68 PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



It also frequently liberates potash (one of the most important plant 

 foods locked up in the soil), and it is also a great preventive of 

 vermin in the shape of slags, snails, caterpillars and grubs of all kinds. 

 At the rate of from 10 to 20 cwts. per acre or ^ lb. to 1 lb. per square 

 yard may be applied during the winter months in a powdered state, 

 when the soil is free from vegetation. But while there can be no 

 doubt as to the fertilising properties of lime care must be taken not to 

 be continually dressing the soil with it. It is a bad plan, not only with 

 lime, but with all other fertilisers, to apply one kind only. A change is 

 beneficial, and chemical changes take place between one and the other, 

 but all the changes are more or less useful to the soil. See p. 1030. 



Gas Lime also may be applied during the same season, but must 

 be given in smaller quantities, say at the rate of 1 to 2 cwts. per acre, as 

 in a fresh state it is very injurious to plant life. It is, however, a deadly 

 enemy to insect pests. The fresher the gas lime the smaller the pro- 

 portion of it should be used ; about two or three ounces to the square 

 yard would be quite sufficient. The longer it is exposed the less 

 injurious to plant life does it become, as many of its poisonous gases 

 escape into the atmosphere. 



HOEING AND BAKING 



Next to the spade and the fork the hoe is perhaps the most impor- 

 tant tool used in garden cultivation. It is made in many forms, shapes 

 and sizes, but that known as the ' Draw Hoe,' which the gardener 

 pulls towards him as he walks forwards, and that known as the ' Dutch 

 Hoe,' which he pushes from him as he walks backwards, are the best 

 known and most used. 



Whatever the shape, however, the object in view is the same. The 

 hoe plays many parts in the garden. It is used for drawing drills for 

 seeds, Potatoes or other tubers, for breaking and loosening the soil, for 

 thinning out seedlings, for cutting up weeds, and for keeping the sur- 

 face of the soil generally clean and in good condition. Like everything 

 else connected with gardening, hoeing requires a good deal of intelli- 

 gence and knowledge of the crops, otherwise the workman may soon 

 do far more harm than good. 



The rake also plays an important part in the improvement of the 

 soil. It is indispensable for levelling the ground in the preparation of 

 seed-beds, clearing the weeds and rubbish generally from borders, 

 shrubberies, lawns &c., and its use in the hands of an intelligent work- 

 man can never be a drawback in keeping a garden in good order. 



