SUBURBAN GARDENING. 803 
To compensate for this continual withdrawal from the stores of the soil 
an annual supply of such food as the plants require should be 
added at the surface, which is the only available spot. Every shower 
of rain will act on this surface dressing and carry some of its fertilising 
properties downwards, while the roots of the plants nearest the surface 
will be nourished directly and encouraged. ‘This will give a general 
indication of the kind of compost most likely to answer the purpose. 
It should be rich in suitable materials, and in a condition easily soluble, 
‘It should not be littery in appearance, for it is to be applied to the 
ornamental part of the garden. This compost will vary according to cir- 
cumstances. It should be prepared as opportunity offers and may consist 
of such thoroughly decomposed vegetable matter as can be most easily 
obtained, foremost among which may be named leaves of trees decayed 
into leaf mould, top-spits of old turf, especially of a loamy texture. Both 
these ingredients supply excellent food for nearly all sorts of plants, and 
when they have been turned over a few times, and are well pulverised, 
the food is in a condition of which the roots will rapidly take advantage. 
Well rotted dung, soot, and almost any other fertiliser, may go to 
enlarge and enrich the compost heap, the formation of which should be 
always going on in some reserve spot from whence it can be easily 
conveyed to any part of the garden where it may be wanted. This 
compost may be made still more valuable by the admixture of some of 
the good artificial manures which are now everywhere obtainable, and 
which supply easily soluble food for plants in general. By careful 
admixture the artificial manure will get evenly distributed; and, as it 
rarely happens that much of it is wanted at any one spot, the compost 
heap may well be made the means of causing its distribution in such 
doses as are compatible with its own richness and the wants of the 
plants it is applied to. This will be found a good plan for avoiding 
the injuries which sometimes occur through concentrated chemical] 
fertilisers being applied in too large quantities, a cause of much mischief 
when they are applied by the inexperienced. 
As has been hinted above, now is the time for planting 
many kinds of bulbs out of doors. Most of them will thrive 
in beds and borders prepared as above described. Crocuses should 
be got in the ground directly they are received from the seeds- 
man, for they rapidly deteriorate, and are usually ready to com- 
mence forming roots as soon as they can be purchased. Snowdrops, 
Winter Aconites, and all other early blooming bulbs, should also be 
planted early. They should be placed not less than two inches below 
the surface, and where the soilis light in texture they may be planted 
deeper with advantage, especially Crocuses, if they are intended to 
occupy the same spot for more than one year, their habit being to 
grow nearer the surface every year. Tulips and Hyacinths may be 
planted somewhat later, and batches may be reserved to be planted 
later still to provide a succession of bloom. Both sorts of bulbs are 
plentiful and cheap. Where quantities are grown, it is as well to grow 
masses of the same kind together, so as to ensure uniformity in height, 
