330 SIR HENRY STEUART'S METHOD 



will be necessary, therefore, to provide some kind of 

 cover to be laid on the surface, around the stems of 

 the trees, in the end of April or beginning of May, 

 when dry weather commonly sets in. The refuse of 

 a flax-mill, called in Scotland " shows," is recom- 

 mended as the best of all substances for this pur- 

 pose. Before, however, this covering is applied, it 

 is proper to go over the whole surface of the pit with 

 a wooden beater, of such a weight as to require two 

 men to work it. In using this implement, it should 

 be raised to the height of three feet or more from 

 the ground, so as to descend with the utmost force. 

 This operation is most essential with the beech, 

 the oak, the birch, and such others as are very sen- 

 sitive of drought. 



The surface must then be prepared for grass seeds, 

 by fashioning the earth about the tree, if it swells 

 above the surrounding surface, as it will generally 

 do, into such form as may be most agreeable to the 

 eye. The shows are then to be put on round the 

 stem, and about two yards out from it, to the depth 

 of six inches at the centre, and four at the extremi- 

 ties, beating them down with the spade, in order to 

 prevent the wind from taking hold of them. The 

 grass seeds are then to be sown over the remainder 

 of the surface, raked in and rolled. 



