8 
of stakes, being set up to represent the desired piece 
of foliage, in the way so well described in the supple- 
ment to the new edition of Downing’s work, by which 
Mr. Sargent has enhanced the value of a book 
already dear to all students of this subject. Never- 
theless, when designs on paper truly represent well 
understood and deliberately planned improvements, 
they are of great service, and such ought by all 
means to be made and carefully followed. 
Meanwhile, though we move with deliberation, we 
need not lose a moment. Simultaneously with our 
planning we may begin our planting. If any part of 
the land is fit for a nursery, we may stock it at once. 
If not, we must prepare a piece as quickly as possible, 
and then fill it with small trees and shrubs— the 
general rule being that the nursery be rather too 
large, rather too well prepared, and the number of 
plants decidedly more than enough. This, like every 
other right move in gardening, is a measure of 
economy. 
While the nursery is going on, and as soon as the 
outline of our plan is settled, we must begin to im- 
prove the soil. In every sense thorough draining 
lies at the bottom of all. It is now proved that all 
cultivable land is the better for it; and the only ques- 
tion is, whether in certain soil, for certain purposes, 
the benefit is worth the cost. Without attempting 
here to decide these cases, it is enough for our pur- 
pose to know that for nurseries, gardens, plantations 
and lawns, drains are almost always indispensable. 
