56 THE WILD GARDEN. 



book to tell all the charms and merits belonging to tlie nse 

 of a variety of small plants to carpet the ground beneath and 

 between those of larger growth. It need hardly be said that 

 this argnnient against digging applies to two or three beds of 

 shrubs, and places where the " shrubbery" is little larger than 

 the dining-room, as much as to the large country seat, public 

 park, or botanic garden. 



There are great cultural advantages too, in leaving tlie 

 whole of the leaves to nourish the ground and protect it from 

 frost or heat. I append a note from a correspondent inquiring 

 about what he sujjposes practical difficulties, and an answer 

 to them : — 



Ydu draw a pretty picture of what a ^jlinibbery border sliould be 

 and biiw it j^bould be kept in winter. There .shouhl be no digging, 

 and the fallen lea\es should be left. I fully agree, except as to the 

 leaves. Theoretically, it seems quite right to allow the leaves to lie 

 and decay amidst the surrounding plants, but in practice it does not 

 answer. There are, for instance, in most gardens such things as slugs 

 and snails. These delight in a leafy covering, and, protected from 

 frost by the shelter, will prey upon the perennial green leafage and 

 the starting crowns of the herbaceous plants, and do an immense 

 amount of mischief. Then there are usually in gardens in Avinter, 

 especially in hard weather, blackbirds and thrushes, which in their 

 efforts to obtain food set all notions of tidiness at defiance. A troop 

 of fowls would hardly turn a flower border more topsy-turvy than 

 would a few of these birds. The first storm that came would whirl 

 the disturbed leaves all over the place, much to the disgust of the 

 cultivator, and the hardy plants would find that the theory of a natural 

 dressing of leaf manure had broken down. I detest the forking of 

 borders so common in winter. A moderate stirring of the surface 

 first with a two or three-tined rake is good, then a dressing of soot or 

 guano, or both, and over all a thin surfacing of old pot soil, or the 

 rough screened jjroduce of the rubbish heap, or, in fact, any kind of 

 refuse soil that may offer. I think that most cultivators will agree 

 that such a plan Would answer Ijetter than the natural, but very 

 inoperative leaf-dressing. — A, 



