20 REARING OF HOLLY S AND SHRUBS. 



rels at half so much, variegated hollys at sixpence, 

 a few of the arborvitse, laurustinus, arbutus, and 

 juniper. Of these some of the finer sorts may be 

 planted near to the house, where they are to remain, 

 and on ground which may not require a tedious pro- 

 cess of amelioration. Should the house be situated 

 in the garden, by all means let some of those beau- 

 ties come next the eye, to the exclusion of cabbage, 

 filthy in decay, or of gooseberry trees, with their 

 accompaniment of trampled ground and refuse of 

 fruit, a hideous sight. Others of the more hardy 

 shrubs may be set to nurse, for future lifting in the 

 manner of the hollys; and in the mean time layers 

 of every sort may be freely taken. This is the 

 easiest thing in the world, and the most certain of 

 success. Stir up the ground, and make a rut two 

 or three inches deep, all round the plant; from the 

 under side of the lowest branches pare a little of the 

 bark; or instead of paring, give the branch a twist; 

 lay the portion that is twisted or pared, into the 

 bottom of the excavation, and fasten it down with 

 a peg; then replace the earth, and set up the head 

 of your future plant, keeping it erect by firming 

 the soil around it. Every shrub of a few years 

 old will thus afford a dozen of fine young plants, 

 which will be more prized than those bought at a 

 considerable expence, and surer of growing well 

 than such as being brought from a distance have 

 their roots less fibrous, and half peeled, half with- 

 ered, before they arrive. Thus your stock will 

 increase, and afford the pleasure both of tracing its 



