64 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



times of drought, it will be found advisable to place a good 

 layer of cow manure two, and, if possible, three feet below the 

 surface. Where clayey soil predominates, every effort should be 

 made to lighten it by the use of decayed vegetable matter and 

 turves, littery manure, and gritty road sweepings. 



When the soil has been thus treated, deeply dug, well manured, 

 and thoroughly pulverised on the surface, and sloped gently from 

 the back to the front of the border, it will be ready for replanting. 

 The clumps previously lifted should then be divided. The old 

 roots may be sundered by the use of a sharp spade. In selecting 

 the pieces suitable for replanting, it is well to take them not from 

 the centre of the o'd clump but from the extremities. These are 

 the newer parts of the plant, and therefore the more vigorous. 



Firm planting is a cardinal principle to be observed. It is not 

 enough to make a hole with spade or trowel, thrust in the roots, 

 and fill in with soil. The new plant must rest securely on the 

 bottom of the hole, be packed round tightly with soil, and then, to 

 make assurance doubly sure, it is a good plan to tread carefully 

 all round its crown so as to keep it in position. 



In replanting, as in the making of a new border, it will be 

 advisable to keep an eye on colour schemes, on the necessity for 

 grouping, and on the danger of overcrowding. As the work 

 proceeds retain clearly in the mind the deficiencies presented by 

 the border in previous years, and remedy them by attention to 

 the rules here set forth. In a large border single specimens are 

 lost ; effective grouping alone can provide a satisfactory result. 



