CHAP. XVIII VILLA GARDENING 137 



costs more to have a garden weedy than to keep it clean, unless 

 it is allowed to run wild altogether with no useful crops in it. 

 When weeds get the upper hand, one must always be weeding 

 and yet never be clean, because when the land has become foul, 

 no sooner is one crop rooted up or hoed down than another springs 

 up in its place. If the weedy beds are trenched up deeply in 

 winter, burying the surface in the bottom, many of the weeds and 

 their seeds will perish. Salt sprinkled evenly over the surface of 

 weedy ground or walks will speedily kill the weeds. It is more 

 eftective in fine bright weather, and must not be applied near 

 anything in the shape of a tree, shrub, or plant of any value, as 

 if given strong enough to kill weeds it will kill anything. The 

 Dutch hoe in the hands of an industrious man is the best weapon 

 for fighting the weeds with when the sm-face is dry ; of course it 

 is of no use hoeing when wet. Catch the weeds when they are 

 germinating or in an infant state, and stir up and expose the 

 siu'face on a warm sunny day. This should be done often, for it 

 is wonderful, if left to themselves for a short time, how the weeds 

 rise up again. Besides, land that is full of weeds soon becomes a 

 breeding ground for all kinds of garden enemies. Snails and slugs 

 abound in slovenly gardens, for they dislike the disturbing influ- 

 ence of the hoe, and will either perish or take themselves off". It 

 requires a good deal of determination to take in hand and clear 

 a weedy garden, but it can be done by constantly fighting the 

 weeds when they are small with the hoe and the fork. In hoeing, 

 the whole surface must be stirred ; it is not sufiicient to thrust in 

 the hoe here and there, making believe of stirring it all, but not 

 actually doing so. I suppose weeds were sent to punish the 

 procrastinator and the sluggard. Those who take time by the 

 forelock are not much bothered with them, and the frequent 

 stirring of the soil which is necessary to keep down the 

 weeds has a wonderful ettect upon the growth of all cultivated 

 plants. I consider that an abundant use of the hoe, apart 

 from destroying weeds, pays for the labour in the extra value 

 of the crop. 



Rustic Seats and Summer-Houses. — These are only really 

 used in summer, for people do not care to sit in the open air in 

 wet or cold weather. This fact being recognised, it will, I think, 

 be conceded tliat the correct site for such embellishments should 

 be sought for in some retired spot sheltered from the midday sun, 

 partially embowered in tree foliage or smothered with climbing 

 Roses or other creepers. Weeping trees, such as the Ash, Lime, 

 or Willow, are appropriate shelters for rustic seats. Any spot 

 from which a fine view can be obtained forms a suitable site for a 



