THE MANSE GARDEN. 37 



But whilst the above methods may apply to all 

 ordinary situations, there are others in which they 

 could not be adopted with any degree of propriety. 

 In very high and exposed places, where the soil and 

 atmosphere are such as to stint all vegetable growth, 

 the planting of hedges for such nicety of defence is 

 out of the question, and the erecting of paling still 

 more. Look around you before you lay your plans. 

 Is your height above the level of the sea 800 or 1000 

 feet, does the plough turn up black peat earth 

 mingled with round white stones, does the nearest 

 plantation of Scotch-firs present its small tufts of 

 annual growth, like the top of a thistle; and is its 

 hedge, of twelve years' standing, scarcely two feet in 

 stature, and covered all over with moss of an ochry 

 colour mingled with silver grey, take your mea- 

 sures accordingly. Plant no hedge with a view to 

 keep out hens or hares, but raise a strong rampart 

 of large blue stone from the nearest quarry, and 

 within it plant green kale and potatoes. Your kale 

 plantation will thrive no worse for affording shelter 

 and pasture to your hens, whose eggs will be the best 

 of your garden productions. Even here I could figure 

 a certain degree of beauty inside the garden ; but it 

 must be of a kind suited to the nature of the place. 

 I would have the high mound of dry stone fence 

 completely covered with Irish ivy. I would have no 

 fruit trees and no flowers ; the heath is beautiful, 

 and the village children will bring enough of fruit 

 for preserves from the cranberry bogs. In the keen 

 air, giving a keener appetite for breakfast, it will be 

 no vexing sight to see the garden full of hens ; some 

 feeding amongst the kale, some cackling for joy of 



