44 
HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
thoroughly, and aerate the soil in so doing. 
The same is often the case with an herbaceous 
border that has not been re-dug for some time. 
Lime is of enormous value, and is not nearly 
enough used. It sets free the humus from 
previous manurings that has not been taken 
up by the plants, and if a good dressing is 
given, it not only saves manuring an old 
border, but adds greatly to the brilliancy of 
colouring, and seems to prevent the plants 
running to leaf instead of flower. It greatly 
helps a damp and sticky soil, by making it 
more friable, and, curiously enough, is equally 
valuable to a poor or dry soil. 
Quick-lime should be used, and sprinkled 
over the ground until it looks as though a 
slight fall of snow had fallen. November is 
a good time to apply it, for the damp soon 
slakes the lime. If there is any danger of its 
touching tender growths of plants, it should 
be slaked first, i.e. put into a heap and damped 
down a day or so before using. 
Gas-lime is very powerful, and should only 
be used on a vacant plot. It should be applied 
at the rate of three pecks to a rod of ground, 
and should be well broken and evenly dis- 
tributed in the autumn. After being exposed 
for a month, it should by that time be well 
