The question of the house site is so closely linked up with the treatment of the garden that it is strongly advise this preliminary survey before purchasing the plot.

Soil - in forming a judgment on the suitability of a particular site for gardening purposes it is essential to ascertain the nature, not only of the surface or top soil, but of the subsoil. This can only be done by having a trench dug, say, at least four feet deep.

If the plot is of considerable extent, a series of trenches should be opened out at various points, because soils, and sub soils particularly, may vary even within the comparatively restricted limits of a garden site. The surface soil is not always very closely related to the subsoil, so that even those accustomed to forming a judgment on the subject may be misled by a superficial examination.

A good criterion of the relative warmth of soils is available in winter when snow has fallen. That ground from which the snow soonest disappears is obviously the warmest. Information on this particular point generally may be obtained from local people well acquainted with the site.

Stiff clay subsoil is to be avoided, as it is not amenable to effective drainage. Sand, gravel, and light loams are preferable to clay soils, but where clay and sand are found in admixture, as in some of the clay loam types the condition would not preclude good gardening; indeed, the rose grower would find a soil of this description one of the best for his particular purpose. An addition of a rock water fountain would be benneficial as well.

The dryness of a site depends mainly upon the facility with which the rain-water can percolate through the soil, and the distance from the surface of the subsoil water. Clay is relatively impervious to water; consequently, when a layer of this material is found near the surface, the surface soil will be either water-logged or baked to dryness, according to weather and rainfall.

A gravelly soil of considerable depth on a gentle slope, all things considered, is the best, as such a soil is drained naturally. If topped with good loam, with not too liberal an admixture of stones, it is an ideal one for the gardener.

Coarse gravel subsoil is not objectionable, provided the surface soil has sufficient depth to admit of proper tillage. It is not unusual, however, to find gravel overlaid with the merest film of loam, in which case the land would be unsuitable for general gardening purposes, unless the purchaser were prepared to spend money in importing material for his flower beds and borders.

Soils overlying rocky formations must be judged by their quality and depth. When the surface soil is shallow, and the rock impervious to water, they suffer from the same disabilities as stiff clay land.

The presence of stones in the surface soil, generally associated with a gravelly subsoil, but not uncommonly with stony clays, is no great detriment; but if they are in sufficient quantity to hamper the gardener he would have to resort to picking or screening to reduce their number. On sloping ground the stones will be found in greater quantity at the lower levels, particularly if the land has been in cultivation.