142 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



rose and bluish colored berries are to be seen on a 

 cluster at the same time. It flowers in late June. A 

 smaller species, and one of the most charming of the 

 genus is V. carlcsii, a Japanese kind, with pinkish, 

 fragrant flowery which are produced early. While this 

 is hardy, it is somewhat less so than the preceding. 



For the last a late blooming kind seems desirable, for 

 which purpose Lespedcca Sicboldii is suitable, as its long 

 racemes' of rose-purple flowers are effective in September 

 and early October. It should be cut down to the ground 

 each year and its .crown mulched with old stable 

 manure. 



As an alternative to the preceding, Abelia grandiflora 

 is in some ways preferable by reason of the fact that 

 its beautiful, light pink, heath-like flowers are produced 

 continuously from June until killing frosts. Its habit of 

 growing on late in the season prevents the tips of its 

 shoots having time to ripen, and these are sometimes 



killed back under severe conditions, but even when this 

 occurs, a few moments' pruning will put things right, 

 and this killing back does not affect subsequent flower- 

 ing. Anyhow, a sheltered position should, if possible, 

 be found for it, together with Winter protection in the 

 north. I have known it pass safely through a tem- 

 perature of twenty below zero. 



While there are numerous kinds of shrubs equal in 

 value to those selected, the ones' mentioned are easily 

 grown and will give a good account of themselves in all 

 ordinary soils, but naturally the better the treatment 

 given them the better the results. At this time we have 

 alluded only to shrubs because, as above stated, the 

 shrubbery is too often the weakest point in a garden, 

 and if one-tenth of the trouble wasted upon tender "bed- 

 ding out" and other fleeting expensive plants, is spent 

 on flowering shrubs our gardens will be all the better 

 for it. 



Our Friend the Soil 



IT is probably a universal condition, but most people are 

 more interested in what comes from the soil than in 

 the soil itself. 



Even we florists and nurserymen, whose every work 

 connects us up close to the soil are so intent on what 

 we consider our products that we give little thought 

 to this common but all important fundaiuental. 



The old saying "Common as dirt," is quite true, but 

 it is well to remember that "dirt" or soil is one of the 

 three most essential things on which the human race is 

 dependent. 



Sunlight, Moisture and Soil are a trinity without 

 which there would be no trees, no flowers, no food, no 

 life. The time of the year is almost here when all the 

 "sons of the soil" will take part in its tillage. The farm- 

 er, the nurseryman, the fruit grower and the florist, each 

 has his own particular sphere of labor in joining hands 

 with Nature to bring forth products of perfection. 



It is quite an easy error to claim for him who has 

 tilled the ground and sown the seed, the honor and 

 authorship of the crop. We do not sufficiently realize, 

 or else we forget how much is due to Nature's laborers, 

 who are unceasingly at work for us. 



Our farms and "gardens, if left to our own efforts 

 alone, would present a sorry condition, but with the 

 great work done by sun, rain, dew, frost, snow, wind, 

 bees, etc., we are able to produce wonderful results 

 from our friend the soil. The part we have to play in 

 company with these several agencies mainly consists 

 in cultivation, fertilization and planting. We some- 

 times hear people speak of a rundown farm. As a 

 matter of fact it is the lack of eft'ort to cultivate and 

 to plant the right things that is mainly the fault. _ 



Soils that are deeply dug and frequently cultivated 

 are invariably highly productive. What a variety of 

 soils there are in color, texture and fertility ! The 

 color of a soil is not always indicative of its fertility. 



It may be red. brown, black or gray, and be equally 

 poor or'fertile. The most fertile soil is one that con- 

 tains the highest percentage of available plant food, 

 i. e. food that is soluble in water and that can be as- 

 similated by the plant. 



Texture, another visible difference in soil is known 

 chiefly by the actual handling or walking on it. A 

 .soil with a large percentage of clay will tenaciously 

 cling to one, while a sandy soil is readily released. 

 Native growths tell us unniistakably, something of 



the kind of soil in which they grow. Wet, marshy or 

 ill drained land is indicated by the presence of sedges, 

 rushes, etc. Rhododendrons, Kalmias and other eri- 

 caceous plants will invariably be found in acidulous 

 soils or where there is humus in quantity. Beech and 

 Pine on poor and limestone soils. Oak trees indicate 

 a good tenacious clay soil. 



Thus it is that in going through parts of the country 

 by train one is able to form a fairly good idea of the 

 kind of soil by the character of the native growth. 



All soils can be roughly classified into four, viz : 



1. Sand loam: 10 to 40 per cent of clay. 



2. Loamy soil : 40 to 70 per cent of clay. 



3. Clay loam : 70 to 85 per cent of clay. 



4. Strong clay : 85 to 95 per cent of claj'. 



Nunii)er two is the best soil for all general purposes, 

 containing a better proportion of clay, sand and humus. 



Everything grown can be traced back to two 

 primary sources — soil and atmosphere. 



We have not the power to change or aft'ect the latter 

 to any great extent or for any length of time, but we 

 have the power to change the soil by adding to it those 

 constituents of which it may be lacking. 



If a soil is too acidulous, administer lime, which re- 

 acts on the acids, and greatly aids the decomposition 

 of organic matter, promoting the formation of nitrates 

 which are available plant food. 



If lacking in nitrogen, add humus, either by green 

 manuring, farmyard manure, or some other artificial 

 fertilizer, which is rich in nitrogen. 



Some soils are deficient in potash and phosphates. 

 This may be made by applying bonemeal and wood 

 ashes in Spring. Clay may be given to sandy soils, 

 and sand to clay soils, while humus in its varied forms 

 is used to suit different conditions of soil. 



Not least of all is the great power we can exert in 

 changing the physical condition and increasing its 

 fertility by cultivation. 



We are living in days when implements of power 

 hitherto unthought of are in force, what with tractor- 

 plows and cultivators, dynamite to disintegrate im- 

 pervious and hard stratas. artificial irrigation, etc., we 

 are able to bring the most stubborn and unfertile soil 

 into a condition that will enable it to bring forth fruit 

 in abundant measure, and so reward those who dili- 

 gently and actively cultivate the friendship of the soil. 

 — EnwrN M.\THEWS in The Florists' E.vchange. 



