136 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



or four score years." What a truly magical power must an Eliz- 

 abethan orchard have possessed ! Such an introduction makes 

 one keen to leave the kitchen-garden, and traverse again the 

 flower-garden, on the other side of which in all probability would 

 be found the orchard. It was thoughtfully put on the north-east 

 when it was possible, that the fruit-trees might help to shelter 

 the more tender plants of the flower-garden, and some tall forest 

 trees, " Walnuts, Elms, Oaks or Ashes," were planted at a good 

 distance beyond, to shelter but not overshadow the orchard. A 

 garden much on this plan is that of Castle Bromwich, laid out 

 about the year 1585. The flower-garden is in front of the house, 

 and on either side lie the fruit and kitchen gardens concealed 

 from view by red-brick walls, now thickly covered with climbing 

 plants. These can be seen in the old plan or bird's-eye view, 

 and also in the picture of the garden as it now is, which is taken 

 in the centre or flower-garden, looking towards the wall which 

 shuts out the kitchen-garden. From the central garden a flight 

 of stone steps descend to a lower level, laid out in shrubberies 

 intersected by grass walks and wonderful old cut hedges of 

 holly, yew, box, hornbeam, and privet, and an archery ground 

 or raised glade of green turf 180 yards long. The orchard in 

 this case lies to the south-west of the upper or central garden, 

 from which it is separated, as is the kitchen-garden, by a high 

 brick wall. 



The cost of building a wall all round the fruit-garden was 

 so great, " as the extent of an orchard was much larger than 

 that of a garden, and it would require more cost, which every- 

 one cannot undergo," so instead of brick, mud walls, wooden 

 palings, or a quickset hedge were substituted. But Parkinson 

 recommends a wall of brick or stone, in spite of the expense, 

 " as the gaining of ground and profit of the fruit trees planted 

 there against, will in short time recompense that charge." " On 

 the south wall your tenderest and earliest fruits, as Apricocks, 

 Peaches, Nectarins, and May or early cherries, should be set on 

 the east and north, and on the west, plums and quinces, spread 

 upon and fastened to the walls by the help of tacks and other 

 means to have the benefit of the immediate reflexe of the 

 sunne." 1 This arrangement of the walls was suited only to the 

 1 Lawson, New Orchard, 161 8. 



