JAN.] 



THE GARDENER. 



77 



mellow loam to its full depth, is evident to any one 

 who has noticed the tendency of the fibres of plants to 

 push downwards into the soil in search of nourishment, 

 as in the case of the potatoe, whose fibres have been 

 traced to the depth of four feet ; but in a shallow and 

 poor soil the propriety of deep trenching all at once is 

 disputable ; there can be no doubt, however, that by 

 gradual and successive deepening of the soil by trench- 

 ing, so as to bring up only a small portion of the under 

 stratum to the surface, a very inferior soil may be ren- 

 dered sufficiently good for the garden if fertilizing 

 matter be properly incorporated with it : the advan- 

 tage of trenching has indeed been fully tested in the 

 poorest soils. As a preparation for celery, all tap- 

 rooted vegetables, fruit-trees, and most evergreens, 

 trenching is indispensable ; it ought in fact to be the 

 preliminary work in the arrangement of a garden, at 

 least in particular sections of it, for such as the above 

 productions. 



Dig now every vacant spot that does not require 

 trenching in a rough way, especially if the soil be 

 strong and stiff". The squares which were ridged up 

 in the preceding months, will now become somewhat 

 mellow and pliable from frost, which is more powerful 

 in reducing the earth to minute particles than any 

 implement of human contrivance; but while it is an 

 agent of good, it is also productive of much injury, if 

 the gardener be negligent in using the proper pre- 

 cautions. The Almighty, who has given a time to 

 every purpose under the Heaven — " a time to plant, 

 and a time to pluck up that which is planted," — has 

 wisely ordered it, that in winter trees should generally 

 have their buds so hard as to withstand the influence 

 of frost, and that but few flow^ers should appear unless 

 under protection ; it is in spring and autumn, when 

 hoar frosts come on, that vegetation suffers most se- 

 verely. Place mats over your frames, and fresh horse 



