666 Select Suburban Residences. 



three liquid-manure tanks, in which the liquid matter, which in 

 most farmyards is wasted, is fermented, and afterwards mixed 

 up with soil for use in the kitchen-garden, or used in forming 

 composts for particular plants. The liquid manure from the 

 stables is kept apart from that from the cow-house ; and the 

 general drainings of the yard, and of the frame-ground in the 

 kitchen-garden, are fermented by themselves. The liquid manure 

 with which Mr. Pratt waters his plants is formed chiefly of 

 the sweepings of the pigeon, rabbit, and cow houses, with lime ; 

 and is kept in a cask in a close shed (60 in the planjtfg. 159. in 

 p. 642, 6*3.), so that the temperature admits of its fermenting in 

 winter, as well as in summer: a thick scum rises to the top of 

 the cask, and the liquid is drawn out from the bottom as clear as 

 old ale. The plants which Mr. Pratt waters with this liquid are 

 chiefly those of rapid growth, such as the Datura, Brugmansm, and 

 other soft-wooded tree plants which, like these, are cut in every 

 year, and appear to profit by the stimulating effect of this ma- 

 nure. He gives it also, occasionally, to various other plants 

 which appear to want vigour ; but has not yet had sufficient expe- 

 rience of its effects, to give a list of plants to which it ought to be 

 applied. 



In order to produce as much manure as possible, as well for 

 the farm as for the garden, all leaves, haulm, and waste vegetable 

 matters, are carefully collected, and fermented by the addition of 

 fresh stable dung ; and heaps of different kinds of soils, procured 

 from different parts of the country, are constantly kept in the 

 slip adjoining the frame-ground, ready for use. 



The grounds being nearly level are readily supplied with 

 water from the ponds and from the brook ; and there are con- 

 cealed wells, communicating with these sources by pipes from 

 the brook, in different parts of the grounds, and more especially in 

 the kitchen-garden, from which the plants can be abundantly 

 watered in the growing season with comparatively little labour ; 

 there being six different places, including the ponds and brook, 

 from which the gardeners take water, and all the strawberries 

 are planted close to the wells in the inner and outer walled 

 gardens. 



The kitchen-gardens, the hot-houses, and the store-houses and 

 some other structures can be locked up at pleasure, Mr. Harri- 

 son and Mr. Pratt being the only persons having complete 

 master keys. Part of the outer kitchen-garden is enclosed with 

 an open iron spike fence, 5 ft. 6 in. high, within which and the 

 inner walled garden are the strawberries and choicest goose- 

 berries, figs, &Ci, and these enclosures are opened only by the 

 master keys. The whole, therefore, of the wall and best fruit 

 is secured from plunder. 



The beauties of this place, as has been already mentioned, 

 depend chiefly on the taste and judgment displayed in laying out 



