136 GROUND FOR A GARDEN. 



a fair return. This sour, cold, unyielding soil, 

 like a churlish disposition, can be greatly im- 

 proved by kindly treatment. It wants mellow- 

 ing up as so many people do. Though in both 

 cases we like to go into the improving business 

 where it can be done readily, and effort goes 

 a good ways; still, when driven to it by con- 

 science or necessity, we find much improve- 

 ment possible, even under the most adverse 

 circumstances. 



In no instance is the old adage more clearly 

 verified, "Too much of a good thing," etc., 

 as with the soil in question. Water, moisture, 

 is the prime necessity of the garden, but this 

 Kind of land retains it to such a degree that 

 there is always too much on hand. In the 

 heat of summer the ground is like a sun-dried 

 brick, while its roots are mouldering in a 

 sour, soggy soil. The first step is to drain 

 orT the evil. Too much water in land is like 



