HOW TO PREPARE THE SOIL 



where the top soil is obtained or at the trench 

 itself, whichever may be more convenient. But it 

 must be thoroughly mixed; not put in the trench 

 in layers. A proportion of one part by bulk of 

 manure or compost to nine parts of top soil will 

 be satisfactory in most instances. 



The trench should be more than filled. It 

 should be heaped up and rounded over above the 

 level of the adjoining ground, for it will settle 

 and sink to a surprising degree. For this reason 

 it is best to prepare the beds or trenches some 

 time in advance of planting: two or three months 

 is not too long. The ground can be used for 

 annuals or seedlings until it is time to put in 

 the peonies. In case the trench shall have settled 

 below the level of the garden, additional top soil 

 should be added. 



Although the result of planting peonies in this 

 way justifies the trouble required, the construc- 

 tion of such a trench is not to be lightly under- 

 taken. Should the trench be of generous pro- 

 portions, the handling of many tons of soil is in- 

 volved. As a rough standard of comparison which 

 may be useful to the prospective trench maker, I 

 will give the data on one of the trenches I have 



10 145 



