V THE COURTS, TERRACES, WALKS 107 



I ^ — that is, ^ of the height for the horizontal 

 length of the slope ; but it was also made on 

 the diagonal of the square, and in some cases at 

 an angle still more obtuse, in order to prevent 

 the moisture running off too quickly, and 

 save the grass along the top from withering 

 in summer. As a matter of fact, these slopes 

 are too steep to be practicable in England — 

 the grass will not grow satisfactorily except on 

 a rather flat slope, and if it does it is a difficult 

 matter to keep it trim. Moreover, when it 

 comes to the steps all sorts of difficulties arise in 

 the attempt to reconcile the angle of the steps 

 with the angle of the bank. If the terrace in- 

 volves much made ground along the outer 

 edge, care must be taken to build up the earth, 

 to prevent its slipping down. The Theory of 

 Gardening advises the following practice : — 

 '' After having laid the earth i foot high, be- 

 ginning at bottom, you must spread upon 

 it a bed of Fascines, or Hurdles (made of 

 willow), 6 foot wide, in rows one against 

 another, and dispose them so that the great 

 ends or roots may lie next the face of the 

 slope, and come within a foot of the sur- 

 face ; then lay another bed of earth upon 

 this, and continue the same to the top. 

 Over this wattled work you lay the turf, 

 after covering it with a little earth." A 

 method of strengthening banks somewhat similar 



^ The Theory and Practice of Gardening. 



