GARDENING FOR SHORT TENANCIES 201 



or clogged). La^vn-mowings, half-decayed leaves — 

 fresh ones would do, but they blow about — cocoa- 

 fibre refuse, are materials commonly used for mulch- 

 ing, but manure is far the best, for it has the additional 

 advantage of its feeding power, the rain washing the 

 nourishing matter down to the roots in gentle doses, 

 and presenting it in the way most easily assimi- 

 lated. 



It should be remembered that an abundant supply 

 of richness is also a danger, because it is easy to over- 

 manure, and plants too heavily manured may be 

 actually starved, because the food is not in a state 

 that they can take up. It is therefore important that 

 manure dug into the ground should not be too fresh, 

 but partly decayed. The wisest thing is to keep a 

 good stock of it and let it heat and ferment, turning 

 it over about once in three weeks. Another good 

 way is to spread it over the ground and let it lie for 

 a fortnight before digging in. Or, better still, some 

 may be had abeady decayed, when it may go into 

 the ground at once. Many plants and bulbs cannot 

 endure fresh manure at their roots ; of these the most 

 impatient I can think of are Pa}onies, Hellebores, 

 Gladiolus, and Tulips. Fresh and decayed stuff is 

 technically known as " long " and " short." Therefore 

 it will now be understood that when we read, " Long 

 stable litter is an excellent mulching material," it 

 means that it is well to coat the surface of the ground 

 among plants with fresh refuse from the stables. For 



