320 ORKAMEIS^TAL GARDEK'lN'a. 



An earth float, made of a piece of common 3 by 4 or 2 

 by 6-incli rough scantling, with one handle, for a float nine 

 feet long, is shown in figure 127. Two handles are needed 

 for one sixteen feet long. This will be found to be a use- 

 ful implement for the final sliaping of the ground, by 

 drawins: it back and forth over the surface a number of 

 times in different directions. The walks being not yet 



Fig. 127.— A FLOAT. 



made, all stones and surface gravel can still be deposited 

 in the openings for these. After this last plowing, all 

 driving, and wheeling should be, if possible, confined to 

 the di'ives and walks. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



PLANTING. 



All things considered^ sj^ring is the best time to plant 

 trees and shrubs, and the earlier it can be done, after the 

 soil is dry enough to work, the better. Still with great 

 care being observed in not letting the roots be exposed 

 to the air for a moment more than is absolutely necessary, 

 there is no reason why success should not follow, even 

 when the trees are considerably started. I have planted 

 Horse Chestnuts, Maples, Japan Quince, Althaeas, and 

 many others, that were in full leaf, and scarcely lost one. 

 But when any are so far advanced as this, it is necessary 

 to remove most of the leaves and to do the work with great 



