Practical Considerations 1 29 



corners to keep clean, small beds to trim, and minute objects 

 to tend, consume the most time and require the most con- 

 stant attention. Broader and simpler spaces are most easily 

 and quickly preserved with neatness. 



In all ordinary cases one good man will be able to keep two 

 acres of ground nicely in order, provided the arrangement of 

 the place be not too complex and his attention be not with- 

 drawn to other objects. On simple places where there is 

 not much dressed ground, one man may care for considerably 

 more than this. It must be remembered, however, that if 

 there be a greenhouse, fruit-houses, or pits to look after, 

 special help should always be allowed, for in attending to 

 such things, many hours of each day are often consumed 

 without any very obvious result appearing. 



It will remain for every individual to consider these and 

 other matters just as much as his particular case may require. 

 These hints simply refer to a few of the means of making a 

 fixed amount of money produce most pleasure, by being dis- 

 tributed over a greater number of objects. For if less is 

 expended on one part, more will be left towards compassing 

 other and greater ends. 



2. Shelter. — There are few places so peculiarly situated 

 as not to need some kind of shelter from one or more points 

 of the compass, but still fewer which need it on every side. 

 Before arranging the plan of a garden, it will therefore be 

 necessary to ascertain what particular winds prevail in the 

 locality, and are most injurious to vegetation or most pro- 

 ductive of discomfort and unhealthiness. From a little south 

 of east passing northwards to a trifle west of north, with the 

 intermediate points, is the range in which protection is most 

 commonly wanted, the winds from these quarters being never 

 either pleasant to man or beneficial to plants. But certain 

 districts near the sea, or on elevated inland tracts may be 



