456 THE PLEASURE GARDEN. 



reach be caught at once, they should be broad. A 

 medium may be taken at five feet ; the extremes 

 being three and eight. They may be of turf, or 

 of gravel ; but the latter is always most wholesome, 

 and most agreeable in winter. 



SECT. II. 



ON SOILS FOR VARIOUS SHRUBS. 



OHRUBS, in general, thrive very well in ordinary 

 garden-land ; and better in light than in heavy soils. 

 Most shrubs, likewise, do well in ground a foot in 

 depth ; but it is always advisable to trench to the 

 full depth of the soil, previous to planting, if that 

 Avere even two feet. 



Manure is seldom bestowed on shrubs ; and if 

 the soil be not far below mediocrity, it is seldom 

 necessary ; provided the ground be otherwise well 

 prepared ; and be meliorated by trenching or dig- 

 ging. 



In the case of planting screens, where it is de- 

 sirable to have them effectual as soon as possible, or 

 in planting favourite shrubs in particular situations, 

 every justice should be done to the soil, in prepar- 

 ing and enriching it, either with manure, or by the 

 addition of fresh earth. 



Those who are curious in collections of certain 

 shrubs, prepare, or choose certain soils for them. 

 Evergreens, for the most part, thrive well in loam 

 of a middling texture ; but some kinds do better 

 in mossy, humid earth ; as the azalea, and the rho- 



