6 4 
HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
tion has not been effected there are always 
the bees and the butterflies to assist. 
The cost of labour in preparing the border 
will vary according to the soil and locality, 
for wages differ greatly. A man at from 
3s. to 5s. a day can, in light soil, dig and 
trench (3 spits) 2 chains a day if he is a hard 
worker. With a stiff clay soil to contend 
with, he could hardly dig chains. If, in 
addition to this, he has to clear the soil of 
couch grass, or bindweed, or twitch, he will 
do even less. 
Stable or farm manure varies from 3s. to 5s. 
a load according to locality. 
So, in addition to £5 for plants, we must 
reckon ^ 1 to JT 1 , 1 os. for labour and manure, 
and for seeds. 
Where no regular gardener is kept the owner 
must either plant the border himself or get a 
jobbing gardener in by the day, superintending 
it himself. The nurseryman from whom the 
plants are bought will usually send a man to 
plant them for a price rather higher than that 
of the jobbing gardener, and it is well worth 
paying a little more to have them well planted, 
and also to see how it is done. Firm planting 
is the great secret, and to have the soil in the 
right condition, neither too wet nor too dry. 
