PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS 63 



Grass paths often tempt by reason of the cheap- 

 ness of their formation, but they need continual 

 work on them. The trouble of keeping grass 

 edges in condition can be minimised by the pro- 

 vision of a tile edging set in cement : 6 in. quarries 

 are excellent for the purpose. These, indeed, 

 ought always to be used round intricate designs 

 in grass, where the edging iron would gradually 

 destroy the lines. An edging iron is never required 

 where tiles are used, and shears are easily run 

 along to take off over-hanging blades of grass. 

 Nothing destroys the general appearance of a 

 garden so much as shaggy grass edges, and if the 

 labour supply is to be small, other kinds of edging 

 should be provided. Tiles and bricks last practi- 

 cally for ever, but are far more expensive in the 

 beginning than live edgings, such as grass and box. 



Carpet-bedding requires more labour than any 

 other type of flower gardening. Raising the 

 stuff, setting it out, and overlooking it constantly 

 gives a tremendous amount of work, with not 

 sufficient result according to present-day ideas. 

 Bedding-out comes next in the scale of labour ; 

 then permanent planting in herbaceous borders, 

 and rose garden ; and lastly shrubberies where 

 an overhauling twice a year is ample attention. 

 The initial expense of these varies according to 

 the quality of the stuff planted, and as to how 

 much of the stock is home raised and gradually 

 introduced. 



