JULY. 179 



And as a proof of what can be done in situations apparently the 

 most uninviting, an account of the original condition of their Ameri- 

 can ground is given, and of the state to which their system of culti- 

 vation has brought it. It is thus described : " The soil, which is from 

 twelve to fifteen inches in depth, is a black sandy peat, resting on a 

 clayey subsoil very deficient in vegetable matter, and naturally in- 

 capable of producing any crop whatever." The course adopted to 

 induce fertility was this : " The first operation was to drain it from 

 three and a half to four feet deep ; it was then trenched two feet 

 deep, and to every acre so treated, from thirty to forty tons of good 

 farm-yard manure was added." Before planting the Rhododendron, 

 however, a root- crop was taken from the land, with a view to ex- 

 haust the rankness of the manure. After this treatment, American 

 plants are found to thrive amazingly ; but like all crops in very poor 

 soils, they are benefited by the application from time to time of 

 suitable enriching materials." 



Till a recent period, the idea of manuring for Rhododendrons 

 was not entertained; but in the nurseries of Messrs. Standish and 

 Noble its application is considered of great importance in their cul- 

 tivation ; and in old beds which have become exhausted, a good 

 dressing of rotten manure is recommended to be applied. 



The following passage is worthy of attention : " On all growers 

 of American plants we wish to impress the following suggestion ; 

 however simple it may appear, it is the foundation, when practically 

 carried out, of all success in the cultivation of the Rhododendron, 

 and indeed of all fine-rooted plants of a similar character ; it is this : 

 Never allow them to become thoroughly dry at the root. When such 

 a condition occurs, the whole structure of the plant is affected, defi- 

 ciency of vital energy is the result, and the natural consequence of 

 a deteriorated constitution is disease, and possibly death. The Rho- 

 dodendron and its allies suffer more from excessive dryness than any 

 plants which we recollect ; therefore a damp situation, natural or 

 supplied, must be provided for the site of an ' American garden.' If 

 stagnant water is present, drains three feet deep must be employed ; 

 and if the natural soil is not suitable, the following compost is re- 

 commended : To two parts of sandy loam or peat, or in fact any 

 sandy soil that does not contain much chalk or lime, add one-fourth 

 leaf-mould, one-eighth sand, and one-eighth rotten manure ; the 

 whole to be well beaten, and thoroughly incorporated before using. 

 It would, however, be of great advantage to allow the mixture to 

 remain twelve months, turning it well two or three times during 

 that period." 



In situations naturally dry, and where the soil is not suitable, 

 the means to be adopted are these : Deep trenching, and keeping 

 the surface of the beds below the natural soil, in order to prevent 

 the escape of rain or moisture otherwise than by evaporation. " Hav- 

 ing decided the outline of your beds, remove the soil a good spade's 

 depth, with all its attached vegetation, to some convenient spot con- 

 tiguous to your operations ; then cart away from 18 inches to 2 feet 

 of the remaining soil, well breaking up the bottom, or trenching it 



