32 LAYING OUT GROUNDS. 



with the domestic offices, as well as for its arrangement with the 

 surrounding scenery. It is inconvenient to place it too distant from 

 the house ; it should, if possible, be made to arrange with the shrub- 

 beries which are attached to the pleasure-ground : this may be 

 managed with good effect by having a communication from the plea- 

 sure-ground, through the orchard, to the kitchen -garden. (Plate 2.) 



A South or South-east aspect is the best, and a gentle declivity 

 is preferable to a flat surface ; an elevated situation would expose 

 it too much to bleak winds, while a valley would subject it to damp- 

 ness, and deprive it of a free circulation of air; a shelter by planta- 

 tions should always be provided, dependent on the local situation, 

 but the North and North-east winds should be amply guarded 

 against : the forcing-ground especially requires protection from the 

 cold quarters ; but in no instance should any part be overhung with 

 trees, as the stagnant air becomes injurious. In some situations, it 

 may be found necessary that the kitchen-garden should have a 

 plantation round the whole, as a screen : in such cases it should be 

 at such a distance from the garden as to admit of the walls being 

 planted on both sides with fruit-trees ; it should afford shelter, but 

 exclude neither sun nor air. 



The quality of the soil for a kitchen-garden must be particularly 

 observed : this, it is true, may be improved by art, but it will be 

 impossible to improve a bad situation. An ample depth of good 



