STYLE. 



37 



fruit-houses are placed two plant-houses ; 

 and of the smaller houses or pits behind, 

 several are devoted to the culture of 

 plants. With these exceptions, the culi- 

 nary and fruit garden is without plants 

 or shrubs, save some well-arranged beds 

 of flowers on the terrace, in front of the 

 principal range. It should be observed, 

 however, that these are chiefly houses for 

 providing flowering-plants for the deco- 

 ration of her Majesty's private apart- 

 ments, there being no other belonging to 

 the Crown at Windsor : hence they may 

 be denominated cultural-houses — that is, 

 houses adapted for culture, and not for 

 display. 



The new gardens at Dalkeith afford 

 another example where the fruit and 

 plant houses are within the walls of the 

 kitchen garden — there being ten houses 

 for fruit and nine for plants already 

 existing, exclusive of the larger conserva- 

 tory, which is placed in a small flower 

 garden in another part of the grounds. 

 A botanical collection of hardy plants 

 occupies a triangular compartment, which 

 separates the higher or principal part of 

 the garden from the lower, (vide Plate V.) 

 This appeared to be expedient, as the 

 former is in the regular style, while the 

 latter is L irregular both in outline and 

 surface ; and, although it forms a connec- 

 tion between both, interferes with neither. 



A grassy lawn occupies the eastern 

 side, where the principal entrances are, 

 and is dedicated to single specimens of 

 rare and choice shrubs, bounded on two 

 sides by a conservative wall and border, 

 covered with plants, and on the two 

 others by a marginal parterre and bor- 

 der of American plants. The great ex- 

 tent enclosed within the walls, which 

 almost became necessary from local cir- 

 cumstances, and the great taste her 

 Grace the Duchess of Buccleuch has for 

 botanical plants, led, soon after the mak- 

 ing of the garden, to the formation of a 

 collection of plants, certainly not exceeded 

 in number of species by any private col- 

 lection in the kingdom. This was not, 

 however, contemplated in the original 

 plan ; as the flower garden and principal 

 plant-houses were designed to have occu- 

 pied the space between the mansion and 

 the kitchen garden. 



We state these things to clear ourselves 

 from the charge of inconsistency in re- 



commending one thing and practising 

 another. 



The same style is exemplified at Drum - 

 lanrig Castle, where also there are seve- 

 ral plant-houses in the kitchen garden, 

 as well as a botanical collection of hardy 

 plants. There is there, however, one of 

 the most extensive flower gardens in the 

 kingdom, placed, exactly as it ought to 

 be, near and around the castle. In such 

 cases as those we have detailed, the taste 

 of the owner overrules the system we 

 have endeavoured to inculcate — and very 

 properly ; for, although the artist has the 

 privilege to suggest, the owner has un- 

 doubtedly the power to decide. 



It is probable that a similar taste led 

 the respective owners of the following 

 gardens to adopt the same views — viz., 

 Chats worth, Trentham, and Eaton Hall. 

 These also have plant-houses and fruit- 

 houses in the kitchen garden ; but, for the 

 most part, they are houses for culture and 

 for replenishing legitimate plant struc- 

 tures — each of these cases having splen- 

 did flower gardens detached, and, as they 

 ought to be, adjoining the respective 

 mansions. 



At Bicton the forcing- houses are 

 united to the plant-houses, which is al- 

 most the only objection that can be urged 

 to the arrangement of that fine place ; the 

 more so as they are in the flower garden, 

 and as the kitchen garden is dedicated 

 to culinary purposes alone, quite apart 

 from the flower garden, and exceedingly 

 well concealed. At Sion, Wentworth, 

 and Woburn, each department is as dis- 

 tinct as could possibly be desired. 



At Belton House, Thoresby Hall, 

 Clumber, Welbeck, Belvoir, Harewood, 

 Burghley, The Grange, Tottenham Park, 

 &c, the kitchen gardens are almost with- 

 out flowers, or plant-houses either. Such 

 we think not only consonant to good taste, 

 but well adapted for the carrying on the 

 various operations required. Most of the 

 latter named places have respectable 

 flower gardens, and plant -houses con- 

 nected with them. 



The kitchen gardens in Scotland are 

 in general in the mixed style ; and hence 

 so few really good flower gardens are to 

 be met with in that country. They in 

 many instances exemplify very clearly 

 the mistake fallen into by adopting this 

 style, as many of the most necessary 



