114 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



that the only possible way of obviating such injury was " deep 

 and thorough trenching of the soiV^ to supply an abundance 

 of moisture, and the only mode in which the natural dryness 

 of our atmosphere could be overcome. 



Let us look a little into the rationale of this, and learn 

 wherein our practice should differ from that of the other con- 

 tinent, taking, for a comparison, Great Britain. 



1st. The average quantity of rain which falls in New Eng- 

 land is greater than that in most parts of Great Britain, though 

 from the proverbially moist climate of that country it is sup- 

 posed to be much less. According to tables regularly kept in 

 the garden of the London Horticultural Society, at Chiswick, 

 near London, the yearly quantity of rain which falls there, is 

 about 28 inches : while at Boston it is about 43 inches, mak- 

 ing the very great difference of fifteen inches in our favor. 

 It is true the larger portion of this great quantity falls in the 

 early spring and late autumn months, before active vegetation 

 commences and after it is nearly suspended, and when it can 

 apparently be less available than in the summer season, during 

 the period of rapid growth : then again our rains fall in large 

 quantities and at remote periods, as was experienced the last 

 year, when the total for 1854 was upwards of 45 inches, the 

 average of the last ten years being only 42 ; yet the drought 

 of last summer was considered one of the most severe we 

 have had for many years. The total quantity of rain for the 

 three months from June to September could not have been 

 more than four or five inches ! Thus, while the rains of 

 Great Britain fall in moderate and drizzling showers, often 

 for several days in succession, ours are sudden, deluging the 

 ground, and are invariably followed by a burning sun which 

 soon evaporates all that has not sunk deep into the soil. 



2d. The average temperature of our summers is much 



higher than that of Great Britain. The tables at Chiswick 



and Boston exhibited the following averages : — 



Chiswick. Boston. 



June, . . . 61.7 June, . . . 67.19 



July, . . . 67.7 July, . . . 72.19 



August, . . 63.3 August, . . 70.53 



