OCTOBER 133 



full of hoof-parihgs. Hoof-parings are rich in ammonia, 

 tod decay slowly. Every other year they have either 

 a repetition of this or some cooling cow manure. The 

 big Birch no doubt gets some of it, though its hungriest 

 roots are farther afield, but the rich colour of the 

 shrubs shows that they are well nourished. 



As soon as may be in November the big hardy 

 flower-border has to be thoroughly looked over. The 

 first thing is to take away all " soft stuff." This in- 

 cludes all dead annuals and biennials and any tender 

 things that have been put in for the summer, also Paris 

 Daisies, Zinnias, French and African Marigolds, Heli- 

 chrysums. Mulleins, and a few Geraniums. Then Dahlias 

 are cut down. The waste stuff is laid in big heaps on 

 the edge of the lawn just across the footpath, to be 

 loaded into the donkey-cart and shot into some large 

 holes that have been dug in the wood, whose story 

 will be told later. 



The Dahlias are noAV dug up from the border, and 

 others collected from different parts of the garden. 

 The labels are tied on to the short stumps that remain, 

 and the roots are laid for a time on the floor of a shed. 

 If the weather has been rainy just before taking them 

 up, it is well to lay them upside down, so that any wet 

 there may be about the bases of the large hollow stalks 

 may drain out. They are left for perhaps a fortnight, 

 without shaking out the earth that holds between the 

 tubers, so that they may be fairly dry before they are 

 put away for the winter in a cellar. 



