TURNING UP BORDERS. 179 



them, and take away the sticks of those from 

 which you have cut away the flower stems. If 

 the sticks be still sound, clean them, tie them 

 up in bundles, and put them away with the 

 tools ; this will save some labour next year, as 

 there will be fewer to cut. Take off suckers 

 where they are not wanted, and give them 

 away, or .plant them deep in the ground all to- 

 gether till the spring; this, in gardeners' lan- 

 guage, is called "laying them by the heels:" 

 perhaps you may then find some use for them. 

 After having done all this, turn over the bor- 

 ders with a small spade, or a fork, if you have 

 one, unless the soil be very light. The dead 

 leaves may be dug in, and buried deep in the 

 borders, as they are of great use in manuring 

 and lightening the soil ; but if the soil be much 

 exhausted or worn out, from having been long 

 cultivated without any manure, you will do well 



