126 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
or four score years.” What a truly magical power must an Eliz¬ 
abethan orchard have possessed ! Such an introduction makes 
one keen to leave the kitchen-garden, and traverse again the 
flower-garden, on the other side of which in all probability would 
be found the orchard. It was thoughtfully put on the north-east 
when it was possible, that the fruit-trees might help to shelter 
the more tender plants of the flower-garden, and some tall forest 
trees, “ Walnuts, Elms, Oaks or Ashes,” were planted at a good 
distance beyond, to shelter but not overshadow the orchard. A 
garden much on this plan is that of Castle Bromwich, laid out 
about the year 1585. The flower-garden is in front of the house, 
and on either side lie the fruit and kitchen gardens concealed 
from view by red-brick walls, now thickly covered with climbing 
plants. These can be seen in the old plan or bird’s-eye view, 
and also in the picture of the garden as it now is, which is taken 
in the centre or flower-garden, looking towards the wall which 
shuts out the kitchen-garden. From the central garden a flight 
of stone steps descend to a lower level, laid out in shrubberies 
intersected by grass walks and wonderful old cut hedges of 
holly, yew, box, hornbeam, and privet, and an archery ground 
or raised glade of green turf 180 yards long. The orchard in 
this case lies to the south-west of the upper or central garden, 
from which it is separated, as is the kitchen-garden, by a high 
brick wall. 
The cost of building a wall all round the fruit-garden was 
so great, “ as the extent of an orchard was much larger than 
that of a garden, and it would require more cost, which every¬ 
one cannot undergo,” so instead of brick, mud walls, wooden 
palings, or a quickset hedge were substituted. But Parkinson 
recommends a wall of brick or stone, in spite of the expense, 
“ as the gaining of ground and profit of the fruit trees planted 
there against, will in short time recompense that charge.” “ On 
the south wall your tenderest and earliest fruits, as Apricocks, 
Peaches, Nectarins, and May or early cherries, should be set on 
the east and north, and on the west, plums and quinces, spread 
upon and fastened to the walls by the help of tacks and other 
means to have the benefit of the immediate reflexe of the 
sunne.” 1 This arrangement of the walls was suited only to the 
1 Lawson, New Orchard , 1618. 
