Ecomomi in (Gardening 301 



it. But here, where the pay is as much for one man's 

 labor as that of five men's labor is worth in Germany, it is 

 far better to cheapen the cost of vegetables, and pay for 

 ornamental work where it is more needed. 



So, too, with regard to every instance, where the more 

 cheap and rapid working of an improved machine, or im- 

 plement, may be substituted for manual labor. In several 

 of the largest country seats on the Hudson, where there is 

 so great an extent of walks and carriage road, that several 

 men would be employed almost constantly in keeping them 

 in order, they are all cleaned of weeds in a day by the aid 

 of the horse hoe for gravel walks. In all such cases as 

 these, the proprietor not only gets rid of the trouble and 

 care of employing a large number of workmen, but of the 

 annoyance of paying more than their labor is fairly worth 

 for the purpose in question. 



There are many modes of economizing in the expenditures 

 of a country place, which time, and the ingenuity of our 

 countrymen will suggest, with more experience. But there 

 is one which has frequently occurred to us, and which is so 

 obvious that we are surprised that no one has adopted it. 

 We mean the substitution, in country places of tolerable 

 size, of fine sheep, for the scythe, in keeping the lawn in 

 order.* 



No one now thinks of considering his place in any way 

 ornamental, who does not keep his lawn well mown, - - not 

 once or twice a year, for grass, but once or twice a month, 

 for "velvet." This, to be sure, costs something; but, for 

 general effect, the beauty of a good lawn and trees is so 

 much greater than that of mere flowers, that no one, who 

 values them rightly, would even think of paying dearly for 

 the latter, and neglecting the former. 



Now, half a dozen or more sheep, of some breed service- 

 able and ornamental, might be kept on a place properly 

 arranged, so as to do the work of two mowers, always keep- 

 ing the lawn close and short, and not only without expense, 

 but possibly with some profit. No grass surface, except a 

 * A suggestion quite as -timely after the lapse of 70 years. F. A. W. 



