346 Advantages of a Reseive Garden. 



water may pass off immediately, and not lodge so as to stag- 

 nate in the ground. 



Having now stated the objects of, and some of the arguments 

 for, a reserve garden, I will proceed to describe how I think 

 it should be situated, and how the ground within it should be 

 appropriated. As to its size, that, of course, will depend upon 

 the garden or ground to which it is an appendage; for the 

 country mansion of a nobleman, where every thing is in first- 

 rate style, and of the fullest extent, and where no reasonable 

 expense is spared, I should think an acre of ground not too 

 much ; while for second or third-rate places, with which the 

 country abounds, from half to a quarter of an acre might suffice. 

 If there should, in either of the above cases, be at any time 

 surplus ground, which the proprietor could not keep filled with 

 the flowering plants, it would form an excellent situation for many 

 of the tenderer crops of the kitchen-garden : however, this should 

 be a matter of necessity, and not choice; as the ground should 

 be so prepared for raising fine flowers, that it would be a pity 



to exhaust the soil with common vegetables. 



o 



As to situation, several points are concerned in deciding that ; 

 such as convenience of water, and proximity to the forcing-houses 

 and frames, and also to the potting-sheds. As to the first of 

 these, it should either be very near to good soft water, or, what 

 would be greatly preferable, have a tank permanently supplied 

 in its centre. This ground would have so close a connexion 

 with the frames and houses, at all times, that it would not be 

 well to remove it far from them ; it should also be near to the 

 general compost yard, or else be provided with composts of its 

 own, which would be quite as well ; and, if possible, a dung- 

 water tank should be contained within its precincts. I just 

 named before, that there should be a pit or pits in it; I must 

 now add, that it should have a low propagation house, with a 

 fire flue or hot-water pipe all round; the front and ends pa- 

 neled, of course, for evaporation. This pit or house should 

 have a bark bed in it ; together with shelves, &c., for propagating 

 and rearing choice plants. This, with two or three other pits 

 and frames, would be sufficient for the largest establishment: 

 one of these pits should also have a flue or pipe round it; and 

 the others might be entirely without any kind of heating appa- 

 ratus. The pit with flues round it might be occupied in winter 

 with half-hardy plants, for flower-garden purposes, &c. ; and in 

 spring and summer for forcing flowers, and receiving fresh-potted 

 cuttings, and also seedlings of various kinds, from the propagation 

 house. The other pit or pits would be in continual requisition 

 through the spring for rearing choice annuals, and other little 

 things ; and in winter, for preserving choice and tender annuals, 

 biennials, and perennials; together with a large stock of late- 



