GARDEN PRACTICE. 
59 
and arrests the evaporation of moisture. At the end of 
the 'third year lift all the .plants and bulbs in October, re- 
trench and manure the soil and then replant. If this prac- 
tice be adopted grand results in growth and flower will 
follow. We should also mention that, when herbaceous 
plants die down, their decayed stems should be removed. 
A little lime at the rate of one bushel per ten square yards 
may be added at time of trenching. Shrubbery borders 
to be kept in good condition should be annually given a 
top-dressing of rotten manure and leaves in winter, ,and 
have this lightly dug in. Most people neglect their shrub- 
beries in this respect, labouring under the erroneous im- 
pression that trees and shrubs require no nourishment. 
In nature the fallen leaves decay and enrich the soil, but 
in gardens the fallen leaves are removed and nothing is 
left to nourish the roots. 
Weeds. — Weeds must not be tolerated in gardens. 
They not only rob the soil of food and moisture, but also 
form a nursery for rearing many insects and fungoid pests 
that afterwards proceed to attack the cultivated plants. 
Never allow a weed to reach the flowering stage. The 
old adage, “ One year’s seeding will make seven years’ 
weeding,” will otherwise prove only too true, and tro-uhle 
will be in store for the gardener. Hoe, hoe, and weed, 
weed at every opportunity, giving all intruders no quarter. 
On garden paths, too, allow no weeds to grow; kill them 
promptly by an application of “ weed killer ” or 'hot brine. 
Manures. — Mention has been made of these in pre- 
vious paragraphs, but it will be useful to say a few more 
words about them and their uses. Three forms of manure 
are required by all plants, namely, phosphates, potash, 
and nitrogen. Ordinary animal manures supply all three, 
but not always in the exact proportions required by some 
plants. Animal manures have this advantage over arti- 
ficial manures in that they not only supply essential plant 
foods, but also mechanicaly improve the condition of a 
soil. Thus horse manure lightens a heavy soil and makes 
it more porous, dry, and warm. Cow and pig manure, 
on the other hand, renders a light soil more compact, and 
