D I G 



D I G 



meiUation takes place, by which heat is not only 

 evolved, hut variou-: otl.cr substances necessary 

 lor the purpose ot Itcallhv vegetation proviilcd. 

 But whtrc tiie object is chiefly tiiai of protiu- 

 cinir a line mellowness in the mould, it niav be 

 pcrFomied at suitable leisure times in the autmnn, 

 being ridged or laid up so as to be exposed to 

 the full influence of the winter frosts, and be in 

 a proper condition for being levelled down and 

 sown or planted upon in the early sprine. 



In bringing garden land into a suitable state 

 for the reception of crops, it is an usel'd prac- 

 tice in some cases, especially v.here tht sub-soil 

 is of a good rich quality, to have it trenched 

 over, paring oft" the surface, and turning it to 

 the bottom, to be covered by the earth from be- 

 low ; but this should never be attempted except 

 for tap-rooted crops, where the under soil is of a 

 stcril unfriendly nature, as by such means the 

 bed ftir the immediate reception of the seeds or 

 plants mast become very unfriendly to their 

 growth, while the rich surface vegetable iTiate- 

 rial will be placed out of their reach, and lost. 

 This sort of work mav he perfonncd either in 

 the autumn or spring months ; but in the more 

 heavy, adhesive soils it should always he per- 

 formed when the weatlicr is dry, as under other 

 circumstances the mould is liable to become 

 lumpy and uneven, and of course unfit for the 

 putting in of crops. 



In the execution of the first n>ode, or that of 

 plain digging, the workman proceeds by begin- 

 ning at one end of the piece of ground, forming 

 .1 trench or opening quite across, to the depth 

 which may be considered necessary, as from half 

 a spit to a spit, according to the crop to be put 

 in, and the same width, conveying the earth 

 taken out to the opposite end, where the work 

 is to finish; then proceeding with a second 

 course across as before, turning the different 

 spits in a clean, neat, even manner, into the 

 former opening, continuing the saiTie rcffular 

 courses till the whole is dug over, breaking and 

 reducing the lumps and clods as much as pos- 

 sible, being careful to. ^" -erve a level even sur- 

 face, having a due regard to any hollows or 

 depressions that may be present. The earth 

 taken out from the iirst opening or trench will 

 serve to fcll up atid render the" last even and 

 level ; and when dung is applied, it may either 

 be spread evenly over Ihe surface, and regularly 

 tLirned in, or placed in the hollow or trench, and 

 covered by the disrging of the following trench. 

 This is much the nest practice where the dung is 

 of a rather littery nature. As the work ad- 

 vances, the roots of perennial weeds, such as 

 iwittte, bear-bind, and others of tin- same sort, 



should be csreFully picked out, as they nniliii !y 

 f.ist by being divided ; and ih- surface-ou'-s b- 

 well turned to the b.ntoin. 



In the latter, or trench methot' of diggin"-, the 

 usual practice is ta hi.;;:n at one cird ot the pifco 

 of ground, and form or open by a line and 

 the spade a trench two spi's wide, to the d.-pth 

 of one or two, removing the earth lakcii out to 

 the contrary end, for the purpose of fiilinj up 

 the Ian trench ; tiien to form a second trcMcli in 

 the same manner, after having pared off the sur- 

 face, and pl.ice.l it in the bottom of llic former; 

 proceedinir in the sam;: way til! the whole i< 

 trenched over. In this mode it ij nsua! to sho- 

 vel up and take out the reduced mo'.ddorcnunbs 

 from the bottoms of the tr»!nches in each course 

 of digeing. In executing the labor.r in this 

 sort of digging, the workman stands with his 

 side to the trench, while in the firmer case he 

 faces it. This practice is particularly n«cful 

 where the ground is nu'.ch infested with weeds, 

 and where the soil is stilT", nr not of great depth. 

 The dung in this way of digging, where it is 

 made to the depth of only one spit, may be put 

 in the bottom ; but when two sp.u'.es' depth arc 

 employed, it should be put in upcin the first spit, 

 after it has been dug otf and placed in the bot- 

 tom of tiie former trench or opening, as by this 

 me.Tns it will not be buried to too great a depth, 

 which v.-ould otherwise be the case. 



The trench digging of garden gronnd may be 

 performed either in a level surface, as in com- 

 mon digging, or in rough ridges : the first is 

 the best method when innncdiate sowinir is in- 

 tended ; but the latter in general w here the land 

 is to remain some time before it receives the crop, 

 as in this way it will derive the greatest advan- 

 tage from the influence of the atmosphere, and 

 be more fully reduced, and rendered line in the 

 mould by being levelled down, when thesowinn- 

 or planting is to be performed. ]?ut where the 

 soils are of a thin, gravelly, or sandy nature, as 

 they are liable to part with their moisture too 

 freely, and do not stand much in need of pulveri- 

 zation, it would seem the best pr.icticc to con- 

 stantly dig them in a plain or level surface, as bv 

 such means the eftects of cvaj)oration will be 

 most efTectually guarded acainst. 



In general, all sorts of digginir nnd levelling 

 down, especially in the strtiiT^f.-t- of snil"^ 

 should bt executed when thegroin;d is n: a stale 

 somewhat inclining to dpi-ncss, as it can never 

 be done to advantage when in a very moist or 

 clogcy condition, 



D'GITALI.S. a genus comprising plant< of 

 the herbaceous hnrtly flowering bicuni:d r.nd 

 P'-.-ennial kinds. 



