31 



to consider is " How to prepare the soil ? " This is most important, 

 and on whether it is done properly or not very often depends the 

 the success or failure of the border. To merely clear the ground of 

 any refuse or vegetation which happens to be present, and which has 

 probably already impoverished the soil, is to court failure or even 

 disaster. Under such conditions, it is true, plants may " exist " for 

 some time, but it is a certain fact that they will never be enabled to 

 attain a flourishing condition. 



For general purposes a loamy, well-drained soil will be found to 

 produce the most satisfactory results. Where this condition is not 

 already at hand steps must be taken to leaven the soil by the addition 

 of long or short manure, leaf soil, peat or sand, as the nature of the soil 

 demands, and in such quantities as seem desirable. If it is a very 

 hsavy soil or a clayey ground that has to be dealt with it should be set 

 about in the autumn for preference, thoroughly drained, and trenched 

 to a depth of at least 2 feet, and plenty of " long " stable manure and 

 leaf-soil added and well worked in. Failing a supply of long manure, 

 as is sometimes the case, long green vegetation, the tops of plants, will 

 make an efficient substitute. After allowing the frost, &c., to help to 

 break up the clayey lumps during winter, a good forking back in early 

 spring will go a long way to finish making the ground in a good con- 

 dition for planting. A light sandy soil, which, however, would probably 

 not need such precautions as regards drainage, should also be thoroughly 

 trenched and plenty of good "short " stable manure, leaf soil, and cow 

 manure worked in, all these being beneficial in improving a light soil. 

 Any soil, also, which is lacking in or deficient in lime should have a 

 sufficient supply of this necessary factor added. This is usually 

 necessary in a clay soil. In conclusion, on the point of ground pre- 

 paration, it is essential to recognize that, in addition to providing a 

 storehouse of food upon which the roots will draw, the necessity of 

 furnishing adequate moisture is scarcely of less moment, and may even, 

 under certain circumstances, become the primary factor upon which 

 success or failure ultimately turns. Hence it follows that only 

 deep digging, i.e. trenching, will attain this dual result, as the 

 process of moving the soil not only aerates it, but tends also to 

 liberate and produce elements readily available for the roots, while 

 such a soil is more conservative of its moisture than one which is 

 but shallowly dug. 



Background and its Construction. There are various ways in which 

 a suitable background, as well as being effective, can be constructed 

 for the border. Where the latter is made at the base of a wall or 

 against a building, great care should be taken to avoid having the 

 back portion of the border choked up with tall-growing vegetation 

 with the idea of screening the bareness of the wall behind. 



This desirable object can be obtained just as easily and with far 

 greater effect by training over the face of the wall such plants as 

 Choisya, Clematis, Jasmine, or Forsythia suspensa. If, however, a 

 background of ornamental shrubs is to be constructed, it should be 



A 9 



