V 
A UTUMN 
i43 
plant and filling a good-sized bed with the 
pieces to form a group of white phloxes. But 
all plants will not stand such summary treat¬ 
ment ; they must be lifted with care, and gently 
pulled apart, and in these cases the fingers and 
thumbs are much more suitable implements 
than spades. For instance, a large round 
clump of aubretia could be divided into enough 
little plants to make a row round a bed, which 
by another year would form a good wide 
border, whereas if it were left alone it would 
grow straggling and with the middle withered 
and bare, and it would not flower so well. 
This overhauling of the beds is one of the 
chief employments in the autumn, but of course 
it should not be done until the flowering time 
of the plants is over. If they are not taken up, 
and the whole bed or border re-dug, it must 
be carefully weeded, and the soil thoroughly 
turned, and, if possible, a little top-dressing of 
good new soil or manure added. This is a 
great help to many plants. Roses benefit much 
by this treatment, and some of the more tender 
plants are carried through the winter by the 
“ top-dressing” they receive in the autumn. 
The chief object in gardening must always 
be to have as many things in flower as possible, 
and to enjoy the early autumn endeavours must 
be made to have plants which go on flowering 
