THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



11 



M*Phail recommended a square or oblong figure, as the most 

 convenient; and Nicol designed many excellent gardens, 

 formed of squares or parallelograms, with circular projections 

 on the north side. Irregular figures cannot be objected to, as 

 they generally afford a great variety of aspects, and may be jus- 

 tified, if their form be in keeping with the natural surface of the 

 ground, independently of whigh they are more easily concealed 

 fi:om the other parts of the domain, and even if they be seen, 

 they have not so stiff and formal an appearance as a geometri- 

 cal figure. They are, however, liable to many objections ; if 

 on a small scale, the internal subdivision of them into quarters 

 always ends in too many acute angles, and renders the crop- 

 ping of them more troublesome. Upon a great scale, how- 

 ever, a considerable degree of taste may be displayed in their 

 internal subdivision, and, if well managed, may be productive 

 of a good effect. The surrounding boundaries of plantation 

 may be rendered much more picturesque, and can be made 

 to harmonize better with the other grounds, than those that 

 shelter more formal figures. Oval and circular figures are 

 liable to the same objection, of being more troublesome to 

 crop. 



The form most generally adopted, and by far the most ra« 

 tional, is that of a lengthened square or parallelogram, whose 

 greatest length runs fi-om east to west. {Fig, S.) 



Fig. 2. 



IS 



1. 1, Hot-houses, 2. 3. 4. 5. Quarters. 6. 7. 8. 9. Borders. 10. 11. 12. 13. Walku 

 14. 15. 16. Walls. 



