even amply gratified, in return for the diligent use of those means which a merciful providence has placed within the reach of all.

And thus will it ever be found in reference to the study of the beautiful in nature, and the adaptation of her wilds and wildernesses to our present uses. The more we become practically acquainted with the associations of country life, the more shall we become sensible of the numberless instances in which rough untouched grounds admit of being accommodated by the experienced eye, to the immediate wants and requirements of the elegancies of domestic life, and this, very frequently, by simple, although most effective, because judiciously directed means.

The first thing to be done in setting about to lay out grounds of moderate extent, is to take a survey of the whole, and determine upon the situation for the house or villa, assuming that it is not already erected. In doing this, one of the chief considerations should be the aspect, and its situation as regards elevation. This, to be judiciously decided upon, must depend not only upon the greater or less extent of the grounds, and their even surface or the contrary, but also upon the nature of the surrounding localities; for instance, the presence or absence of river, lake, or any considerable expanse of water, or of mountainous, or less elevated scenery in the vicinity. More cannot, therefore, be said upon that point, (within our limited space,) than that due regard should be had to these accidents of situation, so as to take advantage of the surrounding scenery, and so to place the residence that it should command an extensive, and at the same time as varied a view, as may be.

The situation for the house being determined upon, the general plan of the whole ground has to be arranged. Of course, any domestic offices and out-houses, such as stables, wood house, poultry house, &c., should be placed in the rear of the dwelling house, and be concealed from sight by a small plantation of trees, and by the kitchen garden, taking care, in the position of the latter, that a favorable aspect is obtained for it, with a southern exposure as nearly as possible.

The general effect now to be given to the whole, will mainly depend upon two circumstances; the one the distribution of the trees and shrubs, and the other, the nature of the surface. The most favorable ground for landscape gardening, is that which is unevenpresenting an undulating surface, and if with mounds and elevations at some parts, or with a gentle ascent of a considerable portion of it in another direction, so much the better. The distant scenery should be glanced over, with a view to endeavor to bring it in, by opening its most picturesque portions. The removal of a few trees at intervals, will often effect this, taking care in so doing, that such only are cut down, as are not essential to the home scenery-and only removing sufficient to obtain the view, without exposing the privacy of the residence.

If in the distant landscape a view of water can be brought in, nothing adds more, and few things so much, to the general effect. In the introduction of the distant scenery, care should be taken to avoid opening to view those parts of it which may not offer agreeable features; and unless the scene of operations be on an elevated situation, it is generally expedient to avoid the exposure of a great breadth of flat country, unless bounded by distant hills. Then, again, the question of what parts of the outer sceenery are to be openen upon, must, in many instances, be regulated by that within the grounds. If, for instance, there happens to be within the grounds a considerable plantation of dense foliage, which it is desirable to retain for the purpose of shelter, or for any particular reason, a fine effect will usually result from cutting through it a small opening, by which a pleasing glance is caught of the distant view. By such means the sombreness of the mass in its

effect upon home scenery, is much relieved. Another effect of striking elegance is produced, if, in exposing the distant landscape to the grounds, it can be so done that any fine, noble tree, (or group of two or three trees,) upon them, can be left standing, mid-way, as it were, between the observer and the outer landscape; whether the tree or group is so placed as to be presented to the eye at the side or center of the general view, is of little moment. Few who recall to mind the magnificent effects produced by many of the great landscape painters, by placing a tree in the foreground of their paintings, will fail to appreciate readily the value of such an addition to the landscape. And although it may be expedient to get one pretty extensive view of distant objects, assuming them, in character, to present pleasing associations, it should always be borne in mind that more ornament and variety are given to the general effect, (and particularly to the home scenery,) by opening the distant prospect at several distinct points of view from the grounds, than by exposing from one point a great extent of distant objects, by the sweeping destruction of intervening foliage.

The distance having been called into requisition to the limit of its capability, the home scenery must next be attended to-by which is meant the laying out those parts of the ground not intended for garden culture, or required for domestic purposes. And it is here that a small expenditure judiciously laid out by the landscape gardener, admits of the production of great results; whilst unfortunately the practiced eye too often sees that it is here, more than in any other particular, that large sums of money are expended frequently in taking from, instead of adding to, the rural beauty of the grounds.

If it is wished to retain, (as it is generally expedient to do,) a part of the grounds immediately in front and adjacent to the house, as lawn, turf, or pleasure ground, that portion, (be it greater or less, according to the wish of the proprietor,) should be marked off, and should be surrounded either by a fence or ditch. If the former, it is best that it should be of light iron, or wire, so that it may be as invisible as may be, but if of wood, as light, rustic, and elegant as possible; and it should be painted dark green, or some dark, in preference to any light color. If a ditch, it should not be less than four feet wide, and the earth dug out in making it should be thrown up and made to form an embankment on the homestead side. In case it is intended to plant the part so enclosed, with ornamental trees and shrubs, it must be cleared from all brush and under-wood, and also from the greater portion of the larger trees, leaving, however, here and there, one of them, to form a contrast to the effects of art culture.

The treatment of the grounds outside this home fence, requires a more extended notice. In the first place, supposing the ground to be hilly and uneven, above all things avoid the prevailing error of setting to work to level it. It may be necessary in particular places, and in some parts of many places, to expend some time and money in this use of the spade and wheelbarrow; but, three times out of four, this is done to the positive injury of the place, as it undoubtedly is usually to the pecuniary loss of the proprietor, and this to an amount frequently far greater than the whole of his other out door expenditure. Time out of time have we seen more money expended in moving earth upon a place, than would have served to cover the cost of altering the grounds from a rough state, into first rate order, if it had been laid out by a skilful landscape gardener, whose fee would but have amounted to something like a merchant's commission upon the sum that would have been saved.

Instead of looking round, therefore, to see how the ground can be levelled, look at the positions occupied by the principal eminences of it, and then see whether they obstruct the view of any desirable object-or if by their proximity to the residence, or otherwise,

they interfere with the general arrangement; in the latter case it may be necessary to remove them, or to reduce their size, but if not they will usually add to the beauties of the place. If at a considerable distance from the house, a group of trees upon the top or sides of such eminences, will form a pleasing object, but on elevated spots nearer to the villa, a single tree or two will usually be more effective. Wherever water is present in the grounds, unless it be an artificial basin surrounded by a lawn of well kept turf, it is desirable that a greater or less quantity of trees and shrubs should ornament its banks. A broken foliage of diversified bright clear water, will be found more efficient than a belt of even hedge row; and when a pond or small lake, it is seldom expedient that it should extend around the whole area of it.

Throughout the grounds, some large trees which have attained, or which are approaching to, maturity of growth, so as to have become single objects of beauty, should be left standing, to give boldness to the whole, and as a principal means of insuring variety to the landscape, as the spectator views it from the different points. In the selection of these, attention should be given to retain a diversity of foliage. Around the sides of the ground groups of trees of greater or less extent, should be left, not only for shelter, but to afford a degree of outline to the premises-and before these should be left or planted shrubs and foliage of moderate growth, to act both as a fence, and to form a foreground to them.

In this mode of adapting the refinement of landscape gardening to the requirement of places of moderate extent, the beauties brought into observation by it in no way interfere with the employment of the land for the more profitable purposes of farming, or as productive of the usual domestic enjoyments associated with country life. The features of the rural landscape having been secured by the general treatment above indicated; and the private pleasure grounds, gardens, and poultry yard, having been protected by fences, in the mode pointed out, the whole of the land may be adapted to such branches of husbandry and farming, as the proprietor may desire. The cows and the sheep may range over the pasture, and he may cultivate any crops he pleases. All that it has been sought to do, is in the first start to secure on the one hand, a large share of rural beauty to the grounds, (and which, in three or four years will, by-the-bye, add in no small degree to the value of the property,) and on the other, to save the owner from throwing away a large sum of money in what he erroneously considers to be a necessary expense "to make the place decent," whilst in reality, he expends it only in destroying beauties which one-third of the sum would draw forth and portray in all the sublimity of effect for which nature has already fitted them.

In such an arrangement of ground as we have thus hastily sketched, if the parts of it brought into culture for corn, or other tilled crops, be confined to the rear of the residence, and the other parts are devoted to pasturage for sheep or cattle, an air of park-like appearance will be presented by the whole place, whilst, as we have before remarked, its profitable and productive character will not be interfered with. A few evergreens, both trees and shrubs, distributed here and there, will materially add to the general effect, and these may often be found already growing. The road of approach to the front of the house, as well as the paths through the pleasure grounds, should be formed in greater or less curved lines, and never, (except in very extensive grounds,) in straight lines. The plantations of small shrubberies on either side of the house, (unless on one side it opens upon the garden,) will also much influence the beauty of the whole. But our object has been rather to direct attention to the material features of the general plan, than to particularise the detail of minor points. B. M.

New-York, Septenber, 1852.

ON THE CULTURE OF SEA KALE.

BY AMERICUS, NEW-YORK.

ALTHOUGH We have such a variety of vegetables, that it may seem superfluous to press upon the public the good qualities of one at present but little in use; yet seeing that it is only from want of its being better known, that sea kale fails to be fully appreciated, I think all who try its cultivation will feel obliged to the Horticulturist for bringing this excellent vegetable into notice.

In quality it takes its stand with asparagus, but has the advantage, with but little trouble, of being available for the table some weeks earlier; and the beds of sea kale, like those of asparagus, when once made, last for years.

If plants can be purchased, a year is saved, but if they cannot, the seed may be sown either in October, or in April, as early as the ground can be worked. The seed should be sown in drills, and when up, as soon as the plants are two inches high, they should be thinned out to about four inches apart; so let them stand, if sown in the fall, until spring, covering them during the winter with straw or other litter loosely, or what is better, with a frame and glass lights. In April put out the young plants in a fresh, dry, piece of rich ground, about a foot apart, and let them stand, keeping them hoed occasionally until October, when, of course, they will be a year old, and these are the best plants with which to make up the permanent bed; but plants sown in April, transplanted when three inches high, as directed for the fall sown, and hoed till October, will do. The beginning of October, or any time between that and the setting in of hard weather, the permanent beds may be planted, and this must be done with some care.

First, trench a piece of ground the size that it is intended to make the beds, laying some good rotten manure at bottom, (though it may be coarse, rough stuff,) and if there be some ashes made from burnt weeds, or refuse wood and bones, thrown in with it, all the better. If the situation be at all wet during the winter months, trenches must be dug or the beds thrown up, so as to drain off. Take the plants from the nursery bed and sort them, so that those of a size may be planted together, which operation must be performed as follows: The bed to be planted should be marked off into squares three feet each way, and at the intersections of the lines forming the squares, three plants should be put in triangularly, at the distance of eight inches apart, so as to form a hill. Thus, when planted, the bed will consist of hills three feet distant from each other every way, and three plants in each hill. The object of sorting the plants in sizes, is to have plants of equal strength growing together in each hill, so that they may all be ready to cut at the same time. The bed being planted, nothing more requires to be done until signs appear of the setting in of frost. About the time when the cold weather commences, the leaves of the kale will die away, and then they should be cleared off the bed, and a thick covering of some material must be put over the beds. Some rough manure should always be put on to the thickness of three or four inches, at least, and if this material is in plenty, nothing is better for the whole covering; but if otherwise, leaves, sea weed, tan bark, or black bog earth will do. Whatever it may be, should be laid on a foot thick, or more, and thus remain through the winter.

When the plants have remained in this state for some four or five weeks, remove the covering carefully from one or two of the hills to see whether they have commenced growing; if so the shoots will be found an inch or more long, looking much like blanched

celery; and as soon as these shoots get to be from four to six inches long, the cutting of the bed for use may commence. The plants will continue to push into the material which covers them, and it is whilst they are so doing that they are in perfection for the table. Of course the time from which the cutting commences in the ordinary mode of culture above detailed, will depend upon the greater or less severity of the weather after the bed is covered over; but if it is wished to bring the bed into bearing at an earlier date, that can readily be done by a very simple method of forcing, which is not attended by the trouble and constant care and watching required in forcing most other vegetables. The mode of forcing is this: When about to put on the winter covering, if it is intended to force the bed, before doing so, take some large sized flower pots, or some old barrels cut in half, or old boxes, and invert one over each hill of plants, then cover the bed as usual over the pots or boxes. Whenever it is wished to bring the bed into bearing remove the material around each hill, and in its place throw some fresh or half rotten stable manure upon the boxes, and in a few days the slight fermentation from it will heat the air within them, and the plants will shoot very rapidly.

In cutting the kale, care should be taken not to cut it too close to the crown of the plants, or the product will be injured the following year. When the plants shoot up for bloom, the cutting must be discontinued, and all the covering material, except the manure, removed from the beds. The manure should then be just turned into the top of the bed, and a little salt may with advantage be sprinkled over the beds, which should be kept clear from weeds through the summer, and the growth of the plants encouraged by hoeing round the hills occasionally, as upon their vigor depends the size of the roots, and the consequent strength of growth of the shoots the following season. The beds should also be dug over every year between the hills, but great care should be taken in so doing, not to go too near the plants so as to disturb their position and the mass of roots immediately around them. If stable manure is used as the covering material in winter in any considerable quantity, that will keep up the condition of the beds in good bearing order, but if other materials are used for the winter covering, then some manure should be put in when the beds are dug over every year.

Where expense and labor are not regarded, and it is wished to prolong the season for this delicious vegetable, some of the large plants in a bed, two or three years old, may, before winter sets in, be taken up with large balls of earth and placed close together in a garden frame, which may then be covered over with boards, taking care to leave a space of 12 or 14 inches between the crown of the roots and the top of the frame; then by heaping fresh stable manure upon and round the frame, the process of forcing will be very much accelerated. Another mode often adopted where a hot-house is kept, is to put a hill of old plants in a box and force near the flues; of course covering the crown of the plants with a flower pot to exclude the light in order to blanch the shoots as they push forth.

This vegetable is cooked and eaten exactly like asparagus.

New-York, September 10, 1852.

AMERICUS.