HAND-BOOK OF PRACTICAL 



line sloping underneath, as it were, so that when the roller is 

 passed over it, the line of demarkation will be perceptible only 

 by the change of gravel to turf. 



Roll the Walks and Roads. — Frequent rolling of the path- 

 ways during winter is essential to keeping them firm and 

 smooth. It matters not whether they are traveled upon or not, 

 they should be rolled over every time when the frost is out of 

 the surface two inches or more. The same should be done after 

 every rain during the open seasons of the year. 



Garden Soil will always pay for trenching deep, even if done 

 with the spade ; but remember to keep all the time the good or 

 surface soil at the top, and not bury it at the bottom, as we have 

 seen done by some gardeners. If the expense of trenching the 

 whole garden this year be too much for the purse, then select 

 one portion for this season's improvement and another for next 

 year. Clay soils are especially benefited by trenching, and 

 while such soils are not specially adapted to early crops, the 

 trenching will be found a great aid in the aeration it gives 

 toward eorliness, and for a dry, hot summer a clay soil trenched 

 is superior to any of lighter texture. 



Deciduous Trees and Shrubs should be planted just as early in 

 the season as the ground will work freely. Do not delay ; for 

 although many a tree succeeds when transplanted late in the 

 season, should an unfavorable season occur, it will not grow as 

 vigorously, and frequently gets so small a hold in the soil, that 

 although alive at the commencement of winter, spring finds it 

 without vitality sufficient to make a new growth. 



Turfing New Grounds. — When turf is to be laid, the ground 

 should be permitted to lay and settle during one or two good 

 rains before the turf is put on, otherwise it will settle unevenly 

 and the turf be full of holes. After the ground has become well 

 settled, rake it over anew and level again ; then roll, and again 

 rake as you lay the turf. Laying the turf irregularly, or rather 

 with intervening spaces of one to two inches wide, and filling 

 with soil, then seeding with grass seed and rolling all down 

 together, is now practiced pretty generally and with great 



