22 The Flower Garden 



will have decayed, but along the sides and underneath 

 it will be found ready. for use. Add to it every bit of 

 available vegetable matter during the year, including 

 the annual flowers pulled up after their season of 

 bloom, the tops of such root-plants as Cannas, Cala- 

 diums, Gladioli, etc., and you will soon have a supply 

 quite adequate to the needs of an ordinary garden. 

 Where there are water-works the hose may be turned 

 on frequently to hasten decomposition. If it is im- 

 possible to replace all poor soil in the garden with 

 better, by the addition of leaf-mould and manure, 

 much may be accomplished in the way of building up 

 the old and rendering it suitable. 



If the plot to be used can be ploughed up, well 

 manured, and sown to clover, the clover turned under 

 in the fall, a good top-dressing of manure given, 

 and the whole turned again in the spring, the soil 

 should be in good garden condition. 



Where the soil is a good, warm loam the addi- 

 titon of fertilisers will always give excellent results, 

 though there is the disadvantage of weeds and extra 

 cultivation to consider. The first cost of suitable 

 earth is great, but it pays in the end in the saving of 

 fertilisers, labour, expensive seeds and flowers. 



