296 THE FLORIST. 



these need not be placed exactly close together, neither will it matter, 

 if they vary in size or thickness ; smaller pieces can be put in between, 

 where wanted, and two or three inches of broken rubble should be 

 placed over, which will then be ready to receive the soil. It will be 

 e\4dent no water can lodge in a border placed over so thorough a 

 drainage, and the passage of air underneath from the main drain to the 

 house will assist in removing any dampness below. I have been thus 

 minute in describing the drainage necessary, unless, as alluded to 

 above, the natural drainage is perfect, owing to the nature of the 

 subsoil. If the house is a detached one, a dwarf wall at the ends 

 will be required — or, what will answer the purpose as well, with a less 

 stiff appearance, the soil of the border may be kept up by a piece of 

 low rockwork. 



The best way to prepare the soil will be to obtain some turf three or 

 four inches thick from a pasture field or common. Neither turf from 

 strong clays nor sandy soils are good, loam of a medium texture being 

 best; neither should it be obtained from low wet situations, but from 

 sound dry land. This, when procured, should be stacked up with fresh 

 horse-dung, or with that combined with cow and pig dung, using the 

 latter more largely, if the loam is of a light character ; to these add a 

 portion of scavenger's manure, which always contains fertilising matter, 

 and more or less of sand and grit. Old mortar may be used or not. 

 These ingredients should be stacked up in layers ; the heap will soon 

 heat, from the mixture of fresh manure, and this will help to decay the 

 turf, and bring it into a state fit for use. The heap, when it gets cold, 

 may be chopped down and turned over once, when it will be fit for use. 

 As a guide in mixing, let three parts be loam, one manure, and one 

 rubble materials, including road grit, town sweepings, or old mortar. 

 Mind, never allow it to get saturated with rain, nor yet break it down 

 too fine. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF HARDY CONIFERS.— No. X. 



XVIII. PINUS INSIGNIS — THE REMARKABLE PINE. 



By common consent Pinus insignis stands at the very head of the 

 list of ornamental Conifers. The beautiful intense green of its foliage, 

 dense habit, and compact form, added to its rapid growth, render it a 

 most prepossessing tree. Our engi'aving represents a vigorous growing 

 specimen at Bowood, the residence of the Marquis of Lansdowne. 



Pinus insignis is a native of California, clothing the mountains in the 

 neighbourhood of Monterey to their summit. Seeds of this Pine were 

 first sent to England by Douglas in 1833, since which time it has been 

 more largely introduced. Hartweg, the botanical collector for the Hor- 

 ticultural Society, who spent some time in Monterey, speaking of the 

 vicinity where Pinus insignis is abundant, says, " The verdant fields 

 ar,d Pine-covered range of mountains at the back of the town form a 

 pleasing contrast to the dried-up vegetation about Mazatlan. The pre- 



