150 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



mend such intersectional walls of moderate heiglit and 

 slight construction to those who have a taste for fine 

 fruit, and who are forming gardens on surfaces with a 

 considerable slope towards the south. 



The additional warmth afforded by walls is a matter 

 of great importance, and is therefore generally taken 

 into account, and is allowed due weight in regulating 

 the form of gardens. The finer kinds of fruit-trees 

 grown in the open air, and cultivated in the United 

 Kingdom, require all the protection and aid which walls 

 afibrd to trees trained on them, in order properly to 

 mature their fruit. The position of walls has a material 

 effect on the climate : that is the best in which the line 

 of the wall is at right angles to the meridian of the 

 place, giving one of the sides a directly south aspect, 

 though, to suit the ground, one a few degrees east or 

 west may be adopted without any appreciable difference 

 in the warmth. The walls running south and north, 

 or parallel to the meridian, and facing to the east and 

 west, afford secondary climates ; and walls in the inter- 

 mediate directions have climates varying in excellence 

 according as they approach to or diverge from the 

 south. In the southern parts of the kingdom, where 

 the climate is fine, this subject is of less importance 

 than in the middle and northern districts. Even the 

 difference of a single degree of latitude has a noticeable 

 effect. In the neighbourhood of London, in latitude 

 51° 30', peaches ripen on a south-east aspect ; while at 

 Edinburgh, latitude 56°, they require a south wall, a 

 fine season, and other favourable circumstances, to 

 arrive at maturity. When a large extent of wall, with 

 a first-rate climate, is wanted, a parallelogram, with its 

 longer sides facing towards the south, should be adopted, 



