312 A GARDENER'S YEAR

Thursday, the 3rd, was a red-letter day. To begin
with, I do not think that it rained. I commenced it by
arranging with the tradesmen as to the moving of the
iron railings round the Lawn pond, so as to allow of the
addition of the twenty-foot border. This will not be
difficult, but it is astonishing what an amount of extra
railing this trifling alteration will necessitate, apparently
about fifty yards. At half-a-crown a yard or so, this
mounts up, but, fortunately, such raiUngs are a lasting
possession. Before they are put down I propose to re-
move the turf, and then, in order to save labour, with
one of the farm ploughs set as deep as possible, to turn
up the soil in circular furrows, after which it must be dug
and otherwise prepared. Thus, in a few hours a pair
of strong horses will, it is hoped, do the rough work
which it would take a man days to execute. I have also
settled that men accustomed to such things are to come
to-morrow to take down the railings on one side of the
tennis-court, so that we may get on with the addition to
the croquet ground at once. The sooner that job is done
the better will the soil settle and the turf unite before
winter sets in.
Calling at the station after lunch, I found to my
surprise, that the Orchids had arrived from Mr. Tracy,
and at once sent down for them. There were five
plethoric-looking cases, which we began to open without
delay, for what joy is there in this disappointing world
like the joy of unpacking Orchids ? I know that,
neglecting my work, I wasted nearly all the afternoon
at that entrancing task.
