iv. OF A GARDEN. 57 



occasionally cut, and be moved, as often as there is 

 the least hold for the scythe, for they lose much of 

 their beauty, when the grass gets long ; leaves should 

 not be suffered to remain on them as it stains the 

 grass ; and worm casts should be cleared away. 



Edgings of all sorts should be kept in good order, 

 as having a singular neat effect in the appearance of 

 a garden. The dead edgings will sometimes, and 

 the live edgings often want putting to rights ; either 

 cutting, clipping, or making up complete. Where 

 there are no edgings, or but weak ones, let th,e earth 

 bordering on the walks be kept^/zrw, and now and 

 then worked up by a line in moist weather, beating it 

 smooth with a spade. 



Some fruits may need support, by tying their 

 weak branches when they get heavy, to stakes, &c. 

 Rows of raspberries and beans are kept neatly up 

 in their lines, by putting in here and there a stake, 

 and using packthread lengthwise ; and thus will they 

 bear better, and be more conveniently gathered. 

 Strawberries of fine heavy sorts, will be preserved 

 from getting dirty and rotten, by tying their stems to 

 little sticks from an old broom ; thus the fruit also 

 gets better ripened, and of a finer flavour: Some 

 persons lay tiles, or moss round the plants, when 

 the fruit is half grown; but this is not (generally) 

 50 well, only it has the advantage in keeping the 

 ground cooler in a hot season. The first and finest 

 scarlets best deserve this trouble. 



Flowers should be frequently looked over, to tie 

 up, and trim off dead and dangling parts. Some 

 of them cannot do without support, and many sorts 

 are made more secure and beautiful in their form 

 by proper ties. If this business is neglected, a heavy 

 rain or strong wind may come, and damage, if not 

 [ay all prostrate, especially about the equinoctial 



