122 IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GARDEN 



of skill, are more shown than in removing plants from 

 one place to another, especially shrubs ; and in no 

 branch are there so many disappointments when the 

 work is done by careless or unskilful hands. All that 

 such trees or shrubs ask for is that they should be 

 kept out of the ground as short a time as possible, 

 and be placed in their new home very firmly ; and, to 

 get this firmness, a few heavy stones placed near the 

 stem are a good help, they prevent the plant being 

 much swayed by the wind, and they prevent the 

 evaporation of moisture and the loss of warmth by 

 radiation. 



But it is not my object to give rules for gardening, 

 I wish rather to record the work done in the month, 

 so I must give a few lines to another garden work for 

 which the month of November is very suitable. Every 

 garden is subject to many changes ; in each year trees 

 and bushes grow, and call for more room ; and then 

 paths must be altered, and old beds, perhaps, destroyed, 

 and new ones made. And I have always noticed that 

 the more a man loves his garden, the more he delights 

 in constantly changing the arrangements, which were, 

 perhaps, good for a time, but which, as time goes on, 

 must give way to others ; and the most uninteresting 

 garden is one that has been made on a fixed plan, 

 rigidly adhered to through succeeding years, till what 



