356 



GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



half or bastard trenching. Were the lower sour soils brought 

 to the surface at once crops would fail or growth be very poor 

 in consequence. For that reason the cultivator not only leaves 

 these subsoils where found for some time, but as they become 

 sweet and fertile gradually mixes or incorporates them with 

 the upper good soil, so that in time the entire worked depth 

 is sweet and productive. After several years of such treatment 

 trenching may take a complete form, the lower soil being 

 brought to the surface and the top soil buried low down, but 

 being in its turn brought up again some three years later. 



In Half Trenching a plot of ground, if broad, the operator 

 must start by dividing it into tw r o equal portions, running a 

 mark down the centre to form a division, then throwing 

 out at one end of one of the halves the whole of the top soil 



-ja 



S3I 



Ifjll 



#y* 



-111 



^ _ 3 B ^ 



vfy"\ 



llffl 



s g*tt." 



5-g 



.1i 



y 



down to a depth of twelve inches and a width of twenty- 

 four inches on to the adjoining soil. With a strong fork 

 thoroughly break up the bottom soil fully twelve inches deep, 

 and leave it there. It is an admirable plan when manure 

 is at hand to cast in on to this broken bottom a liberal dress- 

 ing and refork that into the soil. Then from the next width 

 of two feet throw on to the first trench the whole top soil, 

 twelve inches deep, and the first trench is filled and com- 

 plete. Keep on repeating this trenching process until the entire 

 half of the plot is done. Then open a trench of the same 

 width and depth at that end of the other half, using the soil 

 taken out to fill up the end trench of the first half, and that 

 portion is completed. Then the process has to be repeated 

 with the second half until that also is done. 



Trenching is laborious work, but always pays well for its 



