36 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



but excess of any kind will lead to the same trouble. In 

 the light, sandy soils which some growers have to work, it is 

 perhaps permissible to put in a layer, 6 inches or so in thick- 

 ness, between the second and third spits, but it should not 

 be done in any other circumstances. In all instances where 

 it is deemed imperative that a layer of some sort should 

 be put in to arrest the too free passage of the food-laden 

 moisture, the preference might well be given to turfs 3 

 inches in thickness, placed rather deep with the grass side 

 underneath, and then cut through several times with a sharp 

 spade ; these will answer the purpose for which the layer 

 is particularly intended without bringing with them the 

 risk of coarseness. In shallow soils, where it is impossible 

 to get down even two full spits, the manure should be laid 

 on the second spit and then worked in as much as possible. 

 In all other cases, unless there is some special reason to 

 adopt another system, let the manure be thoroughly incor- 

 porated with the lower soil, and, if any is placed in the top 

 spit, let it take the form of refuse material such as that from 

 old hotbeds or cucumber pits, as this will provide some- 

 thing to which the young and tender roots will take quickly 

 and at the same time give a little food ; this stuff is more 

 valuable on strong than on light lands, and should not be 

 worked in until the spring, or its full value will not be 

 secured. 



In many instances it is to be feared that success is not 



