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THE GARDENEH, 



the most lovely specimens of womankind that the 

 world produces ; he ought, therefore, to be especially 

 sensible of the high privilege he enjoys, and therefore 

 most attentive to the neatness of his person and attire. 

 His dress however should be very plain and unpre- 

 tending, and of such form as will not incommode him 

 in passing between fl.ower-beds and choice shrubs. 



This reminds me of a woman whom I know in 

 France, who for forty years has worn trowsers instead 

 of petticoats, from having been led to adopt them in 

 her youth, when she was generally occupied in weed- 

 ing flower-beds. The gentleman who employed her, 

 one day remarking that her petticoats bioished his tu- 

 lips rather rudely, said jokingly, wish Jeaneton 

 you would wear a pair of my trowsers instead of 

 those troublesome petticoats.'' The girl, who was 

 then about twelve years old, rephed, that she had no 

 objection to do so. From that time she has invariably 

 worn trowsers (as also a man's short frock shirt), 

 having found them more convenient for weeding in a 

 garden, and all the purposes of the life of labour which 

 she has pursued, than the more correct garments of 

 her sex. I do not, however, mention this peculiarity 

 from any expectation or wish that my countn;'- women 

 should imitate the example of Jeaneton Culottes in 

 this respect, but as a general hint, that long-tailed 

 dresses, for either sex, are unsuited to garden work. 



Situation and Geyieral Arrangement of a Garden, 



Some preliminary remarks respecting the situation 

 and general arrangement of a garden must now be 

 offered. A man cannot often choose the exact site 

 which he desires for it, no more than he can fix the 

 quality of its soil : he must generally take it as he 

 finds it, and he will not hastily break up an old-esta- 

 blished one, because it may have some deficiencies, 

 though gardens are sometimes so injudiciously placed. 



