4 
BEAUTIFUL GAEDEN FLO WEES. 
that may have been in the soil. Deep digging or 
trenching, plenty of manure, road grit, sand, and 
lime, are the only royal roads by which a bad clayey 
soil can be brought into a fit and proper condition. 
In the event of a soil being very light — that is, 
composed mainly of grit or sand- — it is essential to mix 
some clay, marl, or heavy loam, and plenty of stable 
manure, with it. The drawbacks to a light soil are 
that it cannot retain sufficient moisture for the roots 
of the plants ; it contains but little humus ; and has 
an erratic mercurial temperature. 
WHEN TO PLANT HARDY FLOWERS.— As a 
general rule, the spring and the early autumn are the 
two best times for planting. In the spring, as the 
new growths are pushing through the soil after their 
winter sleep, nature gives the gardener a hint that 
the plants are once more awake and require attention. 
If there is no need to increase the dimensions of the 
flower garden, or to disturb plants which are just in 
their prime, of course there is no necessity to lift, 
divide, or mutilate them in any way. But if they have 
become too large, or have been several years in the 
same spot from which they have exhausted their 
special food, then it becomes necessary to lift and 
transfer to fresh soil and new positions. Whether 
the clumps are transferred whole or divided, the roots 
should be carefully spread out when replanting. The 
hole into which they are put should be both wide 
enough to enable this to be done, and at the same 
time only just deep enough, so that the young growths 
are not covered with fresh soil and smothered. The 
chief things to bear in mind when planting in spring 
