90 THE VILLA GARDENER. 



fg. 40., and which will not cost above 2s. a dozen, may be used. There are 

 wire hin'dles sold for the same purpose, and also iron stakes , but both are 

 much more expensive, though not more efficient, than the light iron rod we 

 have mentioned. 



L39. Wall borders. — We have now planted and cropped the whole of the 

 back garden, unless we except the wall borders, in which there is the row of 

 strawberries that forms the edging to the walk on that side ; and the narrow 

 space between the strawberry edgings to the other side of the m^in walks, 

 and the espalier trellises, in which we would not plant or sow anything. 



140. First expense. — The laying out, including the trellis, manure, &c., may 

 be set down at from 30Z. to 40/. ; the fruit-trees, two years trained, will cost, 

 at an average, 2s. 6f7. each, say 5Z. ; the gooseberries, currants, &c., Ad. each, 

 say 20s. ; the strawberries, 4s. per 100, 32s. ; the potherbs and seeds of the 

 culinary vegetables, about 15s.; the flowering plants for the back garden, 

 about 21. ; and the shrubs, plants, and bulbs, for the front garden, 51. In all, 

 the first cost will be from 45/. to 55/. ; the difference depending principally 

 on the cost of the labour and materials expended in forming the walks, and 

 in trenching and manuring the ground. This estimate is only to be con- 

 sidered as a rough approximation to what would be the actual cost; because 

 so much depends upon ihe nature of the soil aud subsoil, and the drainage 

 and new soil required, the price of flagstones, of manure, &c., independently 

 of the price of labour, that it is impossible to make an accurate estimate, 

 unless a specific ca=;e were given. On turning to our priced lists, the cost of 

 trees, plants, and seeds, in London, may be ascertained with something like 

 certainty ; but the exact price of every other particular must depend on the 

 quantity and kind of work to be done, as well as on local circumstances. 



141. The })2ode of management of a garden thus laid out and planted 

 requires to be next noticed. We shall suppose the occupier to be desirous of 

 managing it himself, and to be able to devote to it his spring, summer, and 

 autumn evenings. AVe may premise that, in such a limited space as we have 

 been treating of, and so closely planted, if the greatest and most unremitting 

 attention be not paid to its management, it will soon become a mass of con- 

 fusion ; and, while some trees are in full vigour and overgrowing the others, 

 some will be choked by shade, so as to produce no fruit worth eating ; and 

 others will be eaten up by insects. The great object that must be constantly 

 kept in view, in the cultivation of such a garden, is, to keep every tree and 

 plant within the limits assigned to it. This must not be done by merely cut- 

 ting off superfluous branches in the usual manner, but by preventing them 

 from being produced, by lowering the strength of the tree. This is to be 

 done by disbudding, and by pinching oflP the young shoots at the extremities 

 of the branches, and wherever else they would require to be cut off, if allowed 

 to grow to maturity. Another important point to attend to in the manage- 

 ment of the fruit trees and flowering shrubs is, to preserve their foliage, at 

 all times, in a perfectly healthy state, and to keep it fully exposed to the sun 

 and air. For this purpose, the strictest watch must be kept for the appear- 

 ance of insects ; and means taken to destroy them, if possible, in the egg 

 state, or, at all events, as soon as they are hatched. During the whole sum- 

 mer, every tree and bush on the premises will require to be syringed with 

 water in the evening of every day that it does not rain; and, when insects 

 appear, instead of common water, lime water, soa{)suds, or tobacco water 



