22 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



Rounding the walk too much would make it very uneasy to 

 walk upon, and of an unpleasant appearance. No more gravel 

 should be laid in one day than can be finished off and rolled 

 effectually. Clean, hard gravel walks add much to the beauty 

 and comfort of the garden. 



A garden roller is indispensable where there is any extent 

 of walks, and it should be applied as often as once a week, and 

 particularly after a rain. 



PLANTING BOX AND OTHER EDGING. 



The surface of the garden having been levelled, and the 

 walks dug out, according to the plan, and partially filled with 

 stones and coarse gravel, the operator may now proceed to 

 plant the box edgings, or any other plant he may substitute 

 for that purpose, or grass if that is preferred. 



Box, of all other plants, makes tho neatest and most beauti 

 ful edgings. This may be set in September or October, but 

 will require protection, as it is very liable to be thrown out by 

 the frost, or winter-killed, without it. It may also be planted 

 in the spring, and also in June ; but when late planted will 

 require shading and watering. 



Box takes root freely from cuttings, and is sometimes used 

 without fibres ; but, unless great care is taken, some of it will 

 fail to grow, thereby making the edging uneven and full of 

 gaps, and it will be found difficult to get it into good shape again. 

 If it is to be raised from cuttings, it should be done in a bed by 

 itself, where it can have the benefit of shading and watering. 



To make neat edgings, you should get some short, bushy 

 box, and let it be slipped or parted into moderately small slips, 

 of not more than six or eight inches in length, dividing it in 

 such a manner that each slip shall have more or less roots or 

 fibres upon it, rejecting such as are destitute, for planting by 

 themselves. If any have long, straggling roots, they should be 

 trimmed ofF, and the plants should be made pretty much of a 

 length. 



It is to be premised that the margin of the beds have all 



