48 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



roots of these should he carefully collected, and burned if possible, 

 or they -will become a continued nuisance. If there be any box 

 edging, this should be taken care of, and if there are any plants or 

 shrubs that are ornamental, or might become so, they should be 

 laid aside ; in other respects, improving an old garden is much the 

 same as laying out a new one. "With regard to soil and drainage, 

 very little need be said ; it would be unwise to describe expensive 

 processes to those who cannot make use of them. The soil must 

 generally be taken at what it is, to make the best of it ; but for the 

 benefit of those who desire to know, and can get the material, we 

 would observe, that if ground is light and quickly loses moisture, a 

 dressing of fat loam, or even clay, will greatly improve it ; or if it be 

 stiff, heavy, or retentive, a dressing of road-scrapings, or any grit 

 would improve it. Drainage will scarcely be required, unless the 

 ground lays very low, and the soil is of a retentive nature ; where 

 this is the case, first find some outlet, then lay one or more drains 

 towards it — these are made by laying pipes or tiles in a trench, which 

 slants towards the outlet ; in lieu of tiles, the trench may be filled 

 with brick rubbish, broken crockery, or anything that will preserve 

 an open space for the water to run through ; the drains may be 

 covered, just allowing that the water can filter to them. When the 

 ground has been deeply dug or trenched, the next thing to consider 

 is the plan or shape. The designing of a garden will admit of as 

 much variety as the printing of calico, or the staining of paper, yet 

 there is too great a tendency to imitate, and too little originality. 

 An original design, however tame, is at least, something fresh, and 

 far better than copying from neighbours. We leave it to those who 

 may have such an affair in hand, to exercise their ingenuity, and 

 bring out something new, merely observing tbat the circular and oval 

 form is preferable to the square, and that the curve line is better 

 than the point or angle, and that one bold large bed or border will 

 have a better effect, and be easier to keep tidy, than a number of in- 

 tricate ones which are productive of much trouble, and often look 

 puny and simple. We cannot recommend the introduction of turf 

 into little gardens, unless it can be well and thoroughly attended. 

 A broad sweep of lawn in a large garden is a noble feature, and even 

 in a small garden, well-kept grass is highly ornamental ; but the few 

 square feet of neglected grass in the little frontage, has a miserable 

 appearance, and for the reason that it might not be kept in trim, 

 we advise that it be kept out of the little garden. 



Having fixed on a plan, and marked out the paths, the next affair 

 is the edging. If box is obtainable, nothing can be better for the 

 purpose. Any one who has seen box edging may guess how it is 

 planted. The ground should be made firm to prevent its sinking ; 

 it should be exactly level, and of the proper height ; the edge should 

 be cut smoothly with a spade, the box laid evenly, and the soil 

 pressed to it immediately, and if in dry weather, it should be well 

 settled in with water. The surplus soil from the path should be 

 thrown on the border to raise it a little as it recedes from the edging. 

 But if box edging is not easily obtained, the next best thing to it is 

 white arabis ; the next to that is thrift, or Statice maritima, Gen- 



