How to manage a Garden 



if he were to be compelled to judge a man's qualification 

 for a gardener by one act alone, he would hand him a 

 spade, meaning thereby that a man who could dig thoroughly 

 and intelligently was sufficiently imbued with a knowledge 

 of the elementary principles of horticulture that there was 

 little fear of his making fatal errors in other directions. 

 This idea will be thoroughly endorsed by all who have had 

 sufficient scope for observation. As generally understood 

 digging means the turning over and working of the first 

 spit of soil, so as to bring it into a fit state to receive and 

 provide for the necessaries of plant life. We must under- 

 stand clearly that soil is not only a medium in which to 

 grow plants, and to afford them sufficient anchorage to 

 support their superterrene portion, but it also possesses 

 within it, and is in fact made up of, plant food, which has, 

 by the right quantity of air, moisture, and warmth, to be 

 brought into a state available for the plant. When we 

 recognise that without air, water, and warmth in the soil, 

 in a word, without cultivation, the plant cannot thrive, we 

 may perhaps be led to understand more clearly the why 

 and wherefore of cultivation. 



There are a few rules relating to digging which might 

 here be laid down. A good clean spade is necessary 

 and should be not less than ten inches in depth. Drive 

 the spade into the ground almost vertically and well up 

 to or even beyond the hilt. By sloping the spade we 

 necessarily lessen the depth of digging. Do not take 

 too much at each spit. Turn it well over and take 

 especial care to break up that portion of the soil be- 

 neath, which cannot come under the pulverising influ- 

 ence of frost. This is too often neglected. Keep a 

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