70 THE PLEASURE, OR [J A y, 



All the principal grass-walks, and lawns, within the limits of 

 the pleasure ground, especially such parts as are intended for 

 walking on, should also be kept perfectly neat by frequent mowing 

 in summer, to keep the grass short, close and fine ; give also occa- 

 sional rolling, both to clean up the scattered worm-casts, and to 

 render the surface smooth and firm. Always make choice of a 

 dewy morning, or moist weather, for the work of mowing ; as the 

 short grass will cut much better then, than when dry : be careful 

 to have each mowing, performed with an even hand, not to score, 

 or leave the mark of the sythe at each stroke, which has a most 

 disagreeable appearance, and directly after, rake up all the swarths 

 of grass, into heaps and carry them away. 



Rolling the grass, should also be occasionally performed,'between 

 the times of mowing, in order to continue the surface always, 

 firm, even, and of a close smooth appearance. 



In extensive pleasure-grounds, and large extended lawns, walks, 

 &c. the rolling is sometimes done by horses, having a very large 

 roller furnished with horse-shafts ; and the horses' feet occasionally 

 muffled, especially when the ground is rather soft, to prevent their 

 cutting the surface of the grass in holes. 



Likewise keep all grass-ground clear from litter, such as fallen 

 leaves of trees, &c. which may be expeditiously effected by a light 

 broom or besom on a long handle. 



The edges of all principal grass-walks, and those of grass-ground 

 next to gravel-walks in particular, should always be kept close and 

 even, and dressed once or twice a year at least, with an Edging* 

 Iron; which ought to be made of the best steel, and kept very 

 sharp : this instrument, is made somewhat in the cresent form, 

 and about nine inches in diameter, pretty much like a saddler's 

 cutting-knife, rounded below at the edge part, and with a socket 

 above, upright in the middle, in which to fix a straight handle of 

 wood, about four feet long ; with this instrument a man can dress 

 as much grass-edging in a day, as three men with spades, do it 

 much neater, and without wasting the edges of the borders. 



The above dressings ought particularly to be given, previous to 

 turning the gravel-walks, at other times during the summer, the 

 edges may be trimmed occasionally as the grass grows rank, either 

 with a pair of garden-shears, or with shears made for that purpose, 

 exactly in the form of sheep-shears, but a little larger, and longer in 

 the blades, or with the point of a good sharp carving knife. 



The shrubbery plantations, should generally all be suffered to 

 take their own natural growth, and branch out into full heads, only 

 just giving a little occasional trimming to any very irregular 

 growths, such as retrenching or reducing any very luxuriant rude 

 shoots, or considerable ramblers, running wildly from all the other 

 branches. Cut out all dead wood and keep all the shrubs from 

 entangling with one another, so as the head of each shrub may 

 appear distinct, and show itself to proper advantage. 



The ground of the principal shrubbery plantations, in which the 

 shrubs stand distant, not covering the surface should be digged eve- 

 ry year, late in autumn, or in spring j previously giving the shrubs 



