SOILS AND CULTIVATION IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 389 



weeds, these were also put over the roots, even branchlets of evergreens 

 being used, as preventing the direct action of the sun. Not one of 

 these Hollies was lost in spite of the drought, though the turf near, on 

 the same slope, was like dust, but the covering of waste material given 

 kept the earth about the trees moist during the drought. 



A Bamboo Plantation. A plantation of hardy bamboos was 

 made in quite a different situation in mid June a hollow slightly 

 shaded with trees, and therefore not nearly so much exposed to danger 

 as the southern slope above mentioned. It is known, however, that 

 bamboos are the better for mulching in any situation, and as there 

 was no manure at hand, and even if there had been it would have 

 needed a good deal of carting, the waste and weeds near were placed 

 over the surface of the ground. In this case, mowings, dead flower- 

 stems, scum of a pond (which was very bad this year, coming off in 

 masses of most indestructible stuff), were laid over the surface of the 

 bamboo plantation, in which the plants did remarkably well, and never 

 turned a leaf. On taking up some plants of the Japan bamboo, which 

 had been put in too thickly and were wanted for another place, we 

 found the roots and suckers growing finely after only five months' 

 growth. 



Protecting Young Orchards. An orchard of fine young 

 standard trees was planted in 1897 on a rather steep slope to the 

 south, where the soil was not good. Faggots of little value, the 

 sweepings of roads, and any vegetable refuse about the yards were 

 put over these 4 feet all round. It would be impossible to see trees 

 healthier or less affected by the starving drought of the hot year. 

 Such aid would not be so precious in good valley land, but in many 

 soils it is of the greatest help. 



Using Weeds Where They Grow. Very often weeds are 

 removed from the surface of garden ground which would be much 

 more useful if left where they grew buried, if there be room, or 

 allowed to dry up if cut off very small, as they always, if possible, 

 should be. The upper surface of garden ground is the best of it, 

 owing to mulching and manuring, and to take away the best of the 

 ground is bad gardening. What would become of the farmer who 

 systematically removed an inch of the surface of his best fields ? It 

 would be folly ; and it is no less so in the garden. The winter 

 being a very mild one, encouraged the growth of weeds very much, 

 and, where there was other work going on, they got too big. A planta- 

 tion of barberries, evergreen and others, was in this state in early 

 summer, the weeds nearly as high as the bushes. They were cut down 

 with much labour, and I just came upon the scene when the carter 

 was beginning to take away the surface of rich weeds and soil, and I 

 left the weeds and soil where they were, spreading them equally 



