J ta
;iii ft»
PRACT ICE OF GARDENING. P a r t III.
S e c t . II. Exposure and Aspect.
2756 Exposure i s t h e n e x t c o n s i d e r a t i o n , a n d i n c o l d a n d v a r i a b l e c l im a t e s i s o f so
m u c h c o n s e q u e n c e f o r t h e m a t u r a t i o n o f f r u i t s , t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e g a r d e n m u s t
be guided by it, more than hy locality to the mansion.
2757 The exposure should be towards the south, according to Nicol, and the aspect at
some point between south-east and south-west, the ground sloping to these points in
an easy manner. I f quite flat, it seldom can be laid sufficiently d r y ; and if very s t c j ,
it is worked under many disadvantages. I t may have a fall, however, of 1 it. in 20 ft.
without being very inconvenient; but a fall of 1 ft. in 30 ft. is most desirable, by which
the ground is sufficiently elevated, yet not too much so. (Kalendar, p. 6.)
2758 A n exposure declining towards the south is that approved of by Switzer, biit
not more than 6 in. in 10 ft.” Two or three inches he considers better. (Tract. Truit.
Gard., 2d edit. p. 17.) . ^ •* i
2759. A n open aspect to the east, Abercrombie observes, “ is itself a point of capital
importance in laying out a garden, or an orchai-d, on account of the early sun. When the
sun can reach the garden at its rising, and continue a regular influence, mcreasing as the
day advances, it has a gradual and most beneficial effect in dissolving the hoar frost,
which the past night may have scattered over young buds, leaves, and blossoms or setting
fruit. On the contrary, when the sun is excluded from the garden till about ten in the
morniiif^ and then suddenly darts upon it, with all the force derived from considerable
elevation, the exposure is bad, particularly for fruit-bcai-ing plants, in the spring months;
the powerful rays of heat at once melt the icy particles, aud, immediately acting on the
moistiu-e thus created, scald the tender blossom, which drops as if nipped by amalignant
bli<>-ht: hence it happens, that many a healthy tree, with a promismg_ show of blossoms,
faifs to produce f r a it; the blossoms and thawed frost sometimes falling together in the
course of a morning. The covering of the hoar frost, or congealed dew, is othenvise of
itself a remarkable preservative of the vegetable creation from frosty winds. (Bract.
Gard. p. 1.)
2760. A n exposure in which
there is a fr e e admittance fo r
the sun and air, is required by
Forsyth, who rejects a place
surrounded by woods as very
improper, because a foul stagnant
air is very unfavourable to
vegetation; and it is also observed
that blights ai-c much
more frequent in such situations
than in those that arc more
open and exposed. Such an
exposure will generally be to
the south, but much depends
on the surrounding scenery.
F o r t l i i s r e a s o n t h e n o r t h e r n
e t
b o u n d a r y o f a g a r d e n , w h e r e t h e
h o t b e d s a r e g e n e r a l l y p l a c e d ,
w i l l a d m i t m o s t s u n a n d a i r , i n
^ 5
p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e o p e n s p a c e ,
w h e n o f a r o u n d e d r a t h e r t h a n
a n a n g u l a r f o r m ; e s p e c i a l l y i f
t h e p l a n t a t i o n (fig. 732. a)
w h i c h s u iT o u n d s t h e g a r d e n
g r a d u a l l y d e c l in e i n h e i g h t a s
i t a p p r o a c h e s t h e h o t b e d g r o u n d
( h ) o n t h e n o r t h , a n d t h e s u iT o u n d i n g w a l k ( c ) o n t h e o t h e r s id e s .
1111 ..-7|
ai.Li
— 1— 11 II111III ii
h— wamm
2761. I f there he any slope in the area o f a garden, Marshall considers “ it should, be
southward, a point to the east or west not much signifying; but not to the north, if it
can he avoided, because crops come in late, and plants do not stand the winter so well m
such a situation.” (Introd. to Gard., 5th edit. p. 8.)
S e c t . III. Extent.
2162. The extent o fth e kitchen-garden must be regulated by that of the place, of the
family, and of thcir style of living. In general, it may be obseiwed, that few countiy-
scats have less than 1 acre, or more than 12 acres, in regular cultivation as kitchcn-
garden, exclusive of the orcliai-d and flower-garden. From 1 \ acres to 5 acres may be
B o o k III. EX T ENT OF A KITCHEN-GARDEN. 727
considered as tlie common quantities enclosed by waUs; and the latter size, under proper
management, with abundance of manure, is capable of supplying a respectable establishment.
Fig. 733., however, sliows a kitchen-garden containing nearly 7 acres within the
1. Fruit^ g ard en o r orchard . 2. C u lin a ry d epartm ents.
3. Flow er-g ard e n o r fru it-g a rd e n .
4. F o rc in g d epartm ent.
5. F ram e -g ro un d , c o ntaining ranges fo rm c lo n s and cucumbers,
cucum b er ridge, & c., w ith p ine and m elon p its, sheds fo r
sun d ry purposes, an d d w a rf w a lls fo r tra in in g ,
6. Compost g rou nd , an d slieds to fo rc in g d epartm ent.
7. Compost g rou nd , and sheds to fra m in g d cp a rlm en t, and fo r
m ix in g aud tu rn u ig dung , &c,
IO . 9. G ardener’s 10. F r u it ro om , om o n room , seed room , ahnodus elo adngdin yga rrdo.om
1 1. Lo d g in g room fo r second un d er-gardener. 12. Slips,
lo . P ro p e r s ituatio ns fo r sm al! ne at rotund as, to be erecteii
an d ea rne d up .above th o h c ig lit o f fh e w a ils, fo r lottg ing
groaordmesn faot rn iiigiidhct,r-g ard eners, b y way o f p rotectio n fo r th e
i f t a
. I ■
I*
I ? ' /
I i'L