FLORICULTURAL (ECONOMICS. 
257 
entirely out of culture, by the neglect of a few trivial points, which have escaped 
the cultivators memory at the season in which they ought to have been looked after. 
But in order at once to give this paper a more pointed and definite aim, we 
i shall advert to an operation or a class of operations generally performed at the 
i present season, and which is included in the comprehensive term “ground-work.” 
This phrase takes in mainly those alterations and improvements of a place which 
i an ingenious gardener will yearly be finding necessary ; and, subordinately, the 
common processes which are adopted for clearing or pulverising, or otherwise 
preparing the ground in which ornamental plants are grown. 
Ordinary experience enjoins that ground- work should be done at the fall of 
the year, because, firstly, the removal of earth in dry summer or frosty winter, 
costs nearly double the labour, the use of a hack being required ; and, secondly, 
with the view of getting the ground ready for planting in early winter, or for 
receiving the pulverising and fertilising influences of frost or snow ; and thirdly, on 
i account of the absence from a garden at this period of those attractions which 
allure many visitors ; and fourthly, because this is the time at which there is least 
to do elsewhere, and when workmen can best be spared from other departments. 
While, however, it is the usual practice to defer work of this description till 
the winter is commencing, we would recommend its commencement at an earlier 
period, for several reasons. If begun at the end of August or the first part of 
September, it might be completed (supposing it were not very extensive) in time 
to allow of turf being laid, and trees planted at the right time, and everything put 
in order before the approach of frost. Where extra men have to be employed, 
this would produce a saving also in regard to the length of the days, and the 
chances of the work being interrupted by wet weather. 
We refer here only to the making of new features in pleasure gardens, or the 
modification of old ones, and not to digging, trenching, or any of the simpler and 
customary operations. These last must of course be deferred till the blooming 
season has passed over, and all the leaves have fallen, and there is nothing else of 
consequence requiring attention ; for it would be preposterous to dig over beds or 
borders for the purpose of giving them a neat appearance during winter, until 
it was certain that leaves would not be strewn over them from neighbouring 
! trees. 
Still, borders and beds that have to be dug over should invariably be done 
before Christmas, as the action of frost on newly lightened ground has a most 
beneficial effect. 
Partly in connection with this subject, we may mention the mischievous 
consequences of doing anything which causes ground to be much trampled upon 
during wet weather. Every footstep on earth that is penetrated by the roots of 
plants does injury while that earth is very moist, inasmuch as it lessens its 
draining properties, occasions the accumulation of water, and prevents the free 
entrance of air. Indeed, it is bad at any time to tread on ground in which plants 
