GARDENING FOR SHORT TENANCIES 203 



consideration the planting of slow-growing shrubs and 

 trees, for it is only after from three to nve years that 

 these make strong and regular growth. 



Let us suppose that the house is taken at mid- 

 summer. No important gardening can be begun 

 then, but it is always well to have a little time before- 

 hand to consider what is best to be done and to see 

 what the garden already contains. 



The first thing will be to see what dry rubbish 

 there is, and to clear it away and burn it, keeping all 

 soft rubbish, such as green weeds, leaves, &c., for 

 burying deep in cultivated ground. Then, if the case 

 were my own, I should look over any hard-wooded 

 flowering shrubs ; many of them, such as Weigela 

 and Spirosa, want cutting back after flow^ering ; not 

 clipping all over, but cutting out any portions that 

 look old and overworn to let more air and light into 

 the younger wood. Much of this can be done more 

 conveniently in the winter, but not nearly so effec- 

 tively, because the healthy growth of leaves on the 

 younger wood points clearly to what should be kept. 

 The beautiful Weigelas especially call for this help 

 in summer. 



If there are any frames and hand-lights they 

 should be repaired and painted, so that they may be 

 in good condition for housing anything rather tender 

 through the winter and for raising seeds in a hot- 

 bed in March and April. 



If there is any bare ground, or ground bearing 



