PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS 17 



probably be damp and cold, especially in the winter, 

 when the best of conditions are absolutely essential to 

 the well-being of whatever crops are still bedded out. A 

 plot on a gentle slope has much in its favour if it faces 

 towards the sun, but not otherwise. Any aspect from 

 north-east to north-west vid the north is likely to prove 

 unsatisfactory, as it will not get its fair share of warmth 

 and sunshine. Of course, a plot that runs sharply down 

 the side of a hill or embankment will give a good deal 

 of trouble and prove very wasteful of space. The posi- 

 tion of the plot with regard to roads and paths is another 

 matter for consideration. A dusty highway, littered with 

 paper and leaves, will provide the allotment-holder with 

 all sorts of vexations when gusty weather sets in. 



But the most important considerations of all bear on 

 the composition of the soil and its covering. Grass will 

 probably be the most likely surface covering of the plot, 

 but there is grass and grass. Turf of the kind we find 

 on lawns it will naturally be coarser is as easy as any 

 material to deal with. It should be skimmed off the 

 surface and buried face downwards when digging the 

 holding (Plate 3, Fig. 3). Should wireworms be present 

 in any quantities these are tiny things about three- 

 quarters of an inch long, of a shiny yellow chestnut 

 colour, possessing a few hairs on the body it will be well 

 to shave the sods off the surface fairly thinly, turn them 

 upside down and leave them so for a week. The birds, 

 especially plovers, rooks, and starlings, will come and 

 make many a meal ofE them, much to our satisfaction. 

 Then it will be well to sprinkle Vaporite, lime or soot, and 

 give the land a dressing of superphosphate at sowing 



