THE PROBLEM OF GRASS 



fibrils of roots, is absolutely antagonistic to grass of 

 any description. The roots of the Furze, on their side, 

 deep-reaching, far-spreading and tenacious, are simply 

 rejuvenated and rejoiced by the lopping of the plant above 

 ground. YOU may think you have done with it : behold ! 

 within a very few weeks saucy spriglets of brightest green 

 Gorse will merrily make their appearance and claim the 

 land again as their own ! 



Any seed sown on such a bed is merely so much food 

 offered to the fowls of the air. The Master of the House 



had to learn that lesson practically, and lost a couple of 

 seasons in so doing. <As may plainly be seen, he was a 

 thoroughgoing ignoramus in that quarter / and he was not 

 likely to be set right by Mr. Grinder !> It was only when 

 Adam supervened and pointed out the necessity of 

 trenching the ground, ridding it of its centuries-old tangle 

 of fibre, overturning and pressing it, that the desired green 

 result could at length be obtained. But the overturning 

 demanded the combined work of pickaxe, fork, and cutting 

 spade. It produced an incredible amount of underground 

 wood, tough, sappy, and seemingly incombustible / and it 

 kept Caliban occupied for many a long week, 



We have now many promising verdant roods, destined in 



175 



