206 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



to the depth of three inches, pulling the earth to- 

 wards the walk ; and lay the green tops of the plants 

 to the line, setting their heads above it, not more 

 than one inch, and all touching one another. The 

 roots will vary a little in depth, but let a few plants 

 be held exact at the top with one hand, whilst the 

 earth is applied to the unequal roots with the other. 

 The reverse rule of evenness, providing for the 

 roots and not the tops, is frequently adopted ; hence 

 the straggling appearance that ensues; some leaning 

 out, and others in; some set like a tree, having a 

 stem from which branches proceed, and others hav- 

 ing branches sunk up to the middle. The effect is 

 a strong feeling of indignation ; and remarkable it 

 is, that though correctness of lining be of small re- 

 pute in matters of taste, yet where a line ought to 

 be and is designed few things are harder to be en- 

 dured than unmeaning deviations as in the case of 

 ill set teeth, or the attempted dash of a clumsy 

 handwritting. Box may be planted in September, 

 October, or November; in February, March, or 

 April. To wet clay, brought up by new trenching, 

 coal ashes may be added ; and to avoid rotting by 

 long moisture without growth, the plants may be set 

 in May or June. 



For other edging seapink is very good, but it 

 soon gets deformed with blanks, unless taken up and 

 replanted; whereas box, annually dipt in autumn, 

 will serve for the half of a lifetime : London-pride 

 admits of paring, and will last for five years : coarse 

 polyanthus or primrose does well beneath trees. 

 Should the root of an old tree come in the way, it 

 is easy to keep up the green line by planting peri- 



