SOILS. 75 



preach in practice. Upon two soils as different 

 from each other as soils can be, though only 

 separated by a narrow stream, I have grown Roses 

 which have won the premier prizes at our chief 

 " All England" shows. On one side of the brook 

 the ground is naturally a strong, red, tenacious 

 clay ; on the other, a very light, weak, porous 

 loam, with a marl}' subsoil. 



The first thing to do with a cold adhesive clay 

 is to drain it, and to drain it well. When water 

 stagnates around the roots of a plant, they cannot 

 receive the air or the warmth which are alike es- 

 sential to their health, nay life. Cut your drains, 

 with a good fall, straight, and 4 feet deep ; and do 

 not forget, when you have made them, to look 

 from time to time, in seasons of wet, whether or 

 no they are doing their duty. Use tiles, not 

 fagots, which soon, in most cases become non-con- 

 ductors. 



Having provided channels of escape for the 

 superabundant moisture, make it as eas}^ as may 

 be, in the next place, for the moisture to reach 

 them. Trench your ground, and, by exposing it 

 to atmospheric influence, make it as porous and 

 friable as you can. Then consider what additions 

 you may introduce to its improvement. " Any- 

 thing," writes Morton, in his work upon the Nature 



