i88i.] THE RENOVATION OF AN OLD GARDEN. 27 



it were good, because they grew worse and worse until it was difficult 

 to produce a Cabbage. If planted, tbe whole would club before being 

 ready for use, and had to be cleared away. Many attempts had been 

 made to obtain a new garden, but without success. Although late in 

 the season when it passed into my charge, and the time for cropping 

 close at hand, I resolved to try in earnest to see what could be 

 done towards improving the condemned garden. However, in the 

 first season but little was accomplished, owing to the large quantity 

 of work remaining to be done, both under glass and in the outdoor 

 departments. The little that was done was done well ; and during 

 the summer season preparation was made as opportunity offered to 

 make a good start in early autumn. But, the greater portion of the 

 garden was dug and cropped only to disappoint and annoy ; for all the 

 Brassica tribe clubbed and went off as on previous occasions, except a 

 good batch of Brussels Sprouts that was planted upon the ground pre- 

 pared as the whole garden was intended to be done. The Sprouts 

 were really grand, and gave good hope of improving the ground if the 

 plan started was well and thoroughly carried out, — not one clubbed. 



The portion on which they were planted was considered the worst in 

 the garden, but fortunately it turned out to be the best, with a little 

 extra labour the first season. Heavily manuring an old garden that has 

 become impoverished or worn out does not mend the evil, and is, com- 

 paratively speaking, of no use. Deep digging cannot be too highly 

 recommended in the improvement of old gardens ; but great care is 

 requisite not to bring to the surface too much of the soil that has been 

 undisturbed at the bottom for years, or it will be some time before it 

 is sufficiently fertile to produce a crop, especially if in a sour and un- 

 satisfactory condition, as was the garden here. It had evidently not 

 been disturbed deeper than 8 or 9 inches below the surface for some 

 years. The subsoil was poor hungry -looking stuff to bring up to 

 grow vegetables in, if the ordinary system of trenching had been adopt- 

 ed. In the soil-yard there was found a large heap of old soil that had 

 been used for growing Cucumbers and Melons, and for other purposes, 

 which, when cleared out of the houses, had been allowed to accumulate : 

 this was removed to a piece of ground intended to be operated upon. In 

 another enclosure were leaves and grass, which had been wheeled from 

 the lawns and allowed to remain for years, and were thoroughly rotted. 

 Quantities of this were carted upon the ground and spread over the 

 surface 6 inches thick, ready when the work of trenching commenced. 

 Only 2 or 3 inches of the bottom-soil were brought to the surface ; 

 the leaf-mould and about 2 inches of the surface-soil were placed in 

 the bottom, with some of the fresh soil well worked amongst a portion 

 of the subsoil — in fact, nearly as much care was taken in mixing the 

 whole as if required for potting purposes. The layer of soil near the 

 surface had no vegetable matter, but an extra quantity of the fresh soil 

 incorporated with it. In addition to this, the whole had a dressing of 



