60 bkeck's new book of flowers. 



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 root 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, divid- 

 ing it in such a manner that each slip shall have more or 

 less roots upon it, rejecting such as are destitute of them, 

 for planting by themselves. If any have long, straggling 

 roots, they should be trimmed ofi", and the plants should be 

 made pretty much of a length. 



It is to be premised that the margins of the beds have 

 all been properly levelled or graded ; then they should be 

 trodden lightly and evenly along, to settle them moderately 

 firm ; if for a straight edging, stretch the line along the 

 edge of the bed or border; with the spade make up any 

 inequalities of the surface, according to the line ; then, on 

 the side of the line next the walk, let a small, neat trench 

 be cut, about six inches deep, making the side next the 

 line perfectly perpendicular, turning the earth out toward 

 the walk or alley. 



For a curving margin, a strip of board, an inch wide 

 and twelve or fifteen feet long, with pegs attached by 

 screws or nails, at various distances along its length, so 

 that it can be made fast in the ground, to correspond with 

 the design, may be used instead of the line ; but some work- 

 men are so expert, tlmt, having the design transferred to 

 the ground, they will proceed with accuracy without such 



