There is an old building at the south-west corner of the house, which may form the back wall of a conservatory; and a similar wall may serve to form a correspondent wing at the north-west corner; but, if these were laid open, it would rob the house of its importance, the pleasure-ground of its privacy, and the character of the place would take no benefit from the Gothic style, because such walls add greatly to the shelter in winter; and there are many plants, such as jasmine and creepers, requiring the support of a wall, which, so clothed, forms a luxuriant decoration to a garden in summer; and by ivy, and other evergreens, may partly be extended through the year. This naturally leads to the consideration of the gardens, and their improvement. Under this head must be included every part of the grounds in which art, rather than nature, is to please the eye, the smell, and the taste. Each part will require fences, and, perhaps, of various kinds. First, near the house, a walled terrace, to keep cattle from the windows, and protect a border of flowering plants near the eye. Secondly, an iron fence may be sufficient to exclude cattle from the pleasure-ground; but, in that part which contains fruit, a more substantial guard against man must be provided, and brick walls are the best security.
