THE WORK OX THE GROUNDS. 313 



Another way of doing such work, is to do it along 

 with the operation of trenching (described in connection 

 with figure 124). As each section of surface soil is thrown 

 over, laying bare the subsoil, add to or take from the 

 latter enough material to effect the desired grade, after- 

 wards replacing the top layer. 



Where the walks, drives, foundation walls, fountains, 

 etc., come, some earth will need excavating, and this 

 may be used in general shaping. The good surface soil 

 from such places should be kept separate and prized for 

 use. By opening up for walks and drives at this stage, 

 a convenient place is found for depositing any stones 

 that turn up. If there are many of these, often the best 

 and cheapest way to get rid of them, is by excavating 

 deeply for Avalks and drives, and filling them in there; 

 they will thus serve both as foundation and for drainage. 



The best season for rough levelling, draining, and 

 other coarse operations, is late summer or fall. The 

 earth is then likely to be dry — a great point in economi- 

 cal moving — and no injury can possibly arise from the 

 trampling of teams and packing of the soil by wheeling. 

 Then, also, the earth has a chance to settle well by 

 spring, so that the work of planting and lawn making 

 may be commenced early, which is a great advantage. 

 In filling in, ample allowance must be made for settling, 

 by leaving the ground in its loose state, somewhat higher 

 in deep places than in others. In case filling in must 

 be done in the spring, to be followed soon by finishing 

 the improvements, the materials need to be firmly com- 

 pacted by beating or rolling to prevent settling out of 

 shape. 



DRAINAGE. 



The thorough drainage of the soil is important in the 

 pleasure ground. Few plants will succeed in cold, damp, 

 undrained soil, and little comfort or satisfaction can be 

 14 



