Practical Directions 289 



rough stone or gravel fit for carting and walking upon, so 

 as to confine every one as much as possible to the use of this. 



Fences of all kinds will next engage attention. It will 

 naturally be concluded that one of the first things to do is to 

 make the boundary fences perfect, due regard being had to 

 the chosen points of entrance. The inner fences, such as that 

 round the pleasure grounds, may afterwards be fLxed. And 

 where kitchen garden or other walls have to be erected, they 

 should be begun in good time, that the builder's workmen 

 may be got out of the way before it be necessary to com- 

 mence on the ground work. In short, no trenching or level- 

 ing should be attempted in any part until the masons, brick- 

 layers, or other artisans have fairly completed their duties. 



Draining, grading, and general ground work, such as form- 

 ing pieces of water, raising mounds, preparing rockeries, or 

 any similar rough operations to throw the surface of the place 

 into its leading shapes and outlines may then be proceeded 

 with, always leaving space enough around the house un- 

 touched that the builders may not interfere with what is 

 done. 



While the ground is still unpoHshed but the general shape 

 of everything correctly marked out, the planting should be 

 done. It always disturbs the grass to plant after it has been 

 laid down. And as the house will no doubt be almost 

 finished by this time, the edgings of the walks can then be 

 formed, which may be done by inverting sods, cut about 

 nine inches thick, and a foot in length and breadth, along the 

 margins, laying them so as to allow about from one to three 

 inches to pare off at the top, and a similar piece on the sides 

 next the walk. These sods will be found to make excellent 

 edgings, in point of firmness; and after they are laid, the 

 ground can be leveled to them and to the beds and planta- 

 tions, ready for putting on the turf, or for sowing with grass 



