LAYIKG OUT THE GKOUNDS. 



311 



excejit as regards their starting places and general 

 position. In getting the curves, the practised gardener 

 trusts mucli to his eye, but a person of no experience 

 finds this is not easy. A rope can be used for such pur- 

 poses to good advantage, by fastening one end at some 



Fig. 122.— THE CURVE BOD. 



definite point along the line, and then drawing on it, in 

 a way to produce the desired sweep, defining it after- 

 wards with stakes. 



The curve-rod shown in figure 122 is a useful implement 

 in this work. It consists of a six-foot rod with a wire hook 

 on one end, a, and a cross piece with holes in it at the 

 other, c, with a notch at the center, b. To use it, we 

 start with a stake at the hook at a, and one in the notch 

 at b, a third one is then put through one of the holes of 

 the cross piece, say the outer one for instance. Then 

 the rod is lifted leaving the 

 stakes to stand, and is moved 

 forward into position, b, d, set- 

 ting a fourth stake at d. After 

 this we bring into position, c, e, 

 with a stake at e, and so on. 

 Such a course then leaves the 

 stakes on a good curve. By 

 using the one or the other end 

 of the cross-piece the curve 

 may be turned to the right or the left, or it may be 

 lengthened by inserting stakes in nearer the center. 



A simple method of laying out an oval on the ground 

 is shown in figure 123. Two stakes are set, say at six, 

 ten, or any number of feet apart — this being governed 



Fig, 123,— FORMING AN OVAL. 



