The reason for not removing decaying leaves is, that a great part of the beauty of all trees and shrubs consists in the change of colour which takes place in the leaves in the course of the autumn, and more especially a short time before they drop off. Hence I repeat, that the leaves on all the plants (unless accidentally killed) are to be allowed to decay naturally on the shoots, and not to be touched till they have fallen on the ground, when they are to be swept up and laid on the circular space of earth which is to be preserved round each plant. The use of laying the leaves on the space around each plant is to serve as a mulching or non-conducting cover to retain moisture, and also because the best manure for every description of plant is decayed foliage. When at any time the leaves laid at the roots of the plants are blown off by the wind, they must be swept on again; and this practice must be continued till the leaves have so far rotted as to adhere to the surface of the soil. In some cases, where the roots are not prominent, the ground may be slightly stirred with the points of the prongs of a fork so as to cause the leaves to adhere, but this must not be done generally. By means of these leaves, and the short grass cut off by the scythe, a sufficient mulching will be produced for each plant, to keep in the moisture during summer, to keep out the frost to a certain extent during winter, and, as the mulching decays into mould, to supply nutriment to the roots.
