42 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



such heavy elements as cow and pig manure, and clay that has 

 previously been laid up, dried, and broken into as small pieces 

 as it is possible to reduce it. It will be found a good plan also to 

 dig into such soil, as opportunity permits in the autumn, decayed 

 vegetable refuse, such as the leaves of cabbages, the haulm of 

 peas, and the decaying stalks of brussels sprouts. These will 

 help to enrich the ground and to give it that binding quality of 

 which it stands in need. The task of improving hungry, sandy 

 soil will be a slow one, but if the remedies recommended are 

 persistently and frequently adopted they are certain to be 

 successful. 



Now we come to the opposite extreme namely, the heavy clay 

 soil which is so distressingly familiar to the suburban gardener 

 in many parts of London. The most certain remedy for this 

 condition of things lies in heavy and untiring manual labour. 

 In a word, the ground -needs digging and trenching again and 

 again before it can be brought into a state of 'assured fertility. 

 The object in this case is, of course, to open the soil so as to admit 

 of a freer passage of air and water. Frequent digging is by far 

 the most efficacious method of inducing this desirable result, 

 but other and extraneous means may be brought into play. These 

 are the incorporation with the soil, as it is trenched, of such dis- 

 integrating elements as coarse sand, gritty road sweepings, and, 

 in moderation, sifted coal ashes. Light manure should also be 

 used generously, but in this case well-decayed littery horse manure 

 only should be employed. The sand, the road sweepings, and the 

 littery manure should be spread evenly over the ground just 

 before digging, and then be buried fairly deep. 



A subsoil composed chiefly of chalk will, as a rule, be found to 

 have deposited upon it merely the thinnest of surface coverings. 

 In this case it is useless to attempt to grow ordinary garden 

 produce which requires a deep root-run, and the only remedy to 

 be adopted is one that may involve expense. This is to have the 

 foundation thoroughly broken up and to bring in and lay upon 

 it, to a considerable depth, soil suitable for the purpose it is desired 

 to attain. 



