GROUND FOR A GARDEN. 131 



not utterly porous and leachy, it may be some- 

 what permanently improved by the ploughing 

 in of green crops, as clover or buckwheat. 

 If clay can be obtained at no great distance, 

 and at moderate cost, it might pay well on a 

 small scale to topdress the garden thoroughly 

 and often, with this, thus giving the soil a greater 

 consistency and retaining power. Mr. Thomas 

 Skene, the accomplished gardener on Gov. 

 Fish's estate, which is just across the river from 

 us, described to me a very successful experi- 

 ment in the use of clay. In the grounds under 

 his care, there was a steep hill-side facing 

 the south-east. It was so dry, leachy, and 

 barren, that nothing would grow, and it was 

 impossible to keep a pretty green sod on the 

 place. The loose sand and gravel would not 

 retain manure long enough for any real benefit. 

 Mr. Skene remedied the e\il in the following 

 simple way : Commencing at the bottom of 



