EVELYN'S "SYLVA" 



husks and leaves are boiled poured on the carpet of walks 

 and bowling-greens infallibly kills the worms without 

 hurting the grass. That, by the way, is a matter for dis- 

 cussion among gardeners, seeing that some say that the 

 movements of worms from below the surface to their 

 cast on the lawn lets air among the grass roots and is good 

 for them. 



He tells us how the Horn-beam makes the stateliest 

 hedge for long garden walks. He advises us how to 

 make wine of the Birch, Ash, Elder, Oak, Crab and 

 Bramble. He praises the Service-Tree, and the Eugh, and 

 the Jasmine, saying of this last how one sorry tree in 

 Paris where they grow " has been worth to a poor 

 woman, near twenty shillings a year." 



All this and much besides of diverting and instructive 

 reading, varied with remarks on the gardens of his 

 friends and acquaintances, as when he " cannot but 

 applaud the worthy Industry of old Sir Harbotle Grim- 

 stone, who (I am told) from a very small Nursery of 

 Acorns which he sowed in the neglected corners of his 

 ground, did draw forth such numbers of Oaks of 

 competent growth ; as being planted about his Fields in 

 even and uniform rows, about one hundred foot from the 

 Hedges ; bush'd and well water'd till they had suffi- 

 ciently fix'd themselves, did wonderfully improve 

 both the beauty, and the value of his Demeasnes," 

 for the honour and glory of filling England with 

 fine trees and gardens to improve, what he calls — the 

 Landskip. 



The exigencies of the present moment when Imperial 

 Finance threatens to tax all good parks and orchards out 

 of existence, and to make all fine flower gardens out of 

 use, except to the enormously wealthy, makes the 

 " Gard'ners Calendar " all the more interesting as 

 showing what manner of flowers, fruits, and vegetables 



99 



