1873. THE RENOVATION OF OLD GARDEN SOILS, 2G9 



I have many other varieties which I intend to propagate for the sake of seed. 

 Two are giants indeed, with flower-stalks over 9 in. long, and very large ovate 

 cordate leaves. Some seedlings have a tinge of copper or bronze about them, but 

 tliey vary so much that an inexperienced person would not suppose they were 

 from the same parents. 



I must, however, leave these for the present, and come to the Double varie- 

 ties, though these do not suit me so well as the singles for market purposes. I 

 grow the Trce^ the Kiiig^ and the Scotch. These arc somewhat alike, except 

 that the last does not bloom so long as the other two ; they are very beautiful, 

 so I think, but I do not get so much demand for their blooms as I do for the 

 singles. Then there is Brandi/ana, a blue purple and lavender-striped variety of 

 great beauty, but much smaller than either of the above ; young plants in good 

 soil bloom all through the winter, but in February and March it is often one 

 mass of flowers. This is worthy of a place in every collection, but not to gather 

 from, as it is such a bloomer that one rarely gets the stalks long enough to 

 pluck. T/te Queen., although one does not often get good blooms of it, is yet 

 something beautiful when obtained. The old Double White., too, is not to be des- 

 pised. The Neapolitan., as every one knows, is beautiful. Marie Louise is perhaps 

 not so well known ; this is much deeper in colour, and I think hardier, certainly 

 fine. The Double lied is fine to gather from, but is such a wild-growing plant 

 that, except for picked flowers, I cannot recommend it ; for this, however, it 

 is quite worth growing ; it is a little like the double red Ilepatica, and blooms 

 on frequently-made beds as long as any variety, that is, from September till 

 March. Alba compacta is a double white, very distinct, well named, but a shy 

 bloomer. There are some other varieties which I do not know well enough to 

 remark upon, such as New Yorl; Heine Louise, White Tree., doubles ; and Mr. 

 Boothby's Beauty of Louth and Multijlora, — the last said to be very hardy, — 

 singles. I have had my plants from Mr. Steedman, of Thornton Heath ; Mr. 

 Dillistone, of Halstead ; Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son, and Mr. T. S. Ware, 

 of London. — George Lee, F.E.H.S,, Market Gardener, Clevedon, Somerset. 



THE RENOVATION OF OLD GARDEN SOILS. 



'HE renovation of a worn-out garden soil, and its clearance from the insect 

 pests which a long course of cropping has established in the land, are 

 difficulties which present themselves in very many instances, and which a 

 discussion of the subject may help to render less insuperable than they 

 sometimes appear. 



The vigorous growth of trees, and the unchecked luxuriance of vegetables, on 

 fresh untainted soil, assures us that nothing is more congenial to vegetable health 

 than maiden soil. There is a substantial vigour in vegetables thus situated, that 

 is never seen on land artificially enriched. Land, no matter of what character 

 originally, becomes, under a long course of treatment, what is called " garden 

 soil ;" and there is an inertness about it that the most stimulating manurial 

 mixtures fail effectually to overcome, I am afraid it is too much the practice to 

 treat our ailing and effete garden soils as the celebrated Mr. Squeers treated his 

 boys — we give them the same restorative mixture all round, year after year ; not 

 exactly the brimstone-and-treacle application of the schoolmaster, but the uniform 

 dressing of dung., as an all-sufFxcient remedy for loss of power. I am afraid we 



