310 



CULINARY GARDENING. 



BOOK I, 



always intersecting one another at right angles. This should 

 be done in such a manner, as to form a border on each side of 

 the walls, and to form quarters of convenient size, Sec. The 

 garden may be subdivided by walls similar to that which sur- 

 rounds it ; or by hedges, which produce better shelter. The 

 breadth of walks and the height of walls must depend upon the 

 extent of the whole. Walls should seldom be made lower than 

 twelve or thirteen feet, and never need be made higher than 

 sixteen, except for hot-houses. Walks in kitchen gardens 

 should seldom be narrower than five feet, and very seldom 

 broader than fifteen ; ten or twelve feet is generally a proper 

 breadth for extensive gardens. Espaliers are commonly, and 

 very properly, placed parallel to the walks, both round and 

 across the whole garden. Rows of fruit-trees are placed 

 across it to produce shelter, or irregularly in the quarters, to 

 effect variety ; but this last practice is seldom advisable. 

 Hedges are perhaps too little used in modern gardens. In 

 exposed places, they are much to be preferred to walls for sub- 

 divisions. Walls, in such situations, produce violent currents 

 and eddies of wind ; but hedges only soften and refine it as it 

 passes through them : besides, the beauty and grandeur of high 

 holly hedges, when contrasted with brick walls and the red 

 gravel of the walks, is certainly another recommendation which 

 ought to have some influence, though utility were out of the 

 question. 



