STYLE. 



53 



as well as from the shoots which collect 

 the rain water that falls on the roofs of 

 the back offices ; from this reservoir 

 pipes are laid to supply the cisterns 

 within the hothouses, should the rain 

 which falls on their roofs be at any time 

 too limited in quantity for the supply 

 required. This reservoir, as well as all 

 those within the houses, is formed of 

 large slabs of Caithness pavement, half 

 checked, and jointed with white lead, 

 over which joints a thick coating of pitch 

 is laid ; the corners are secured together 

 with leaden cramps, which are in all 

 cases preferable to iron ones, as being 

 not subject to oxidation. Under the 

 range of offices behind are capacious 

 cellars extending their whole length and 

 breadth, and 9 feet in height ; the sharp 

 alluvial gravel into which they are sunk 

 being highly favourable, they are in 

 consequence completely free from damp. 

 This is still further guarded against in 

 the following way: between the front 

 wall of these cellars and the solid ground 

 is an area 15 inches wide, sustained by a 

 retaining 10-inch wall. This area is 

 covered over, but is sufficiently venti- 

 lated, openings being left on each side of 

 the windows, which give light and air to 

 the cellars. In these cellars, also, the fur- 

 naces are placed. Under the floor of the 

 cellar is placed a 9-inch spigot and faucet 

 pipe- drain, into which all the overflow 

 water from the cisterns, &c, is conducted, 

 and, flowing towards the centre, is dis- 

 charged through similar pipes passing 

 under the centre houses, and under the 

 middle walk of the garden, by which 

 it is conveyed beyond the boundary of 

 the southern slip, where, should it be 

 required, a reservoir may at any time be 

 formed. 43 43 are two stone cisterns set 

 on surface of ground, and supplied by 

 leaden pipes from 31. 



Few situations present a better oppor- 

 tunity for obtaining a copious supply of 

 water than this does, as the supply for 

 the mansion is abundant, and brought 

 both from a great distance, and from an 

 altitude giving a pressure that will throw 

 the water 50 feet in height. But here 

 the natural humidity of the climate ren- 

 ders this of little consequence, as, by a 

 very correctly kept rain-gauge, the fall of 

 that element is shown to average 60 

 inches per annum. 



32 is an enclosure within a holly hedge, 

 to be used as a compost-yard, and for 

 pits and frames, and similar purposes ; 

 33 is the situation for gardener's house, 

 being the nearest point to the mansion, 

 from which a service - road is to be 

 formed, entering the garden at 34 ; 35 

 is the principal entrance from the man- 

 sion, from which a drive through the 

 grounds is to be formed — the walk 

 through the centre of the garden, as well 

 as that which passes round the exterior 

 of the walled enclosure, being 9 feet in 

 breadth, admits of a pony carriage to 

 drive all round, while it is convenient 

 during winter, when manure, &c, may 

 be carted in. Fig. 3 is a plan of the hol- 

 low walls, showing the bonds and cavities ; 

 fig. 4, a section of the same, showing 

 the concrete foundation, the hot-water 

 pipes, and projecting coping, which is 

 here used 6 inches broad, to keep the 

 walls dry, and consequently warmer. 

 These walls are built with piers, each 

 panel being intended for one tree when 

 fully grown ; but at present the piers are 

 planted with riders of the hardier kinds 

 of fruits — the intention of the piers 

 being to break the power of the wind, 

 which often blows with great force in 

 this locality. The doorways in the walls 

 are constructed with massive piers and 

 arches, and are tuck-pointed, while the 

 walls themselves have their joints cut to 

 equal thicknesses, and drawn in with black 

 coal. The last three courses of the walls 

 are built solid, to prevent the escape of 

 heat upwards, they being all heated by 4- 

 inch hot- water pipes. The coping is of 

 composition bricks, two of which cover 

 in the roof of the wall, and which are 

 moulded 10 inches thicker at the one end 

 than at the other, the better to throw off 

 the rain which falls on them — the centre 

 of the coping being higher than at the 

 edges. Fig. 5 is the elevation of garden 

 walls, showing the piers and panels for 

 fruit trees. 



All the doors of the garden are hung 

 upon the suspension principle, and not 

 hinged in the usual manner. They are 

 made to run back, when opened, into 

 the centre of the wall, the large ones 

 being in two parts, while the smaller 

 are only in one. This mode of ar- 

 ranging both gates and doors, particularly 

 if of large size, has many advantages. 



