THE 



GARDENER 



AUGUST 1871. 



THE SOIL - SUPPLY OF GARDENS. 



E recently commented on the water-supply of gardens, and 

 now we propose to offer a few remarks on the very 

 important question of the soil-supply of gardens. It need 

 not be said that these twin elements rank of the very first 

 and highest importance in nearly all the operations of the horticul- 

 turist. Destitute of them, he might give up his occupation ; inadequately 

 supplied with them, he is almost as badly off as the Egyptians when 

 called up to render their tale of bricks without a supply of straw. It is 

 on the plentiful supply of water, and soil of certain qualities, more than 

 anything else, that the character of garden produce depends. At least 

 all other appliances, however correctly handled, cannot insure success in 

 the absence of good water and soils. 



Gardeners have in numerous instances to put up with much that is 

 most trying and unreasonable connected with their supply of soils for 

 potting and other purposes. It would be as reasonable to expect the 

 farm-steward to send prime sirloins to the larder for at oxen to a cattle- 

 show without supplying him with plenty of proper food to feed them 

 with, as it is to expect the gardener to produce first-rate plants and 

 fruits without a proper supply of soil. Fortunately for the farmer, 

 he can manufacture or grow the greater portion of what his oxen 

 require, but gardeners cannot manufacture "turfy loam" and 

 "fibry peat." No nobleman or gentleman ever expects the farm to 

 produce prize animals on dry bents or chaff, and yet such an ex- 

 pectation would only equal in absurdity the expectation that fine 



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