SPADEWORK 
45 
pulverized, and may be raked and then dug 
in, but not deeper than a foot. By being 
mixed with the top soil, it will be more likely 
to destroy the various insects or fungus, and 
will wash lower down with the rain. It will 
be safe to sow seeds or plant in February or 
March if this is done in the autumn. There 
is a good deal of sulphur in gas-lime, which 
makes it more potent than quick-lime to 
destroy fungoid growths. 
The refuse from acetylene gas is valuable 
also, and may be safely dug in at any time 
instead of quick-lime. 
Leaf-mould is most useful as a mulch 
applied in early spring, protecting young 
growths from keen and cutting winds. A 
mulch of well-rotted stable manure may be 
applied to some of the coarser-growing plants 
such as delphiniums and phloxes, in May or 
June. 
A border well made and thoroughly en- 
riched should not require remaking for four 
years or more ; but it is desirable to cut out 
portions of the various large clumps every 
year or two, with a spade, filling up the empty 
space with well-rotted manure. Weeding 
must be attended to with care, and slugs should 
be diligently searched for with traps of little 
