THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
243 
in use, there is not mnch difficulty. Yon decide what is to he 
the width of the plunge border, and to that width the earth 
is to be dug out. If the border is narrow (say three feet), a. 
depth of eighteen inches will be enough, because very large 
pots will not be used. But if wide (say six feet), it may be 
cut to a sloping bottom twelve inches deep at the extreme 
front to three feet deep at the extreme rear, which will allow 
of the largest pots or tubs with specimen conifers for the 
back row in winter time. In some places good plunging will 
be done with small pots, and in other places good plunging 
will be done with large pots; and again some practitioners will 
indulge largely in winter trees, and some will only care for 
summer flowers, etc., etc. Where beds are cut in grass, it is 
an easy matter to take out the earth and put in suitable 
plunging material; where there is a grass verge to a border 
there can be no difficulty in cutting sharp to it; but in case 
of a box or thrift edging, the cutting must be done with care, 
or the edging may be killed. Put down the line three inches 
from the live edging, and cut down sloping, so as to spare the 
roots. If flooring boards, or any rough planking, can be 
afforded, line the bed with timber, back and front, as shown 
in the diagram, where we suppose the front to be clipped 
Plunge 
Bed. 
a 
Soil 
Planted. 
box, or in any case a bold and substantial stone edging ; next 
within that, as a lining, a plank on edge; then a given 
breadth of cocoa-nut-fibre refuse for plunging; next a plank on 
edge as before, and then, beyond that, the undisturbed soil of 
the garden, with a background of evergreens, etc., etc. 
When all this is done, there must be established a regular 
system of cultivation to keep the beds supplied. If this 
cannot be accomplished, better no plunging at all. However, 
one or two borders may be tried at first, and the system of 
growing will be found to be more simple than appears ; and, 
in fact, its chief characteristic is that it is a system; every 
separate batch of plants must be prepared to come on in its 
