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CHAPTER XXIII. 



OF A GARDEN. 



Its Situation^ Size^ Soil^ and Form,,,, Of Waterings Draining^ 

 efc Of the Melon-Ground^. 



Al garden, if possible, should be on a gentle decllvitv 

 towards the South, a little inclining to the East to receive the 

 benefit of the morning sun. If it be situated in a bottom, the 

 v/ind will have the less effect upon it ; but then damps and fogs 

 will be very prejudicial to the fruit and other crops: And if 

 situated too high, although it will in a great measure be free 

 from damps and fogs, it will be exposed to the fury of the winds, 

 to the great hurt of the trees, by breaking their branches and 

 blowing down the blossoms and fiuit. A garden should be 

 well sheltered from the North and East, to prevent the blight- 

 ing winds from alf. cting the trees ; and also from the Westerly 

 winds, which are very hurtful to gardens in the spring or sum- 

 mer months. If a garden be not naturally sheltered with gen- 

 tle rising hills, which are the best shelter of any, plantations of 

 forest-trees made at proper distances, so as not to shade it, will 

 be found the best substitute. At the same time, there ought 

 to be a free admittance for the sun and air. On that account, 

 a place surrounded by woods is a very improper situation for a 

 garden or orchard, as a foul stagnant air is very unfavourable 

 to vegetation ; and it is also observed, that blights are much 

 2r.0re ficquent in such situations, than in those that are more 

 open and exposed. 



I have recommended the practice of intermixing fruit- 

 trees in shrubberies and plantations of this kind to several gen- 

 tlemen, who have adopted it with success. While the fruit- 

 trees are in flower, they are a great ornament to the shrubberies ^ 

 and in summer and autumn the different colours of the fruit 

 have a beautiful appearance. Add to this the advantage; 



* Some of the directions, contained in this chapter, will not appljr ta 

 America ; but the far greater part of them will, and I recommend those, who 

 wish to have complete gardens, to study it with cax-e. 



