Chap. II. of Gardening. 



They make ufe of fmall wooden Stakes or Spikes, which 

 are drove down eaven with the Ground, and quite over- 

 head at the Foot of the Leveling-S ticks, by fetting upon 

 them the ftanding Meafure, and reducing them exadly to 

 this Height, when they would not bank up, or clear the 

 Earth from the Stakes, which is left to a Man's own Choice. 

 Thefe Spikes are alfo of ufe to recover the Meafures, in cafe 

 the Leveling-Sticks fhould be moved, or that they fliould 

 be voluntarily taken up as ftanding in the way, and to 

 ftrain the Line from the Head of one to the other," for ma- 

 king the Pattern-Lines abovemention'd. 



W HEN the Ground is too uneaven and rough, you muft 

 begin, firft of all, to break it up with the Plough, to deftroy 

 the Weeds, and then harrow over every Part of it to level 

 the Banks or Hillocks, and fill up the Cavities. This ferves 

 likewife, to render the Earth more eafy and friable, as well 

 for removing and tranfporting, as for driving the Stakes 

 and other things neceffary. ' 



There remains no more, before I proceed to the Pra- 

 aice of Leveling, but to fpeak of the Method of digging 

 and removing Earth. 



When the Earth is to be dug or cut to make a Terrafs : 

 Bank, Bowling-green, Canal, &c. they make ufe of Mat- 

 tocks, Pick-axes, Spades, and Shovels j and there are Men 

 who do nothing but fill the Baskets, Scuttles, and Wheel- 

 barrows, that keep behind thofe who dig. To forward this 

 Work, fuppofing they have a great Height to cut, they un- 

 dermine the Foot of it with a Pick-ax, and hollow it a little 

 before them towards the Bottom, with this Precaution, that 

 no Body go upon the Ground above, for fear it fall, and' hurt 

 the Men that are working below. When they have proceed- 

 ed a little to hollow it round about, they caufe the Men to 

 retire, and getting at Top of the Ground, where fome Pieces 

 of Wood have been drove in, with four or five Men to help 

 weigh upon it, they throw down vaft Quantities of Earth at 

 once. I have experienced, that this Method forwards the 

 Work extremely. When they meet with Rocks or Quarries, 

 they make ufe of Gun-powder to blow them up, by placing 

 ieveral fmall Barrels of Powder at the Foot of tliem, to 



P 2 which 



V . , 



