ABOUT FEUITS, FLO WEES AND FAKMIXG. 215 



ations of currants, raspberries, etc., spading is the only 

 method which can be employed. 



Spading Shbubbekt. — Let very fine manure be spread 

 about roses, honeysuckles, and ornamental shrubs (where 

 they are not standing in a grass-la^\•n). Beginning at the 

 plant, with great care turn over the soil one or two inches 

 deep, yet so as not to injure the fibres ; gradually deepen 

 the stroke of your spade as you go out from the plant ; at 

 two feet from the shrub you may put in the spade half its 

 depth, and at three feet to its full depth. You will of 

 course cut many roots, but they will very soon re-form and 

 send out fibres, and by the manure spaded in, be supplied 

 with abundant nourishment for the season. 



Spading Flower Beds. — ^This requires a practised hand. 

 There is danger of wounding and displacing clumps of 

 flower-roots, or of filling the crowns with dirt, or of leaving 

 the surface uneven, and the edges ragged. If there is a 

 skillful gardener to be had, hire it done, and watch whUe 

 he performs, for any man who has seen a thing done in a 

 garden once, ought to be ashamed if he cannot himself do 

 it afterwards. 



Spading VEGirrABLE Beds. — ^Asparagus, pie-plant, straw- 

 berries, etc., require enriching every year, and to have the 

 manure forked or spaded in. It is easy to perform this 

 upon strawberries, and a spade is preferable. A three or 

 four-pronged fork is better for asparagus and pie-plant. Be 

 careful not to tear or cut the crowns of the plants. No 

 material injury ensues from clipping the side fibres, in the 

 spring; in summer, when a plant requires all its mouths to 

 supply sap for its extended surface of lea^ it is not wise to 

 cut the roots or fibres at all, but only to keep the surface 

 mellow and friable. 



Deep Spading. — Ames' garden-spades measure twelve 

 inches in length of blade. In a good soil the foot may gain 

 one or two additional inches by a good thrust. Thus the 

 soil is mellowed to the depth of fourteen inches. This will 



