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many cases a gentle watering is all that is necessary. A watering 

 can with a very fine rose should he used. 



It is not necessary here to go into the various other methods of 

 propagation as it will be found in practice that all or nearly all the 

 plants hereafter mentioned can be propagated by one or other of the 

 methods already mentioned, 



Prepabation of Soil and Planting. 



The soil in which it is intended to plant should be carefully examin- 

 ed as regards its composition and physical properties in order to asertain 

 its capabilities for cultivation, the kinds of plants best suited to it and 

 the means by which it can be made more fertile. The amount of 

 organic matter or humus in the soil greatly affects its value and also its 

 capacity for absorbing and retaining water, although in a climate like 

 ours the latter is probably not of so much importance. A light sandy 

 soil will require more manure and vegetable matter than a heavy 

 clayey one and in forming beds or borders or planting out trees these 

 matters should be considered. If the subterranean water is near the 

 surface substances are apt to be formed in the soil that are injurious to 

 the plants. In these instances drainage is necessary to prevent the 

 water from accumulating and doing damage in this way. In preparing 

 beds the soil should be dug out to a depth of two feet and a quantity 

 of broken bricks or old lime rubbish should be placed on the bottom as 

 drainage, if the soil is of a wet nature. If the ground is naturally 

 dry and sandy it will be beneficial to introduce some humus in the 

 form of rotten leaf mould or well decayed cow manure. 



This should be well mixed with the soil and the bed should 

 be allowed to stand for a few days and again well turned over before 

 planting. These remarks apply in an equal degree to the formation 

 of borders or positions for single plants or trees. Care should be taken 

 that the surface of beds and borders is considerably above the surround- 

 ing level otherwise water collects and they become waterlogged and 

 sour. 



A space of two or three feet round the base of trees should be kept 

 surface tilled and free from grass and weeds, and occasionally mulched 

 with well decayed manure, this induces the young feeding roots to the 

 surface, admits air and keeps the soil sweet. One generally finds that 

 the gardener carefully sweeps up and burns every dead leaf he can find 

 in the garden. This is a mistake and should not be encouraged. A 

 pit should be dug in some out of the way corner of the garden and all 

 dead leaves should be thrown into it and turned over periodically. 

 This rubbish will soon decay and forms excellent manure either for 

 mixing with the soil or for top dressing. 



Planting is of the greatest importance and the methods vary 

 considerably in detail according to the different plants and the manner 

 in which their roots are naturally disposed. Some are deep others 

 shallow rooting but the following general method may be followed in 

 planting most kinds of trees and shrubs. The special details attending 

 the management of individual plants can only be given in dealing with 

 their cultivation separately. 



