Chap. XXV.] IMPLEMENTS USED IN FRENCH GxVRDENS. 457 



or two should fall a little out of the line here and there ; this 

 is nearly impossible, as they are tied by a scrap of common wire 

 at the place where every two sticks cross each other. They are 

 do plunged in the walk, or by the side of the walk, that about six 

 inches of the little fence appears above ground. This, however, 

 may be varied with the size of the subjects which they are used 

 to margin ; six or seven inches is the usual height for edges for 

 ordinary purposes. In parks and pleasure-grounds, however, we 

 usually have edgings of grass, so it may be thought that iron 

 edgings are useless therein; but the little fences of bent wood 

 which furnished the idea for these iron edgings were generally 

 used to prevent grass near drives and walks from being trodden 

 upon, for which purpose those now recommended will answer 

 better. In much-frequented places along drives, and in public 

 gardens, parks, and squares, their chief merit will be found. 



The S^oateuk. — As this edition was going through the press, 

 the following note as to the utility of the secateur (already 

 described) came to hand : 



"I have used this useful French pruner for several years. 

 Last season I had occasion to lower two old thorn hedges, which 

 had been shorn for more than forty years. I fixed up a number 

 of stakes, stretched a line the required height, and employed a 

 good workman to cut off the top in an even manner with the 

 secateur, lowering it 18 inches in order to bring a beautiful 

 landscape into view. The work was done in a very even way, 

 and in less than half the time the shears and saw would have 

 taken, the stem being the size of a man's thumb. When such are 

 bent by the hand the cut is then made much more easily, by one 

 edge chiefly. I find the secateur most useful for all kinds of shrub 

 pruning. I have three in use, two of the largest 9 inches long, 

 which I find the most useful, and which cost 6s. 6d. I have never 

 found the spring of the large size get out of order. The rivet 

 should be kept oiled, and then the shears readily spring open." — 

 J. Gakland. 



