Gardening in the Neighbourhood of Ramsgate. 119 



beginning at the bottom and sides, as it does in the case of 

 crystallisation of salts. Every gardener may prove the truth of 

 this theory, if he will take the trouble of keeping the water of a 

 small pond in motion, by stirring it while freezing. Possibly, 

 if thorns were dragged through the water of canals full of weeds, 

 by men on the banks of both sides, during the frosts of winter, 

 when labour is cheap, the weeds, when a thaw should take place, 

 might be separated from the soil at the bottom of the pond or 

 canal more cheaply and effectually than they could by mowing. 

 This might be tried on a small scale. 



(7b be continued.) 



Art. II. Remarks on the State of Gardening in the Neighbourhood of 

 Ramsgate. By Calycanthus. 



Sir, 



Allow me to submit, for the perusal of your distant corre- 

 spondents, a few casual observations on the state of gardening 

 in this neighbourhood. 



The natural formation of the country is not favourable for 

 any display of the picturesque. Almost the whole of it is 

 arable, and in a very high state of cultivation ; indeed, there is 

 but one park, properly so called, in the Isle of Thanet, and 

 that is 



Qiiex, the Seat of J. P. Powell, Esq. — There is no particular 

 beauty in any part of this park; and the house is singularly ill 

 placed. I believe there is no sea view, even from the roof. 

 Mr. Powell is an amateur in the science of bell-ringing, and has 

 erected several fantastic and grotesque belfries in different parts 

 of his grounds : one of them forms a prominent landmark to 

 vessels off the coast. 



Piermont House, at Broadstairs, known to gardeners as For- 

 syth's Villa, formerly a celebrated place for plants, is and has 

 long been sadly neglected ; and there is not much, in any part 

 of the outline, to redeem the present state of the details of its 

 pleasure-ground. The mansion stands high, and too much 

 exposed ; but the view from it is pleasing. 



There are several villas in the neighbourhood, of which East 

 Cliff Lodge, M. Montefiore, Esq. ; Ellington, Major Garratt ; 

 and Hartsdown, Taddy, Esq., are, I think, the most con- 

 siderable. There are no striking features in any of these, 

 farther than the natural beauties of sea, land, and trees com- 

 bined ; the last very sparingly. At East Cliff there has been 

 considerable expense incurred in the erection of towers, tur- 

 reted walls, &c, of flint. The effect is curious, but petty and 

 trifling. 



