28 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



hot lime liberally applied, and only the largest lumps slightly slaked 

 — the rest was turned into the soil without being slaked. It was sur- 

 prising how it upheaved the soil and quickly made it as light as a bed 

 of ashes, the sodden and sour condition of the soil being soon changed. 

 Before planting the Sprouts, the ground had to be rolled and made 

 more firm. 



The following autumn and winter a good portion of the garden was 

 treated in this way ; and from time to time, as quarters became vacant, 

 old potting soil, the surface-soil from Vine and Peach borders, old Vine 

 borders, and all kinds of rubbish from various sources that would burn, 

 was burnt and mixed in as well. All the ground was treated as described, 

 and the lime worked into it in the spring, or sufficiently early to get 

 well cooled before the various crops had to be put in. Knowing that 

 soil of a tenacious nature was much better adapted to the growth of 

 good vegetables, and our soil being light, and made lighter still by the 

 heavy application of lime, clay was obtained and liberally scattered 

 over the surface and allowed to lie through the winter, so that the frost 

 caused it to crumble, in which condition it incorporates with the soil 

 much better than if spread on and dug in at once without exposure to 

 the action of the weather. Clay mixed with the soil remains in lumps 

 unless it be either burned or exposed to frost ; and the latter being the 

 best in our case, as the soil was already too light, the clay was dug in 

 at the same time as the lime. This operation was repeated again the 

 following year, but without the application of lime, when the greater 

 portion of the bottom-soil was brought nearer the top. At this time 

 manure was used for the various crops, but not in large quantities j in 

 some cases it was worked in as the trenching proceeded, in others just 

 before the crops were put in : the latter I think preferable. All old 

 soil is still carefully kept, as it proves of much greater service to old 

 gardens than heavy applications of manure. Fresh soil, clay, and lime 

 are capable of bringing old gardens where the soil is light into a 

 thoroughly satisfactory state ; and the latter is, so far as I am able to 

 judge from the effects here, calculated to reduce clubbing to a minimum. 



The garden here will now grow all kinds of vegetables well except 

 Carrots, and we hope that they too will soon succeed. It is question- 

 able if ever the ground was in much better condition than it is now ; 

 and I do not doubt that it will yet considerably improve, and ere long 

 grow first-class vegetables — as good, at least, as can be produced in this 

 changeable and uncertain climate. These notes on the renovation of 

 an old garden are not intended for those who have had similar circum- 

 stances to contend with, and much greater difficulties to surmount, 

 and who have had many years of experience in the renovation of 

 old gardens, and may be able to point out in the ' Gardener ' some 

 facts worth recording ; but they are intended for those who may be 

 labouring under disadvantages in trying to produce vegetables in ex- 

 hausted gardens. Doubtless at first the renovation of impoverished 



