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Prune honey-suckles and roses, and all other kinds of hardy deciduous flowering shrubs that want it, training each with a single stem, and trimming their heads as you shall see occasion; that is, either to cut out or shorten all straggling shoots, in such manner as you shall see necessary, to keep their heads somewhat to a regular form.

In open and settled weather you may now transplant, where necesary, most sorts of hardy deciduous flowering shrubs, both in the nursery order, and for shrubbery plantations, &c. in a dry soil; but where the soil is apt to lodge wet, there should not be any planted therein before February.

Plantations of fruit-tree stocks, for grafting and budding upon, may be made at any time of this month, if mild open weather. Many of those raised from seed, &c. last spring, or the year before, will be fit for this, digging them up out of the seed-bed, &c. with their full roots, and let them be planted in nursery-rows, three or four feet asunder, and fifteen or eighteen inches distant from cach other in the rows; and when they have attained one, or two, year's growth, in these rows, will be proper for budding and grafting..... See the Nursery, in October, for the method of planting; that of March, for grafting, and July and August, for budding.

You may still make layers in open weather of many sorts of deciduous trees and shrubs that you desire to increase.

This work of laying down the branches of shrubs and trees, to propagate them, is very easily performed; and there are a great many kinds of trees and shrubs to be increased by this operation, in the manner following.

In the first place it must be remarked, that the young branches that were produced last summer, are the most proper parts to be layed; for these will put out roots more freely than the branches that are a year or two older. Observing farther, that many of the shrub kinds branching out near the earth, afford an opportunity of laying them with great facility; but such as run up with tall stems, and those of the tree kinds, require that some strong young plants, principally deciduous, with stems one, two, or three inches thick, be cut down near the ground a year or two before, to form stools to furnish a supply of shoots near the earth, convenient for laying therein. The ground must be dug about the shrub or tree that is to be layed; and as you go on, bring down the branches, and fasten them in the ground with hooked pegs, observing to lay down all the young wood on each branch into the earth, covering therewith the body of each layer three or four inches deep, and fastening each also with a peg, if necessary; and raise the tops upright out of the earth.

But in laying some hard-wooded trees and shrubs, it is necessary to slit the layer, by making a gash with a knife on the under-side, slitting it an inch or more upward; so laying that part in the earth, keeping the gash a little open, which will greatly assist the rooting, by promoting the emission of fibres at the cut part. And this may also be performed to the same advantage in the laying of trees and shrubs in general.

Or you may give the young shoot a twist, in that part, which you intend laying in the earth, by which method, it will root more freely, than if laid down without it.

Those which are layed in this or next month, will be tolerably well rooted by next autumn, and may then be separated from the tree, and planted in the nursery to get strength.

Cuttings of many kinds of flowering shrubs and trees may also still be planted: and there are vast numbers of plants that may be propagated by this method. There is hardly any tree or shrub but what may be increased either by this method, or by layers, or suckers from the root.

But the manner of propagating trees or shrubs by cuttings, is this: The cuttings must be young shoots of the last year's growth, which must be cut with a sharp knife from the tree or shrub you desire to propagate; they must be from about six or eight, to twelve or fifteen inches long, according to their strength and manner of growth; let them be planted in rows eighteen inches asunder, and from five to eight inches distance in the row; and every cutting inserted two thirds of its length into the ground.

Propagate gooseberries and currants by cuttings, as directed in October; and prune such of the old plants as require it, agreeably to the directions given in this, and that month.

In open weather, you should, as much as possible, forward the digging and trenching vacant compartments of ground, where young trees and shrubs are to be planted in this and next month.

Now prepare some ground, where it is not wet, for the reception of stones and kernels of hardy fruits, to raise a supply of stocks, for the purpose of budding and grafting upon.

These, may be sown any time this month, observing to sow them in beds four feet wide; cover the stones an inch and a half deep with earth, and the kernels, half an inch: the plants will appear in March, April, and May; when they must be kept clean from weeds, and moderate watering in dry weather will be serviceable, when they are newly come up. Some of them will be fit for transplanting in nursery rows next November.

Sow the various kinds of haw-thorn, holly, red cedar, yew, mezereon, juniper, sweet bay, English and Portugal-laurel berries; likewise, the seeds of hornbeam, ash, spindle-tree, bladder-nut, and all the other kinds of tree, and shrub-seeds, which require a years preparation previous to sowing, as noticed in February. The sooner now, these kinds of seeds are sown, the better; provided the ground be dry, and that it works loose and light.

For particular instructions respecting the sowing of these seeds, &c. see February and March,

THE PLEASURE, OR FLOWER-GARDEN.

Ornamental Designs, and Planting.

THE district commonly called the Pleasure, or Flower-Garden, or Pleasure-ground, may be said to comprehend all ornamental compartments, or divisions of ground, surrounding the mansion; consisting of lawns, plantations of trees and shrubs, flower compartments, walks, pieces of water, &c. whether situated wholly within the space generally considered as the Pleasure-Garden, or extended to the adjacent fields, parks, or other out-grounds.

In designs for a Pleasure-ground, according to modern gardening; consulting rural disposition, in imitation of nature; all too formal works being almost abolished, such as long straight walks, regular intersections, square grass-plats, corresponding parterres, quadrangular and angular spaces, and other uniformities, as in ancient designs; instead of which, are now adopted, rural open spaces of grass-ground, of varied forms and dimensions, and winding walks, all bounded with plantations of trees, shrubs, and flowers, in various clumps; other compartments are exhibited in a variety of imitative rural forms; such as curves, projections, openings, and closings, in imitation of a natural assemblage; having all the various plantations and borders, open to the walks and lawns.

For instance, a grand and spacious open lawn, of grass-ground, is generally first presented immediately to the front of the mansion, or main habitation; sometimes widely extended on both sides, to admit of a greater prospect, &c. and sometimes more contracted towards the habitation; widening gradually outwards, and having each side embellished with plantations of shrubbery, clumps, thickets, &c. in sweeps, curves, and projections, towards the lawn; with breaks or opens of grass-spaces at intervals, between the different plantations; together with serpentine gravel walks, winding under the shade of the trees: extended plantations ought also to be carried round next the outer boundary of the pleasure-ground, when extensive; in various openings and closings, having gravel walks winding through them, for shady and private walking; and in the interior divisions of the ground, serpentine winding walks, and elegant grass openings, ranged various ways, all bordered with shrubberies, and other tree and shrub plantations, flower compartments, &c. disposed in a variety of different rural forms, in easy bendings, concaves, and straight ranges, occasionally; with intervening breaks or opens of grass-ground; both to promote rural diversity, and for communication and prospect to the different divisions; all the parts of the pleasure-ground being so arranged, as gradually to discover new scenes, each furnishing fresh variety, both in the form of the design in different parts, as well as in the disposition of the various trees, shrubs, and flowers, and other ornaments and diversities.

In designs for a Pleasure-ground, according to modern taste, a tract of ground of any considerable extent, may have the prospect varied and diversified exceedingly, in a beautiful representation of art and nature, as that in passing from one compartment to another, still new varieties present themselves, in the most agreeable manner; and even if the figure of the ground is irregular, and the surface has many inequalities, the whole may be improved without any great trouble of squaring or levelling; for by humouring the natural form, you may cause even the very irregularities and natural deformities, to carry along with them an air of diversity and novelty, which fail not to please and entertain most observers.

In these rural works, however, we should not abolish entirely, the appearance of art and uniformity; for these when properly applied, give an additional beauty and peculiar grace, to all our natural productions, and sets nature in the fairest and most beautiful point of view.

But some modern Pleasure-grounds, in which rural design is copied to an extreme, are often very barren of variety and entertainment, as they frequently consist only of a grass-lawn, like a great field; having a running plantation of trees and shrubs all round it, just broad enough, to admit a gravel-walk winding through it, in the serpentine way, in many short twists and turns, and bordering at every turn alternately, upon the outward fence and the lawn; which are continually obtruded upon the sight, exhibiting the same prospect over and over, without the least variation; so as that after having traversed the walks all round this sort of pieasure-ground, we find no more variety or entertainment than at our first entrance, the whole having presented itself at the first view.

Therefore, in laying out pleasure-ground, the designer ought to take particular care, that the whole extent be not taken in at one view; only exhibiting at first a large open lawn, or other spacious open compartment, or grand walk, &c. terminated on each side with plantations of curious trees, shrubs and flowers, exhibiting only some opens at intervals; and behind these have compartments of the like plantations, with grass openings, gravel walks, water, and other ornaments; so that a spectator will be agreeably surprised to find, that what terminated his prospect, only served as an introduction new beauties and varieties.

It is impossible to exhibit any regular direction for planning an extensive pleasure-ground, as the different figures, and situations, &c. of the ground, may require different designs, therefore general hints only, can be given.

Sketch of the Design.

The following general sketch may be varied according to the situation and extent of the ground, and may be useful to persons who are unexperienced in designs of the kind.

With respect to situation, this must be immediately contiguous to the mansion-house, whether high or low situated; remarking, however, that a somewhat elevated situation, or the side or sum

mit of some moderate rising ground, is always the most eligible on which to erect the chief habitation, arranging the pleasure-ground accordingly; such an exposure being the most desirable, both for the beauty of the prospect, and healthfulness of the air; there are however some level situations, forming plains or flats, that possess great advantages, both of soil and prospect, and also the beauties of water, without too copious damps or moisture; there are also some large tracts of ground, consisting both of low and high situations, as level plains, hollows, eminences, declivities, and other inequalities, which may be so improved as to make a most desirable pleasure-garden, as the scene may be varied in the most beautiful man

ner.

The extent of pleasure-ground may be varied according to that of the estate or premises, and the fortune of the owner; so may be from even a quarter or half an acre, to thirty, forty or more.

The ground should be previously fenced, which may be occasionally a hedge, paling or wall, &c. as most convenient.

With respect to the arrangement of the several divisions, the following general sketches are on a supposition of a considerable tract of ground; and if the piece of ground is small, greater simplicity of design must be observed in proportion.

First an open lawn of grass-ground is extended on one of the principal fronts of the mansion or main house, widening gradually from the house outward, having each side bounded by various plantations of trees, shrubs, and flowers, in clumps, thickets, &c. exhibited in a variety of rural forms, in moderate concave and convex curves, and projections, to prevent all appearance of a stiff uniformity; introducing between the plantations at intervals, breaks or opens of grass-ground, communicating with the lawn and internal divisions, in some places widely spread, in others more contracted; leaving also tracts for serpentine gravel-walks, some winding under the shade of the plantations, so conducted as to command views of the lawn and interior divisions occasionally, and at intervals, of the most beautiful parts of the surrounding country.

This ground must be more contracted as it approaches, near the mansion, that company may the sooner arrive in the walks of the shrubbery, wilderness, &c. under the shade and shelter of trees; but the outward extension on each boundary, should widen gradually towards the extreme termination, to give an air of grandeur, and admit of a full prospect from and to the mansion.

Each boundary must be planted with a choice variety of ornamental trees and shrubs, deciduous, and ever-greens, arranged principally in several clumps; some consisting of lofty trees, others being entirely of the shrub kinds, and some consisting of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants together in all of which, arrange the taller growing kinds backward, and the lower forward, according to their gradation of height; embellishing the front with the more curious low flowering shrubs, and ever-greens, interspersed with various herbaceous flowering perennials, all open to the lawn and walks.

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