CULTIVATION 173 



covered. Frost also tends to loosen plants, 

 which, when so found, should be firmly 

 pressed home again. In places where rain 

 has formed a miniature channel, it should be 

 filled up and a stone or two put in to keep 

 the soil in position. 



The frost, snow, and rain of winter, besides 

 removing the soil from the plants, has often 

 the effect of dislodging or loosening the very 

 rocks themselves, no matter how carefully 

 they have been originally built in. There- 

 fore in the spring examine the rockwork 

 carefully, and whenever a crack appears in 

 the soil behind some rock it is a sure sign 

 that it has moved. It should immediately 

 be made firm, either by packing the soil 

 around it or driving in a wedge-shaped stone 

 at its base to get it back into position. When 

 this is accomplished, make quite certain that 

 no air space is left at the back of the rock, 

 even if it should entail removing some of 

 the soil to ascertain it. During the summer, 

 and more especially in very hot, dry weather, 

 the exposed surface of the ground should be 

 kept loose and well pulverised, and, when 



