28 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



The depth of soil in the garden is as likely to need im- 

 provement as its texture. A deep soil is necessary that 

 the roots may penetrate it freely in search of food, and be 

 able to endure our summer droughts. The roots of a 

 strawberry have been traced five feet down in a deep, 

 rich soil. The difference in the freshness and growth of 

 plants raised upon trenched soils, and those growing upon 

 soils prepared in the common manner, is remarkable. In 

 lawns, the color of the grass will indicate very exactly 

 the greater or less depth of the soil. The depth of soils 

 may be increased by subsoil plowing, or trenching. 



Trenching is the mode of improving the depth of the 

 soil in smaller gardens, and is usually performed in this 

 manner : At one end of the plot to be trenched, you dig 

 with the spade a trench three feet wide, and two feet deep ; 

 you throw the earth out on the side away from the plot 

 to be trenched. Shovel the bottom clean, and make the 

 sides perpendicular, leaving a clear open trench across 

 the plot. Open another trench the same width, and put 

 the surface spadefull of that into the bottom of the former 

 trench, and the next spadefull upon that, until opened to 

 the same depth as the first one, adding meanwhile the 

 necessary manures and amendments. When the plot is 

 entirely trenched in this w^ay, the last trench will remain 

 open, which must be filled with the earth thrown out from 

 the first one, which finishes the work. 



Most subsoils are, however, so poor that this mode of 

 trenching will do more harm than good, except in worn- 

 out soils or in old, overrich gardens. It is, in general, a 

 better plan to remove from the first trench opened all the 

 rich surface mould, and place it on one side ; then trench 

 the subsoil to the required depth, throwing out enough 

 earth at one end of the trench to give room to operate, 

 leaving it still at the bottom. If the subsoil is stiff, it 

 will be greatly improved by intermixing with it while 

 trenching, as t{ amendments," leaves, straw, tan-bark, 



