8 



of stakes, being set up to represent the desired piece 

 of foliage, in the way so well described in the supple- 

 ment to the new edition of Downing's work, by which 

 Mr. Sargent has enhanced the value of a book 

 already dear to all students of this subject. Never- 

 theless, when designs on paper truly represent well 

 understood and deliberately planned improvements, 

 they are of great service, and such ought by all 

 means to be made and carefully followed. 



Meanwhile, though we move with deliberation, we 

 need not lose a moment. Simultaneously Avith our 

 planning we may begin our planting. If any part of 

 the land is fit for a nursery, we may stock it at once. 

 If not, we must prepare a piece as quickly as possible, 

 and then fill it with small trees and shrubs — the 

 general rule being that the nursery be rather too 

 large, rather too well prepared, and the number of 

 plants decidedly more than enough. This, like every 

 other right move in gardening, is a measure of 

 economy. 



While the nursery is going on, and as soon as the 

 outline of our plan is settled, we must begin to im- 

 prove the soil. In every sense thorough draining 

 lies at the bottom of all. It is now proved that all 

 cultivable land is the better for it; and the only ques- 

 tion is, whether in certain soil, for certain purposes, 

 the benefit is worth the cost. Without attempting 

 here to decide these cases, it is enough for our pur- 

 pose to know that for nurseries, gardens, plantations 

 and lawns, drains are almost always indispensable. 



