256 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



way present the same appearance. If such a colour 

 is exhibited, the depth is good, the annual weeds fall, 

 of course, to occupy the lowest place, and neither the 

 rake nor the genial sun will bring them to light any 

 more. The manure is by this means also duly de- 

 posited, and not wasted by frost and evaporation. 



In all cases where not much may be trusted to 

 discretion, the only thing is a rule which has no 

 relative terms, such as " well or ill done," but which, 

 being exactly understood, may be as exactly fulfilled. 

 Such may be applied to hoeing and cleaning as well 

 as to digging the ground. Let the hoe be inserted 

 the full breadth and pass in regular furrows beneath 

 the roots of weeds; let one basket be used for gather- 

 ing stones and another for weeds; let the rake follow, 

 and prove the exactness of the rule by leaving nothing 

 but red earth, and the crop if there be one. The 

 youngster cannot avoid taking pleasure in work that 

 is so executed a secret of his nature that he would 

 never have found out if left to himself; because he 

 would never aim at the perfection on the sight of 

 which the pleasure depends, but would work slovenly, 

 hating the labour as well as the look of what he leaves 

 behind. 



The wire riddle makes a rule for itself, and is 

 admirable for giving exactness of idea to the worker 

 as well as of finish to his work. You want a piece 

 of ground made fit for small seeds, and you give 

 orders to have it well cleared of stones. But your 

 words do not convey your idea the boy takes his 

 notions from a clover field. Show him the riddle, 

 and say that the soil to a given depth must pass 

 through its wires. They have no latitudinarian 



