THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



termined, the dimensions should be staked out or 

 marked off. The top soil of the trench should be 

 removed and placed alongside. The use of a 

 plough, if the trench is sufficiently long and wide 

 to permit it, will save much labour. The top soil 

 can thus be thoroughly loosened and more easily 

 and quickly shovelled out. The subsoil should 

 then be removed to the proper depth. 



A little calculation and planning before actual 

 operations are commenced will prevent a waste 

 of time and money, and I would say patience, ex- 

 cept that patience in garden lovers is supposedly 

 inexhaustible. It is well to figure out in advance 

 the cubical contents of the trench and decide where 

 all the subsoil is to be disposed and where all the 

 new top soil is to be obtained. The handling either 

 in carts or wheelbarrows should be so arranged 

 that soil is moved both ways in one operation; 

 that is — the loads of discarded subsoil taken from 

 the trench, should, when dumped, be replaced 

 by the top soil to be taken to the trench. Ob- 

 viously the less number of trips, and the shorter 

 the haul, the less the expense. 



The mixing of the top soil with the well- 

 rotted manure or compost can be done either 



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