MARCH. 71 



" unctuous earth," heavy in character, and not much differing from 

 some clays in appearance to the eyes of the gardener, who has but his 

 fingers and sight to assist him in the analysis ; and that the predomi- 

 nance of the clayey principle (if I may so call it), or that of the sandy, 

 constitutes the difference between the light and the heavy loam. 

 However, in gardening language, the term has assumed a wider 

 signification than this, and includes those which are more strictly 

 vegetable soils. If the word is difficult to explain, the thing signified 

 by it, is, in some districts, still more difficult to procure. That which 

 should be sought, for the purpose at present in view, is loam, in the 

 wide sense of the word, with about one-fourth of the sandy principle in 

 it, or, should it contain less, river sand must be added until that 

 amount is made up. As has often been said, the top spit of an old 

 pasture is the best, as it will be more full of fibre than that taken from a 

 lower depth. This soil should be got together long before required for 

 use, so tha'G the turf may become well decayed, and the whole heap 

 thoroughly pulverised and sweetened by the action of frost. 



Little need be said on the subject of the manure. The grower 

 whom I am quoting uses that principally from sties in which pigs are 

 kept. There is, perhaps, no pecuhar value in this description, any other 

 probably will do as well, if care be taken that that which is intended, 

 when fully decayed, for the richest portion of the compost, does not, 

 during the process of decomposition, lose its strength through over- 

 exposure to the sun and rain ; old hot-bed manure may do well enough 

 for some things, but it is considered better to prepare specially for the 

 purpose, that which is intended for use in pot culture, both as regards 

 the one in question and also for the variety of other plants which the 

 said grower cultivates. More dependence can be placed, under such 

 circumstances, upon the real quality of the material employed. 



The proportions used of the above-named soils are as follows : — two 

 barrow loads of loam, one ditto of leaf-mould, half ditto of the 

 thoroughly decomposed manure ; but although this will be found 

 adapted to the majority of Pansies, it must not be supposed that it is 

 recommended that, in this respect, every variety should be treated in a 

 precisely similar manner. With the Pansy, as with all other plants, 

 there are differences of constitution in the same family, wdiich the 

 experience of the careful grower teaches him he must humour. The 

 same richness of soil, for instance, which would be required to produce 

 size of bloom in a variety such as St. Andrews, if applied to Flower of 

 the Day, Father Gavazzi, or others which might be named, would 

 cause those sorts to throw out little else but rough and coarse flowers. 

 A knowledge of the habit of the variety under treatment is essential to 

 the development of its good points. Tn the instance of the Pansy there 

 may not be many exceptions to the general rules as to growth, but still 

 unquestionably there are some, and these must not be overlooked. 



The young stock for pot purposes is propagated at two different 

 periods ; such as are intended to make fine plants for ornamental 

 specimens, or for exhibition in that form, are taken at the earliest time 

 of the year at which suitable cuttings can be procured, and this, on 

 account of its being expedient to give them as long a growth as 



