176 A GARDEN OF PLEASURE 



Men of old time planted trees for pos- 

 terity. With far-seeing wisdom they 

 planned many a stately avenue, which 

 still remain the ornament and pride of our 

 fine old country houses. We do not in 

 these days seem always to look so far 

 beyond the present. When a few years 

 ago I planted a row of young limes (in 

 old books they; are * lines ') as a continua- 

 tion of the lime avenue, with arbor-vitae 

 between each tree, and parellel to these a 

 double row of larch, and a beech hedge 

 along the walk between the limes and the 

 larch I did not foresee the dilemma that 

 has ensued. A decision must before long 

 be made between the selfish enjoyment of 

 the present, extending perhaps to a few 

 uncertain years, or the future and lasting 

 improvement of- the place, ' which I shall 

 not see. While we hesitate the trees grow 

 on. The stems of the limes grow thick 

 and smooth, and their branches spread ; 

 the beautiful green arbor-vitae flourish, 

 and are rapidly making handsome trees ; 

 my favourite larch send up strong tall 

 shoots every season threatening to over- 



