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THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHA.N. 



V^ol. XXIV. 



FEBRUARY. 1882. 



Number 278. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



It is often a matter for surprise that the 

 English should grow what they call "American 

 plants" better than we can. These plants form 

 the greatest attraction of their grounds. Why 

 should not America grow American plants? 

 Now, what they call American plants are only 

 those chiefly which belong to the Ericaceous 

 family. These are Khododendrons, Azaleas, 

 Kalmias, Andromedas and such well-known 

 beautiful flowering shrubs in which America 

 abounds. But it is not generally known here 

 that they could not grow them there if it were 

 not for the garden art and garden skill at the 

 back of their culture. We could grow them 

 just as well here if we took pains to understand 

 theif wants. All these plants have delicate, 

 hair-like roots, and require a cool, aerated soil 

 to do well in. They hate water above all things, 

 and yet desire a soil in which moist air abounds. 

 In their native places in our country they are 

 often found growing, apparently, in swamps; 

 but when we examine carefully none of the 

 roots, or at moat only the tap roots are down in 

 the water; all the hair-like roots are in the moss 

 which abounds above the water in the swamp, or 

 in the cool peaty matter which is above the water 

 in those places. There is moisture in this material. 



It can be often squeezed out as from a wet 

 sponge ; but there is air, too, any quantity of it, 

 and it is this combination which these plants 

 desire. Not even England, where the atmos- 

 pheric condition is so favorable from the combi- 

 nation of air and moisture, would the plants do 

 well unless the same conditions were supplied 

 to the ground. The good gardener would not 

 think of planting these shrubs in the ordinary 

 earth. Soil is usually provided for the pur- 

 pose, and tons and tons of peat often brought 

 from long distances in order to grow them well. 



It is not necessary that we should get peat for 

 them. Anything that will tend to lighten the 

 soil and permit the free passage of air and water 

 through it is sufficient. Broken bricks, stones 

 old boots and shoes, rotten logs — anything of 

 this kind will do, and of course the part of the 

 grounds the least subject to drying winds should 

 be chosen. There is no reason why, with a little 

 study to adapt our circumstances to the wants 

 of these plants, we should not have as good 

 "American plants" as they have in England. 



As the season for planting is approaching, it 

 may be as well to remind the planter that there 

 are now thousands of beautiful trees and shrubs 

 to choose from. At one time there was some 

 excuse for the man who planted, over and over 

 again, soft maples and poplars. These have still 

 their uses, but the choosing of more variety and 



