FIRST STEPS TOWARDS AFFORESTATION 25 



To make a board edging, boards 5 or G inches wide 

 by 1 inch in thickness and at least 9 feet long will bo 

 needed. 



Stakes 18 inches long by 2 inches square, or 2 inches 

 by 2-| inches, are driven in to the required depth and fairly 

 close together, to prevent the boards warping. The latter 

 are sunk into the ground about 2 inches, leaving either 

 3 inches or 4 inches above the paths, according to the 

 height of the soil in the beds. They are then nailed 

 securely on to the stakes. To make an edging of old 

 bricks, the latter are sunk into the ground to about half 

 their length, and laid in a slanting direction in the line of 

 the edging. 



The cheapest and also the neatest form of edging is 

 made simply by firming the edge of the bed for a width of 

 about 4 inches with the back of a spade. A line is stretched 

 the full length of the bed, and the edge cut down on the 

 slope and patted firm, the top being firmed in the same 

 way, making a " scarcement " as shown in sketch. 



^ V Tath / 



Fig. 4. — Scaecement. 



This edging, of course, will be made after the beds are 

 stocked with young plants, and will need renewing every 

 time the beds are planted. A live edging of box or privet 

 is sometimes planted, but it is more ornamental than 

 economical. 



