SHRUBBERIES AND FLOWER-GARDENS. CffAP. 



a scythe will go if in a hand that knows how to whet it 

 and use it. If, however, you do not resolve to have the 

 thing done in this manner, it is much better not to at- 

 tempt it at all. The decay of gardening in England in this 

 respect is quite surprising. 



315. It is very much the fashion to have clumps of 

 shrubs, or independent shrubs, upon grass-plats : people 

 must follow their own taste ; but, in my oplaion, nothing 

 is so beautiful as a clear carpet of green, surrounded with 

 suitable shrubs and flowers, separated from it by walks 

 of beautiful gravel. The edges of grass, whether against 

 walks or against shrubberies, are sure to grow out, and 

 ought, therefore, to be kept in by trimming or paring off 

 very frequently ; for the whole ought to be as smooth as 

 a piece of cloth. If thistles or dandelions, or even 

 daisies, come amongst the grass, the mowing of them off 

 is not enough, for each will make a circle round the 

 crown of its root and will overpower the grass. This, 

 however, is easily cured by cutting these roots off deeply 

 with a knife, and pulling them up. This done during 

 two summers successively, will destroy the dandelions 

 and the thistles -, and, as to the daisies, which have a 

 shallow root, they may easily be kept down, if not extir- 

 pated. 



316. In the fall of the year, all shrubberies (in the 

 month of November) should be digged completely with 

 a fork : all suckers should be taken away, all dead wood 

 taken out : all leaves carried off or digged in, and better 

 carried off than digged in ; for if digged in, they make 

 the ground hollow, and harbour slugs and other vermin. 



