166 Gardens, and Stale of Gardenings 



I do not wish, however, to undervalue the advantages of read- 

 ing; without it, a gardener must necessarily remain far in the 

 rear of the spirit of the age ; and, in the choice of subjects, it 

 is my opinion, that descriptions of, and critical remarks upon, 

 places, such as those occasionally given in this Magazine, are 

 quite as instructive to a learner, as a detailed method of culti- 

 vating a particular kind of flower or vegetable. I have derived 

 much gratification and instruction from these descriptions ; and, 

 believing that they are alike interesting to other readers, I. pur- 

 pose giving, as opportunity permits, short notices of the gentle- 

 men's residences in my immediate vicinity. But these notices 

 will be almost exclusively confined to the kitchen and flower 

 gardens ; for I do not consider myself competent to discuss the 

 more elevated subject of architecture, or to point out, except in 

 a very casual manner, the beauties and defects in the laying out 

 of the grounds. 



Perhaps a general view of the leading features of the sur- 

 rounding district may not be unacceptable, before entering upon 

 the subject of its gardens. 



The place where I reside (in the North Riding of Yorkshire) 

 is within a few miles of extensive tracts of hilly and barren 

 ground, called the Moors and, accordingly, the temperature 

 is materially affected, in early spring, by the proximity of the 

 high and bleak lands which bound us on the north and east. 

 Richmond (a most picturesque town on the banks of the river 

 Swale, in the neighbourhood of which are beautiful and very 

 extensive views) stands on the very edge of the Moors ; and, 

 although only eight miles north-west of us, is described by a 

 resident as being " a great coat colder in winter." It has been 

 truly remarked, that tourists run from one end of the Continent 

 to the other in search of beauties, which seldom surpass, and, 

 in many cases, do not equal, those contained in our own island. 

 The taste of the present day is too highly refined for the enjoy- 

 ment of homely beauties ; but, should it ever again become 

 fashionable for British gentry to admire British scenery, Rich- 

 mond and its environs will not be overlooked. 



When viewed from a rising ground, the aspect of the country 

 is fertile, because it is well wooded ; yet it contains a consider- 

 able extent of unproductive land, which, at the present low prices 

 of produce, barely pays the expenses of labour, seed, and taxes. 

 This poor land is distinguished here by the appellation of clay 

 land; which term, however, includes soils of very different tex- 

 tures and qualities, varying from clay so stiff" that it is scarcely 

 permeable to water, to a comparatively fertile strong loam. 

 Gravel land is a light sandy loam, upon a substratum of sandy 

 gravel : this land, when plentifully supplied with moisture, is 

 exceedingly productive, and it suffers in a corresponding degree 



