IN THE GARDEN BORDER 21 



maximum root development — and root devel- 

 opment is entirely dependent upon congenial 

 soil conditions. Your neighbour may buy and 

 merely plant in his garden a few Glory of 

 Leiden daffodils and get flowers three inches 

 across, very handsome and thoroughly pleas- 

 ing to him. You, knowing a little more of 

 what that variety is capable of doing, and 

 knowing how to prepare the bed, produce 

 flowers five inches across ! 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL 



Where nature does not supply the ideal 

 conditions, our aim must be to reproduce them 

 as nearly as possible. 



Light, dry, sandy or grav elly soUs must 

 be made heavier and more retentive of mois- 

 ture. This may be done by manuring and 

 then growing crimson clover, peas, or some 

 "green crop" that can be dug under to decay 

 and add humus, absorbent, sponge-like vege- 

 table matter, to the soil. While this may be 

 done in the spring so that the soil will be in 

 fairly good condition by daffodil planting 

 time in September, it will be far better to 

 make the preparations a year ahead. 



