458 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Part III. 



may be considered as the common quantities enclosed by walls, and the latter size, under 

 proper management, with abundance of manure, is capable of supplying a respectable 

 establishment. Where a farm is cultivated by the proprietor, it is found a desirable prac- 

 tice to have part of the more common kitchen-crops, as cabbages, turnips, peas, potatoes, 

 carrots, &c. grown in the fields ; the flavor of vegetables so grown being greatly superior 

 to that of those raised in a garden by force of manure. Where a farm is not kept in 

 hand, by annually changing the surface of the garden by trenching (2343. ), this effect of 

 enriched grounds is considerably lessened. 



2397. To assist in detertyiining the extent of a garden, Marshall observes, tliat an 

 acre with wall-trees, hot-beds, pots, &c. will furnish employment for one man, who, 

 at some busy times, will need assistance. The size of the garden should, however, 

 be proportioned to the house, and to the number of inhabitants it does, or may contain. 

 This is naturally dictated ; but yet it is better to have too much ground allotted than too 

 little, and there is nothing monstrous in a large garden annexed to a small house. Some 

 families use few, others many vegetables ; and it makes a great difference whether the 

 owner is curious to have a long season of the same production, or is content to have a 

 supply only at the more common times. But to give some rules for the quantity of 

 ground to be laid out, a family of four pei-sons (exclusive of servants) should have a rood 

 of good-working, open ground, and so in proportion. But, if possible, let the garden be 

 rather extensive, according to the family ; for then a useful sprinkling of fruit-trees can 

 be planted in it, which may be expected to do well under the common culture of the 

 ground about them ; a good portion of it also may be allotted for that agreeable fruit the 

 strawberry in all its vaiieties ; and the very disagreeable circumstance of being at any 

 time short of vegetables will be avoided. It should be considered also that artichokes, ' 

 asparagus, and a long succession of peas and beans, require a good deal of ground. Hot- 

 beds will also take up much room, if any thing considerable be done in the way of raising 

 cucumbers, melons, &c. (Introd. to Gard. p. 25.) 



2398. For a small famUy, two acres of ground ivill do; but if for a great family, it should 

 be six or eight acres. (Justice's Bi-it. Gard. Direc. p. 1.) 



2399. Tlis size of a garden 7nay be from one acre to six or eight within the wall, according 

 to the demand for vegetables in the family. (Forsyth.) 



Sect. IV. Shelter and Shade. 



2400. To combine adequate shelter, with a free exposure to the rising and setting sun, 

 is essentially necessary, and may be reckoned one of the most difficult points in the form- 

 ation of a garden. 



2401. The kitchen-garden should be sheltered by plantations ; but should by no means be 

 shaded, or be crowded by them. If walled round, it should be open and free on all sides, 

 or at least to tlie south-east and west, that the walls may be clothed with fruit-trees on 

 both sides. (^Nicol, Kal. p. 6.) 



2402. The garden should be sheltered from the east, north, and ivest winds, by hills, 

 rising grounds, high buildings, or plantations of trees, at such a distance on the east and 

 west sides, as not to prevent the sun from shining upon it. (M'Phail, Gard. Rem. 

 2d edit. p. 12.) 



2403. A garden ought to be sheltered as much as can be from the north and east winds. 

 These points of the compass, Marshall observes, should be guarded against by high and 

 good fences, by a wall of at least ten feet high ; lower walls do not answer so well for fruit- 

 trees, though one of eight may do. A garden should be so situated as to be as much 

 warmer as possible than the general temper of the air is without, or ought to be made 

 warmer by the ring and subdivision fences. This advantage is essential to the expectation 

 we have from a garden locally considered. As to trees planted without the wall, to break 

 the wind, it is not to be expected to reap much good this way, except from something 

 more than a single row ; i. e. a plantation. Yet the fall of leaves by autumnal mnds is 

 troublesome ; and a high wall is therefore advisable. Spruce firs have been used in close 

 shorn hedges ; which, as evergreens, are proper enough to plant for a screen in a single 

 row, though not very neai- to the wall ; but the best evergreens for tliis purpose are the 

 evergreen oak and the cork-tree. The witch elm, planted close, grows quick, and has a 

 pretty summer appearance behind a wall ; but is of little use then, as a screen, except to 

 the west ; when still it may shade too much (if planted near) as it mounts high. In a 

 dry hungry soil, the beech also is very proper, and both bear cutting. The great maple, 

 commonly called the sycamore, is handsome, of quick gro^vth, and being fit to stand the 

 rudest blasts, will protect a garden well in a very exposed situation ; the wind to be 

 chiefly guarded against as to strength, in most places, being the westerly. (Introd. to 

 Gard. p. 27.) 



2404. To shelter an elevated garden on a steep declivity (^fg. 419.), it may require to be , 

 surrounded on all sides by high woods (n), and even to have groups of evergreens, as 

 pines and hollies (e), and hedges of trellis or lattice- work (;>,;0> witliin the garden. The 



