ioo PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



there, instead of going further afield. Then the growth 

 will be sappy, and will fail just at a critical time, and we 

 shall hear of another bad attack of streak, or some such 

 disease. Neither must this strong manure be brought 

 nearer than one foot to the surface of the soil. In the 

 top spit a little bone-meal, soot, and wood ashes may be 

 worked, and during the operation all the soil must be 

 thoroughly well broken up with the spade or fork, not 

 leaving it in large lumps, as the finer the soil the more 

 likely are the roots to ramify in it ; and in this free root 

 action lies the great secret of success. 



It is a practice with some people when trenching to 

 bring the bottom spit to the top, and when the soil has 

 been trenched a number of times it may answer well ; but 

 if the subsoil is very heavy and clayey it is best to leave it 

 underneath, and put plenty of leaves and other opening 

 material with it for a year or two, when it will be in a better 

 condition for sowing or planting. Generally speaking, after 

 skimming the surface, and putting this in the bottom of the 

 trench, it is better to keep the top spit on the top, although 

 this will cause a little more labour when trenching. 



As the trenching operation proceeds, apply a good 

 sprinkling of lime over the surface ; this will tend to sweeten 

 the soil, as well as make it more workable. On very heavy 

 soil ridging may be done even after trenching, thus exposing 

 a large amount of soil to the action of the weather. When 



