3G THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



from any one point of view, would contribute more interest and 

 pleasure to the garden. The only plants in your list that I have not 

 are Hedera arborea, yellow and white. 



The Violas have been transferred to a garden entirely for them- 

 selves, and were beautiful last summer up to September, when the 

 beds were re-made for spring ; and I have come to the conclusion that 

 a summer and spring garden cannot well coexist. C. 



CHANGE OF SOIL FOE FRUIT-TREES, ROSES, &c. 



In the cultivation of permanent plants — more especially of those requir- 

 ing high cultivation — there is nothing of so much benefit as a change 

 of soil. Tea-Roses — indeed all Roses — which have grown for years 

 on the same spot, and which have been liberally treated with food 

 in the form of top-dressings and manure-waterings, grow weakly and 

 unhealthy in time. Tea-Roses which are annually lifted and pro- 

 tected, and when replanted in spring have a good quantity of whole- 

 some loam placed next their roots, give greater satisfaction gener- 

 ally than those which are not so treated, but which are liberally 

 manured instead. And common Hybrid Perpetual Roses, which 

 stand for years in the beds and become irregular, when lifted, 

 regulated, and replanted, do much better if some of the old soil 

 be taken away and fresh maiden loam added in its place. Fruit- 

 trees in heavily-manured kitchen-gardens generally do not thrive 

 in the sense of making proper fruit-bearing wood ; and although 

 lifting ami root-pruning certainly induces a better habit, the differ- 

 ence between those replanted in the old soil and those which are 

 treated to new loam or intelligently - made - up compost is very 

 marked. This is all very well known, and is often enough enforced; 

 but the facts do not seem to be acted upon as they might. This 

 being so, we have thought that a paper on the subject might help 

 young beginners and amateurs whose trees may be in an unsatis- 

 factory state, and which might be improved by a little well-directed 

 labour. At the same time it may not be out of place to mention, 

 that in order to succeed it is not enough to provide proper soil, and 

 not enough to properly care for the roots of trees. 



It is possible to do all that can be done and still not be success- 

 ful. "We have had many instances brought before us of failure 

 and fruitlessness occurring simply because the kinds of fruit-trees, 

 &c, were not suited to the climate. It is useless to expect success 

 if varieties of fruit-trees are grown which will not ripen their fruit 

 in an ordinary season. No greater blunder can be committed than 



