SELECTION. 149 



painted, tastefully and sparingly posed, they are never 

 unsightly ; and, enduring as long as the trees themselves, 

 they will in the end repay that first outlay which makes 

 them, for some time, an expensive luxury. 



The height and thickness of these single rods will be 

 determined by the position to be occupied, from 5 to 8 feet 

 above the ground being the most common altitudes, and 

 the circumference varying from i| to 3 inches. Below 

 the surface, their tripod prongs must be deeply and securely 

 fixed from i foot to 18 inches in the soil, so as to bear any 

 weight of flowers and foliage, and defy all the royal artillery 

 of ^olus. For arches, the rods may be 7 or 8 feet from 

 the ground, and 8 or 9 feet apart. 



The ground and supports being prepared, a selection 

 may be made from the list subjoined of varieties, vigorous 

 and beautiful (as the recruiting-sergeant picks out for the 

 Guards the more robust examples of humanity) ; and these, 

 whether on their own roots, or worked upon Brier or 

 Manetti stocks, according to their habit and the character 

 of the soil, should be planted in November, and safely tied 

 to their rods. Tarred twine is the best material for the 

 latter purpose, being cheap, durable, and to be had in dif- 

 ferent thicknesses, according to the strength required. 



