18 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



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 expense, and 

 surer of growing well than such as, being brought 

 from a distance, have their roots less fibrous, and half 

 peeled half withered before they arrive. Thus your 

 stock will increase, and afford the pleasure both of 

 tracing its progress and possessing a ready supply for 

 beautifying and filling up any vacant space which may 

 occur. Whilst these preparations are advancing, any 

 fit time may be taken" for the reformation of your ill 

 looking strip, with its ragged hedge and underwood 

 of hemlock. 



Begin by grubbing up old lilacs, stinted and 

 flowerless for want of sun and shower elders, which, 

 though beautiful in the open lawn, grow deformed 

 in a thicket, and blight every thing near them 

 willows, worthless as trees, and ill favoured spirea, 

 growing like a sheaf, and retaining the dead stalks 

 amongst the living the hedges totally, and not to 

 be succeeded by any thing of the same kind in the 

 same place; and sparing only a few of the best trees, 

 at such distances as they may require for growing to 

 a goodly size. Proceed then to trench the ground, 

 reserving to the root of each tree that is saved, a 

 circle of as many feet in diameter as there are inches 

 to the stem. In this process of trenching and up- 

 rooting, make distinct heaps ; one of stones for the 

 roads, one of wood for the fire, and one of all abo- 

 minable weeds, with which accounts may be settled 

 by a due mixture of lime. It may be that a gravel 

 walk is needful, either where there has been one of 

 grass, or none; and in the excavating of which 



