He plants seven rose trees on the north side and seven on the south, and if they do not grow up all the same size and shape it worries him so that he cannot sleep of nights.
Every flower he ties to a stick.

This interferes with his view of the flower, but he has the satisfaction of knowing it is there, and that it is behaving itself.

The lake is lined with zinc, and once a week he takes it up, carries it into the kitchen, and scours it.

In the geometrical centre of the grass plot, which is sometimes as large as a tablecloth and is generally railed round, he places a china dog.

The Germans are very fond of dogs, but as a rule they prefer them of china.
The china dog never digs holes in the lawn to bury bones, and never scatters a flower-bed to the winds with his hind legs.