The districts of Brentford and Twickenham are famous for strawberries ; and in the last alone, there are about 400 acres in fruit•t•ees, the produce of which is chiefly sent to London. Fruit arrives from every part of the surrounding country at the same emporium, and y et it is believed the demand is seldom satisfied. It may here be remarked, that the production of fruit, and the supplying of the market with it, should by every possible means be encouraged. It is a just observation of an eminent horticulturist, (Mr Knight) that the palate which relishes fruit is seldom pleased with strong fermented liquors, and that as fee ble causes, continually acting, ultimately produce exten sive effects, the supplying the public with fruits at a cheap rate would have a tendency to operate favourably both on the physical and moral health of the people. Isle worth parish is remarkable for producing great quantities of raspberries, which are sent partly to Covent Garden mar ket, but chiefly sold to distillers, or makers of sweets.
In Fulham parish, there arc nearly 1000 acres under crops of esculent vegetables, intended either for market or for cow-feeders. In Mortlake parish, there are generally about 80 acres under asparagus ; one asparagus grower here, Mr Biggs, has sometimes had forty acres under tiu‘i crop at one time. Near Deptford also, much asparagus is raised ; and one grower here, Mr Edmonds, has, we are informed, at this time, no fewer than eighty acres covered with asparagus beds,—a thing which must appear almost incredible to those who have not witnessed the loads of this article daily heaped on the green-stalls of the metropolis, for the space nearly of three months. About twenty acres in the neighbourhood of Deptford are employed in the raising of onion-seed, this article of Deptford produce hav ing acquired reputation all over the country. What are called the physic gardens are chiefly near Mitcham, nine or ten miles from Westminster Bridge : in these are raised chamomile, lavender, liquorice, rhubarb, wormwood, and above all peppermint, not only for supplying the essential oil to apothecaries, but for the manufacturing of a favourite cordial.
We have now explained, perhaps, at too great length, the classification of gardens above given : but without go ing into some little detail, no idea could have been convey ed of the general state of the country in regard to horticul ture. We now hasten to make some remarks on the sub jects which naturally present themselves as important, when a new garden is projected. Most of them arc applicable to several classes of gardens ; but when not otherwise stated, a garden of the first character is to be understood as in view.
Situation, &c. of a Garden, 39. The consideration of the position of the garden with respect to the mansion-house properly belongs to the sub ject of LANDSCAPE Gardening. It may only here be re marked, that of late it has become fashionable to place the fruit and kitchen garden at perhaps half a mile's distance, or more, from the house. In many cases this has been found inconvenient ; and it can seldom happen that the gar den walls may not be effectually concealed, by means of shrubs and low growing trees, so as not to be seen, at least from the windows of the public rooms, and the garden yet be situated much nearer to the house. It is scarcely ne
cessary to observe, that an Access for carts and wheel-bar rows, without touching the principal approach, is indispens able. Some of the circumstances which are considered as constituting the best kind of situation may here be men tioned, and these, it may be remarked, ought never to be altogether sacrificed to effect.
Shelter is, in our climate, a primary consideration. This may in part be derived from the natural shape and situation of the ground. Gentle declivities at the bases of the south or south-west sides of hills, or the sloping banks of winding rivers with a similar exposure, are therefore very desira ble. If plantations exist in the neighbourhood of the house, or of the site intended for the house, the planner of a gar den naturally looks to them for his principal shelter ; taking care, however, to keep at a reasonable distance from them, so an to guard against the evil of being shaded. If the plantations he young, and contain beech, elm, oak, and other tall-growing trees, allowance is, of course, made for the fu ture progress of the trees in height. It is a rule, that there should be no tall trees on the south side of a garden, to a very considerable distance ; for during winter and early spring, they fling their lengthened shadow into the garden, at a time when every sun-beam is valuable. On the east also they must be sufficiently removed to admit the early morning rays. The advantage of this is conspicuous in the spring months, when hoar-frost often rests on the ten der buds and flowers : if this be gradually dissolved, no harm ensues ; but if the blossom be all at once exposed to the powerful rays of the advancing sun when he overtops the trees, the sudden transition from cold to heat often proves destructive. On the west, and particularly on the north, trees may approach nearer, perhaps within less than a hundred feet, and be more crowded, as from these direc tions the most violent and the coldest winds assail us. If forest trees do not previously exist on the territory, screen plantations must be reared as fast as possible. The syca more (or plane-tree of Scotland,) is of the most rapid growth, making about six feet in a season ; next to it may be ranked the larch, which gains about four feet ; and then follow the spruce and balm-of-Gilead firs, which grow be tween three and four feet in the year. Excellent instruc tions for the formation of screen-plantations, as well as for the regulation of forest trees in general, may be found in The Planter's Calendar," already mentioned, § 21. Walls and quick hedges are subordinate means of shelter, to be spoken of by and by. The best general exposure for a gar den, must evidently be towards the south ; and a gentle declivity in that direction, equal perhaps to a fall of one foot in thirty, is deemed very desirable ; effectual draining being in this case easily accomplished.