ffe^^: 



PREPARATION OF NEW GROUNDS. 



into the lowest parts until the leveling is accomplished, leaving the ground in a state 

 totally unfif for the growth of cither trees or grass; and that, too, even after a great 

 amount of labor has been expended in replacing the surface. We can at this moment 

 point to multitudes of gardens, and to many important public grounds, ruined by 

 this ignorant process. The true way is, to throw all the surface soil that is worth 

 saving on one side, remove the subsoil to the proper depth, and then to replace the 

 natural surface. Draining is not absolutely necessary in all cases, but yet there are 

 few in which it can be entirely dispensed with. There can be no healthy or luxuriant 

 growth of trees or plants where there is stagnant mositure in the soils. The common 

 opinion is, that draining is only necessary when water lodges on the surface ; but this 

 is a great error, for many soils that appear perfectly dry on the surface stand in the 

 greatest need of draining. A stiff" clay subsoil, or a mixture of sand, clay, and 

 gravel, almost as hard as iron, holds water like a basin, and the ground, although 

 apparently dry on the surf;\ce, becomes sour, and bakes together in a solid imper- 

 vious mass. Beside, it is unhealthy to live in the neighborhood of W'et or badly 

 drained soils, and unpleasant to cultivate them. Perfect drainage is one thing indis- 

 pensable, and fortunately the means of doing it are within every one's reach. Where 

 stones abound these may be used ; otherwise, tile, Avhich is now manufactured exten- 

 sively in many parts of the country. We advise every one who has grounds to 

 improve, and desire full and reliable information on the subject, to refer to the reports 

 of Mr. T. G. Yeomaxs, of Walworth, N. Y., or Mr. John Johnson, of Geneva, to 

 the New York State Agricultural Society.*' 



Next to draining comes the process of deepening by trenching or subsoil plowing. 

 This is an operation of the utmost importance in all soils and situations. In this 

 country we are subject in summer to severe protracted drouths, during which trees, 

 plants, or grass, on a shallow soil can barely sustain a feeble existence. In small 

 places ti'enching is preferable, and for the fruit and kitchen garden we would recom- 

 mend it in all cases. It is the true way to give the soil a thorough and permanent 

 deepening. It is not merely an additional depth we gain by trenching; it also 

 enables surplus moisture to pass off freely into the drains, and keeps the soil sweet 

 and porous. Scarcely a day passes that we do not see or hear the most conclusive 

 evidences in favor of trenching. A short time ago a gentleman said to us, " I have 

 made up my mind that it is perfectly idle to attempt making a lawn, or to expect a 

 luxuriant growth of trees in untrenched soil. I have tried to do it for seven years, 

 and during all that time had the mortification to see my grass nearly die out every 

 summer, and the trees grow by inches instead of feet." lie finally made up his mind 

 to try what effect trenching would have, and has now the satisfaction to see his trees 

 grow vigorously, and his lawn as green as emerald in the dryest times. " Now," he 

 says, " I advise every man to trench." Every experienced cultivator knows well the 

 advantages of a deep soil. No where is its effects more ob\nous than on the lawn. 

 In our own grounds one portion of a small plot was trenched deeply before it was 

 seeded, and it rejoices in the deepest verdure in all weathers ; another portion was 



* See Transactions of New York State Agricultural Society. 



