoining 

 the house, I found some of the finest balsams in flower I 

 have ever seen. Most of the flowers measured 2£ in. in 

 diameter, perfectly double, and with the petals laid out with 

 all the regularity of a well-blown camellia. Mr. Ross's cox- 

 combs were also very fine. 



Amesbury House, Sir Edward Antrobus, Bart., near Ames- 

 bury. — June 29. A small place; the house standing in the 

 centre of a tastefully laid out lawn, interspersed with beds of 

 shrubs and flowers in high keeping. It seems a march be- 

 hind its fellows with respect to the choicer productions of 

 Flora; probably because, from its secluded situation, the 

 gardener is prevented from having a ready notice of the more 

 lately introduced ornamental flowers. The kitchen-garden 

 is surrounded by mud-built walls, about 7 ft. high, thatched 

 on the top with straw, which projects about 6 or 8 in. The 

 peach and plum trees were looking extremely well, and 

 there was an excellent crop, with hardly the least speck of 

 blight or mildew to be seen. Mr. Bike said they seldom 

 failed of having a good crop; and he attributed that, and their 

 very healthy appearance on such an otherwise exposed 

 situation, to the thatch and warmth of the walls. The natural 

 soil is chalk; but the borders had received a little assistance 

 by the addition of a portion of fresh soil and manure. The 

 projecting thatch may in a great degree accelerate the ripen- 

 ing of the young wood, by preventing the ready escape of 

 the heated air, which, in ordinary cases, has no barrier. 

 These walls, while kept dry, are very durable, but of course 

 do not stand nailing well ; pegs were driven in at intervals, to 

 which the trees were fastened. The manner of erecting such 

 walls is very simple. Two strong boards are bolted together 

 to any desired width, according to what may be the intended 

 thickness of the walls ; and having prepared a firm found- 

 ation, the frame formed by them is filled with loam or clay, 

 mixed with a slight portion of gravel, which is beaten down 

 firmly with an iron rammer ; taking care, however, that the 

 quantity put in at one time is not too great, as, in that case, 

 the mass will not be properly consolidated, and afterwards 

 may become liable to crack on becoming dry. The loam or 

 clay must not be more than just moist, or in that state in 

 which it is dug. When dry, the whole may be plastered, 

 and afterwards blackened, which would be an additional 

 attracter of heat. Instead of thatch, projecting tiles might 

 be used, and a wire or wood trellis to train the trees to. The 

 whole might thus be rendered any thing but an unsightly 

 object; and, where bricks or stones are difficult to be obtained 



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