10 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



pensive fence under it will do, provided it have strength 

 to bear the weight and to stand against the wind. 



Deciduous hedges are not good, as, from being bare of 

 leaves in the winter, they fail to give shelter when it is 

 most needed. Some one stated (I think in the Cottage 

 Gardener) that a hedge of hawthorn is worse than use- 

 less for shelter, as the cold wind positively becomes colder 

 in passing through it, from the moisture retained in the 

 foliage. 



For gravel paths, complete drainage is only necessary 

 in a very damp locality, or where there is a great rush 

 of water from higher ground near at hand. In such 

 cases a system of tile-draining to the paths may be 

 requisite. Generally, however, a thick substratum of 

 draining material, laid in when the paths are made, will 

 suffice. Shape out the paths exactly, and remove the 

 earth in their whole course to the depth of eighteen 

 inches, making a clean square trench. Then spread 

 stones, oyster shells, and collections of rubbish, consist- 

 ing of broken crockery and such like hard material, or 

 burnt brick clay, so as to fill the trench ; let this lie for 

 a time, ramming it down repeatedly. After a few days, 

 or a few weeks, according to weather and labour bestowed, 

 there will be a space of six or seven inches above it to 

 the top of the trench. Lay on a layer of coarse gravel, 

 from four to six inches thick, and let it be well rammed 

 down and rolled as flat as it can be. At this stage of 

 the path-making it is best to plant the box edging to 

 the beds. One yard of old box edging, if well divided, 

 will make several for replanting. Divide the box 

 thoroughly, and throw away all that has grown too 

 woody ; that which is replanted should not be thicker 

 than a crowquill. Trim the roots of ihe plants so that 

 the plants may be about four inches in length, and place 

 the tops exactly even. Make a trench, or rather cut, 

 three inches deep, or rather more, by pressing the spade 

 Jnto the earth, and moving it backwards and forwards a 

 little to give sufficient width to the opening at the top, 

 and let the perpendicular side of the cut be towards the 

 bed. Then place the little box plants against the per- 



