At Syon House, we were struck with the vigorous appearance of the lime trees in the avenue, owing to the soil being kept moist by the adjoining water. The lime trees not so situated are every where, in this very dry season, losing their leaves; and therefore it ought to be the object of a perfect system of artificial culture and management, to supply water, as well as cultivation by stirring the soil, &c., and giving manure. We have thought of a variety of modes of supplying water to the trees in the arboretum in the Horticultural Society's Garden, during the months of June, July, and August, in every year; and we are convinced that the cheapest and most effectual method would be, to form a series of covered drains, about 6 in. deep, and 2.5 in. wide, formed of bricks; as in fig. 82. The appearance of the top of the drain would be as in figs. 83 or 84 (We shall here make a remark on figs. 83. and 84., for the benefit of young gardeners. Both these figures represent common bricks laid on their flat sides, alternately crosswise, and lengthwise, so as to form a chain, which we may imagine sunk into a lawn, so that the upper sides of the bricks may be exactly level with the surface of the lawn. Fig. 83. is drawn with the aid of a square, and a drawing pen; and fig. 84. with a common pen, and by the eye, without the aid of rule, compass, or square. Now, the question is, which of these the modes is better ? Our answer is, that by the person wholly uninitiated in the art of drawing, and without much culture or imagination, fig. 83. will be preferred; because it is the plain straightforward demonstration of the thing represented: but by a person whose taste for drawing has been cultivated, and who possesses some imagination, fig. 84. will be preferred; because, as there is no such thing as outlines of objects in nature, that is, no such things as limes apart from bodies, no more use is made in that figure of those means (viz. the presenting of objects by lines) than is barely necessary to represent them: the rest is left to the imagination. Hence the beauty of slight sketches to an artist, and their comparative worthlessness to those who have not learnt drawing, or studied pictures. The young gardener will learn from this that these are merely means to an end: they are the means of representing objects on paper without the aid of light and shade or colours; and, in this case as every other of a like kind, it is in bad taste, or, in other words, contrary to sound sense, to render the means more conspicuous than the end. The young gardener should bear this principle in mind when drawing any kind of plans or views; for it applies to shading and colours, just as much as it does to lines. It also applies to the actual designing and laying out of a garden, which may be altogether disfigured by more walks than are, or appear to be, necessary for showing off its beauties, and more or higher hedges or walls than are necessary for giving it shelter or security.). The upper surface of the bricks, being exposed to the air and weather, would soon assume a dingy colour, so as to present no eyesore as contrasted with the green turf, and being as perfectly even and smooth as the ground on each side, would offer no obstruction to walking, rolling, or mowing. The drain would be formed without mortar, in order to let the water escape at the bottom and sides, and to admit of taking off the top bricks to clear out any roots of the grasses or trees, or other obstructions which might be formed in it. The chief difficulty in such a system of watering would be, to lay out the drains in such a manner as that every part of the ground should be equally watered. This can only be done by adopting the modes employed in surface irrigation on hill sides; viz. beginning on the highest ground, and winding about, always under a certain degree of steepness, till the lowest ground was reached. The distance between the drains would depend on the porosity or compactness of the soil. The supply of water would, of course, always be given at the highest point. In comparatively level ground, such as that of the Horticultural Society's Garden, there could be no difficulty; and we do not think a plan could be devised for that garden which would be more effective. If the appearance of the bricks were thought to be any deformity, the drain might be sunk 3 in. deeper, and covered with turf; and if the expense were an object, it might be lessened by employing draining or ridge-tiles; and setting them on common flat tiles, and covering the whole with soil and turf, so as not to show any appearance of a drain on the surface, as in fig. 85. It must be remembered, however, that, in this case, the drain could not be examined without disturbing the turf; whereas, by the chain of bricks, any one part, or every part, of the drain, might be uncovered and covered again instantly, and without the slightest disfigurement. As to the appearance of such a chain of bricks disfiguring a lawn, instead of doing so, we think it would add to its interest, somewhat the same way as the faint appearance of veins does to the following figure. A lawn so intersected would be a higher work of art; more mind would be thrown into it; and, when the use of these drains came to be understood, they would be admired by everybody.
