SUBUEBAN GAEDEXIXa. 



411 



tions, it is necessary to make a few brief remarks 

 at tlie commencement. Builders of snbui-ban houses 

 more often than not make a most fatal error in the 

 beginning of theif work, by the manner in which 

 they treat the ground where building operations are 

 being carried on. One may often see the announce- 

 ment, Turf and loam for sale." Now this ought 

 never to be allowed by the gTOund landlord in the 

 first instance, if he values the future appearance of 



surrounding ground as will be trafficked upon during 

 building operations. This would of course entail a 

 trifling additional outlay, but that would be amply 

 compensated for in the lapng out of the future 

 grounds for planting with shrubs and flowers, and 

 for lading down in gi^ass. 



Sufficient soil, too, would thus be obtainable for 

 mounds and undulations, which are hardly ever 

 thought of by those who an-ange this description of 



his estate. It is robbing the intended garden 

 surroundings to a considerable extent. Dispose of 

 the subsoil, if you Hke, from the excavations for 

 f oimdations ; but never that which should nomish the 

 future shrubs and flowers. Instead of this being the 

 case, the subsoil is too often retained as being quite 

 good enough for the garden. Many a failure with 

 the latter may be set down to this cause alone, which 

 to inexperienced eyes would not be explicable on the 

 surface of things as observed at the time of failure. 

 "What ought to be done is as follows : — Previous to 

 any cartage being permitted on the gTOund, the turf 

 and top spit of soil should be shifted from the space 

 to be occupied by the buildings, to a convenient 

 distance for future use, including as much of the 



garden. These must, however, be made in such a 

 manner as to receive the due amoimt of rainfall 

 necessary for plant -life. We have often seen that 

 where this kind of work has been attempted, even in 

 larger gardens, it has not had proper consideration 

 in this respect ; these mounds and undulating sur- 

 faces being finished off at too sharp an angle, thus 

 causing the water to rim away into the hollows. 

 All variations in the surface arrangement of the 

 ground should be done in a gradual and easy manner ; 

 the proper amount of rainfall will then be more 

 likely to be absorbed for the benefit of the shi'ubs. 

 "We have seen these latter suffeiing miserably when 

 planted on a sharp sloping banlv. and requiiing an 

 unnecessary amount of attention in manual waterings 



