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butts sunk in tho earth. In Tuscany, where tho inhabitants excel in the manufacture of
pottery, immense jars of earthenware are frequently adopted ; in the Royal Garden at
Paris, sunk ban-els ; aud cisterns of masonry, lined with cement, are general in the best
gardens on the Continent. In these gardens, a system of watering is adopted, which,
though rendered more necessary tliere by the climate than it can possibly be in this
country, yet in various respects deserves imitation.
2784. Many kitchai-crops are lost, or produced o f very inferior quality, fo r want o f
watering. Lettuces and cabbages arc often hard and stringy, tiimips and radishes do
not swell, onions decay, cauhflowors die off, and, in general, in dry seasons, all the
Crucîferæ become stunted, or covered with insects, even in rich deep soils. Copions
waterings in the evenings, diu-ing tho dry seasons, would produce that fulness and suc-
culoncy which we find in the vegetables produced in the Low Countries, in tho Marsh
Gardens at Paris, and iu this country at the beginning and latter end of the season.
2785. The watering the foliage o f fr u it and other trees, to destroy or prevent the increase
of insects, and of strawben-ies and fi-uit-shrubs to swell tho fruit, is also of importance ;
and though the climate of Scotland is less obnoxious to great droughts than that of tile
southern counties, yet we find that exccUont horticultural architect, John Hay, adopting
a .system of watering in vai'ious gardens lately formed by him in the neighbourhood ol'
Edinburgh.
2786. The contrivance fo r watering or washing the foliage o f the wall trees in Dalmeny
garden, laid out by this artist, deserves pai-ticular notice. Water is supplied to the
garden from a reservoir, situated on an eminence, a considerable height above the
gai-dcn walls. Ai'ound the whole garden, 4 in. below the surface of the groimd, a
groove, between 2 in. and 3 in. deep, has been formed in the walls, to receive a threc-
quartei- inch pipe for conducting the water. About 60 ft. distant from each other are
apertures throngh the w-all, 2 J ft. high, and 10 in. wide, in which a cock is placed, so
that, on turning the handle to cither side of the wall, tho water issues from that side.
The nozzles of the cocks have screws on each side, to which is attached at pleasure a
leathern pipe, with a brass cock and dh'octor ; roses, pierced with holes of different sizes,
being fitted to the latter. By this contrivance, all the trees, both inside and outside tho
wall, can be most effectually watered and washed in a very short space of time, and with
very little trouble. One man may go over the whole in two hours. A t tho same time
the borders, and even a considerable part of the compartments, can be watered with the
greatest ease -vvhen required. The convoiiienoy and utility of this contrivance must at
oncc be perceived hy every practical horticulturist. The same plan of introducing watei-
is adopted in a gai'den which J . Hay planned and executed for Viscount Duncan, at
Lundie House, neai- Dundee ; and, after tho experience of sevcrai years, it has been
greatly approved of. The wator at Lundie is conveyed to the garden from a considerable
height, and is thrown from the point of the director with great force, and to a good
distance. {Edin. Encyc., art. Hort.) A similar contrivance has been applied by the same
artist to the walls at Castle Scmple, near Paisley.
2787. Water in a garden is absolutely necessary, according to Justice ; well water is
far from being proper, but that which is impregnated by the sun’s rays is highly conducive
to vegetation. He recommends forming a large pond or basin in the centre of
the garden, which shall at the same time contain fi.sh. {Brit. Gard. Direct, p. 2.)
2788. A source o f water is considered essential to a garden by most writers. “ Water,”
Switzer observes, “ is the life and soul of a garden ; it is one of the most essential
conveniences of a country-seat, and especially useful to kitchen-crops ; for, indeed,
what can bo made of any ground without it ?” London and Wise, Evelyn, Hitt, and
Lawi-ence are wai-m in I'ccommending it. M’Phail observes, that a garden, to bring the
produce of the soil to the greatest perfection, “ should be well supplied with water, to
water the plants iu dry seasons.” {Gard. Rem., 2d edit. p. 13.) I f water can be introduced,
observes Marshall, “ and kept clean with verdant banks around it, it would bo
very useful where a garden is large ; but let it be as near the centre as possible, being
the most convenient situation. I t sliould be fed from a spring, and (if it could) be made
to drip in the reservoir, because its trickling noise is agreeable music in a garden to most
ears.” {Introd. to Gard., p. 42.) “ I f there be no natural stream th a t can be conducted
through a garden,” observes Nicol, “ water should be conveyed from the neai-cst river,
lake, or pond ; soft water being most desirable for the use of tho gai-dcn.” {Kalendar, p. 7.)
S e c t . VH. Form.
2789. In regard to form, almost all the autliors above quoted agree iu recommending
a square {fig. 736. a) or oblong, as the most convenient for a garden ; but Abercrombie
proposes a long octagon, in common language, au oblong with the angles cnt off (6);
ly which, he says, a greater portion of the wall in tlie slips behind will be on an equality
ivith the garden as to aspect.
B o o k III.
2790. A geometrical square is recommended
by Hitt, “ set out in such a
manner, that each wall may have as
much benefit of the sun as possible,”
that is, with reference to the compass,
set out as a rhomboid (c).
2791. A square or oblong form, M‘Pbail
considers as the most convenient. A
square with a semicircular projection on
the north side, or a pm-aUelogram with
a northern projection in the foi-ra of a semicircle, were favourite forms with the late
W. Nicol. Tlieso opimons, it is to be considered, refer more properly to the space
enclosed by walls than to the wholc gardens, which ought to be considered as comprehending
the entire space included in the ring-fence ; which fence, choice or accidental
circumstances may produce in any shape, from the circle (Jig. 738.) to the most in-e-
gular figure (figs. 735. and 737.).
2792. The oval, polygonal, and trapezium forms have been adopted for the walls of a
garden, in order to procure a more equal distribution of sun and sh ad e; but the inconveniences
attending tho culture and management of the compartments of such gardens
are considcrabie ; nor does it appear an equal distribution of sun is so suitable, as that
of having some walls as advantageously exposed as possible for the more delicate fruits,
and others less so for hardier sorts, and for retai'ding fraits.
2793. Even irregular figures are admissible: such figures (Jg. 737.), being sun-ounded
by ivood (¿), and interspersed
with fruit-
trees, will foi-m very
agreeable shapes in
walking through
them; and, wliilc the
compartments are
thrown into right-
lined figures to facilitate
culture, the
angles can be occupied
with fniit-trees
or slmibs, permanent
crops, as strawberries,
aspai-agus,
8 ic., with the hothouses
(e), or other
buildings (¿), or with ponds ( / ) , and other adjuncts. Some of the walks may be wavy
(a), as a direction indicated by the outline of wood, and one main walk (d d) may be
formed broad and straight, to display the whole.
S e c t . VIH. Walls.
2794. Walls are built round a garden chiefly for the production of fruits. A kitchen-
garden, Nicol obsenras, considered merely as such, may be as completely fenced and
sheltered by hedges as by walls, as indeed they were in former times; aud examples of that
mode of fencing are still to be met with. But, in order to obtain the finer fmits, it becomes
necessary to budd walls, or to erect pales as substitutes. The influence wliich
walls have in increasing the temperature of the air immediately in contact with them is
estimated at 7° of south latitude. The mean temperature of a south wall, or within a
few inches of one, is equal to the mean temperatui-e in the open plain of 7° farther
south. Hence it is, that grapes which ripen in the open air at Bordeaux, require a
south wall in the neighbourhood of London, wliich is 7° farther north. (Perth Miscellany,
vol. i. p. 43.)
2795. The placing, proportioning, and constructing the walls of a kitchen-garden
requii-e the artist to ¿sp lay a degree of taste, as well as a knowledge of fitness and propriety.
“ I f these,” Nicol continues, “ be properly set down, so as to answer the cast
of the ground, and be raised to proper heights, according to their extent, the rest is easy,
and follows as a matter of course. In this particular branch of gardening, utility and
simplicity ought to go hand in hand, otherwise trae taste will be wanting. I t is not in
curves, cii-cles, and ogees we shall find satisfaction. The walls, if the ground admit of
it, should all ran in direct lines, coiTesponding to the slopes on which they arc placed ;
they may be built level, or they may be inclined, so as to suit the general cast of the
g ro u n d ; but the nearer they ai-e to a level the better they will please. The mind is