ilay 29, 1873. ] 



JOUBlJAIi OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



437 



ana, Kentia Forsteriana, and Aralia Veitohii. Mr. Williams was 

 second with Authurium crystallinum mucli larger and tiuer 

 than the Bpeoimen shown at the last meetiuf; at Kensington, 

 and on this occasion it was awarded a certiiicate ; Draciena 

 Fraseri, Ixora Colei, Draciena metallica, Crotou Weismanni, 

 BsBmonorops palembanicus, Pandauus Veitchii, Dieiienbachia 

 liausei, and PhyUotajnium Lindeni. Mr. W. E. Dixon, Beverley, 

 was first for six. In addition, Messrs. Veitch sent a most in- 

 teresting and beautiful miscellaneous collection rich in new 

 plants, including many fine Orchids, Palms, &c. Mr. Williams 

 made a similar contribution, in which was Colax jugosus, which 

 had a certificate. We omitted to notice when referring to the 

 large plants ranged on each side of the centre, a very fine pair 

 of standard Bays from Messrs. Veitch; and we may add, that 

 among miscellaneous groups Mr. Ware's, Messrs. Dowuie and 

 Co.'s, and Messrs. Rollisson's were well worthy of more extended 

 notice. 



The show of Fruit was extremely limited, nor was there any- 

 thing calling for special remark ; at the same time, when such 

 well-known exhibitors as Messrs. MUes, Bannerman, and Sage 

 come forward, it maybe taken for granted that their productions 

 are good. A few Pine Apples were exhibited. Mr. Wilson, 

 gardener to Earl Fortescue, Castle Hill, Devon, had a good 

 Smooth-leaved Cayenne; and Mr. Tillyard, gardener to Earl 

 Yarborough, Brocklesbury Park, a Queen. Mr. Bones, gardener 

 to D. Macintosh, Esq., Komford, was first for bunches of Black 

 Hamburgh Grapes ; Mr. Bannerman, Rugeley, being an excellent 

 second; Mr. Bennett and Mr. Miles had third prizes. For Foster's 

 White Seedling, Mr. Wilson, gardener to Earl Fortescue, was 

 first for three bimches of any white kind, Mr. Bones being second 

 with Golden Hamburgh, and Mr. Miles third with Foster's 

 White Seedling. The best single bunch of any black kind was 

 Black Hamburgh, from Mr. Bannerman ; Mr. Bones second ; 

 the best single bunch of a white kind, Buckland Sweetwater, 

 from Mr. Miles, gardener to Lord Carington, who also carried 

 off the first prizes for Black Cherries, White Cherries, and Figs. 

 For Peaches the prizes went to Messrs. Harris, Sa^e, of Ash- 

 ridge, and Gardiner, Lower Eatington Park Gardens, Stratford- 

 on-Avon ; whilst the lead in Strawberries was taken by Mr. 

 T. D. Irving, Easton Park Gardens, Wickhara Market. Messrs. 

 J. Monro, Potter's Bar, sent Monro's Little Heath Melon, large, 

 and of very good flavour ; and Mr. A. Colbourne, gardener to J. 

 BIyth, Esq., Woolhampton, Loquats. 



INDIGENOUS PLANTS— AN INDEX OF THE 

 QUALITY OF SOIL. 



The common Heath (Calluna vulgaris) grows naturally on 

 most of the barren land that is suitable for planting. When it 

 is rank and strong-growing, it indicates deep, black, mossy soil 

 — poor, and naturally unfertile — but which, if dry, and the alti- 

 tude not too great, will grow Scotch Fir and Birch; if wet, 

 Scotch Fir, Spruce, and Alder ; but even for the last it must be 

 drained previous to planting. If the Heath is close and healthy, 

 and mixed with Club Moss fLycopodium clavatum), Tormentil 

 (Potentilla Tormentilla), and some of the common grasses, the 

 soil is more fertile and suitable for Scotch Fir, Larch, and Birch. 

 Some very healthy and thriving Larch and Scotch Fir pilauta' 

 tions are growing on soil where these plants luxuriate ; Ash, 

 Beech, Elm, Oak, and Plane will grow there for ornament, but 

 not for profit. 



The Cowberry or Cranberry of the Highlands (Vaccinium Vitis- 

 Idma) is generally associated with the common Heath and the 

 Soft Grass (Holcus lanatus). It indicates a light sandy and 

 gravelly soil, generally very hard and retentive ; grows Larch 

 and Scotch Fir, but they sometimes become affected -with gi-ound 

 rot when from fifty to sixty years old. Birch and Mountain Ash 

 thrive admirably upon it, but are not profitable. 



The Bilberry f^'accinium Jlyi'tillus) is generally found growing 

 with the common Heath and the Hard Fern (Blechnum boreale), 

 Tormentil, &c. It indicates a superior class of soil for the Scotch 

 Fir, Larch, and Silver Fh- ; but especially the first — a hea%'y 

 crop of which is almost invariably foiuid on soils where the 

 Bilberry is plentiful. If the situation is on a sloping hill or side 

 of a ravine, the Norway Spruce, Ash, Beech, and Elm will 

 succeed admirably on the level ground, or in the bottom of the 

 ravine. 



The common Juniper (.Juniperus communis), accompanied by 

 the Bracken (Pteris aqiulina), is very common in the districts 

 where the Scotch Fir may be said to have its native habitat ; 

 indeed, in some Scotch Fir woods it gi'ows as rank and profuse 

 as the Furze, and makes excellent under-cover. The soil is 

 generally good for growing Pines where the Juniper grows, but 

 occasionally varies in depth. The trees named as suitable for 

 growing on the Bilberry land will grow with the Juniper ; but 

 we woiild prefer for a profitable crop to keep to the Scotch Fir, 

 Larch, and Birch, giving the preference to the first, wliich 

 almost invariably produces a heavy crop and good quality of 

 timber on Juniper ground. 



The common Whin or Furze (Ulex europrcus) is very abundant 

 on waste land, and seems to be such a selfish plant, if we may 

 use the term, that other plants are rarely growing with it ; but 

 in close proximity, on good soils, are to be found Ragwort 

 (Senecio Jacobwa), Thistles (Carduus), Wild Clover (TrifoUum), 

 itc. ; and on the poorer soils, Crowberry (Empetrum nigrumi, 

 Sorrel (Rumex Acetosella), Carices, &c. The Ragwort and 

 Thistles must be understood as apply ing to uncultivated ground ; 

 for if the ground has been cultivated, these are only a criterion 

 as to fertility, and not to depth or quality of soil. The Farze, 

 at a casual glance, is not a safe criterion as to the quality and 

 kind of soil, as it will grow almost anywhere. Before fixing the 

 quality of the soil, it is necessary that the quality and size of the 

 Fiu-ze should be considered, as it is only on good loamy soil 

 that it developes strong stems and branches. When it is found 

 growing thus, the ordinary hard woods may be planted, along 

 with Spruce and Silver Fir. If the situation is sloping, or the 

 sides of a glen, Larches will succeed ; but they seldom attain a 

 large size among Whins on fiat ground. When the Whin is 

 dwarf in habit, and the stems slender, it indicates thin gi-avelly 

 soil, with a hard bottom, unfavourable for growing any kind of 

 forest trees. Birch, Scotch Firs, and even Larch will grow if 

 they can get a start ; but the Whins are so aggressive that it is 

 only by careful treatment that the trees are enabled to overtop 

 them. However, when they do so, success is gained, as the 

 Whins offer no further opposition. Although we have said that 

 slender and dwarfish Whins indicate poor soil, there are excep- 

 tions, as in the case of Whins that have been burned or cut over; 

 or, again, on ground that has been reclaimed and afterwards 

 allowed to return to its natui'al state. Under any of these cir- 

 cumstances the Wliin is slender and dwarfish for a short time. 

 Taking the Whin alone, it is not a plant on which much depend- 

 ance can be placed as a criterion of the <xuality of the soil; but 

 when viewed with the plants growing in its immediate prox- 

 imity, we consider it affords a suiHcient indication of the soil 

 above mentioned. 



The common Broom (Cytisus scoiiarius) is invariably found 

 on dry situations, and always indicates a fair soil. It it is strong 

 and healthy, and growing along with the Yarrow (Achillea 

 Millefolium), Bird's-foot 'Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Wild 

 Clover, Tormentil, &c., the soil and subsoil are invariably good 

 for planting trees. The kinds most suitable, if the situation ia 

 moderately sheltered, are Beech, Oak, Norway Maple, Plane, 

 Larch, Silver and Scotch Firs ; but if the situation is exposed, 

 the Larch and Scotch Firs produce the most valuable crops. 



The Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and Dog Rose (Rosa canina) 

 indicate a good loamy soil, generally inclining to clay, very 

 suitable for growing ordinary hard woods, as also the Austrian 

 Pine and Silver Fir. Although the Bramble and Dog Rose are 

 always found growing on dry portions of soil, still, ground in 

 close proximity, and the subsoil, are often wet, and require to be 

 di'ained before planting. 



The Raspberry (Rubus Idicus) is often found on soils similar 

 to the last, and denotes similar results ; but it is also found on 

 higher, more exposed, and poorer soils than suit either of the 

 two last. When found thus, its stems are slender and short, 

 and the leaves small, indicating a light soil suitable for Scotch 

 Fir, Larch, Beech, Birch, and Mountain Ash. 



The Bog Myrtle or Sweet Willow (Myi-ica Gale) is common in 

 some districts, often accompanied by the Cross-leaved Heath 

 (Erica Tetralix), but invariably grows on a poor, wet, sandy soil, 

 unsuited for trees ; but, if thoroughly dried, will grow some of 

 the hardy species, as Birch, Alder, Mountain Ash, and Scotch 

 Firs. 



The foregoing are the most common native shrubs ; but there 

 are some other species of flowering plants, and even the Mosses, 

 that are as much to be depended upon as indicators of the soil, 

 and sometimes the flowerless plants are more reliable than the 

 others. 



The Male Fern (Lastrea FiUx-mas) and the Bracken are not 

 safe criterions as to the depth of the soil ; but they can be always 

 depended upon as to quality ; for neither of them grows on bad 

 soil. It is invariably good soil when they are accompanied by 

 the common Bugle (Ajuga rejjtans) and the Primrose iPrimula 

 vulgaris), which are generally found in low-lying situations, or 

 hollows where an an20unt of soil has accumulated ; and it may 

 be asserted that in this variety of soil almost any forest tree 

 will succeed. But we particularly recommend for the sheltered 

 portions the Silver Fir, Douglas Spruce, Larch, Pinus Laricio, 

 Elm, Ash, Plane, and Chestnut; and for the more exposed parts. 

 Larch, Scotch Fir, Beech, Norway Maple, Plane, Oak, and 

 Birch. The appearance of the Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea! 

 among the common Ferns indicates a medium soil incUned to 

 be dry, but on which a great variety of trees will grow, and 

 which we consider particularly suited for Beech and Scotch Fir. 

 If the common Ferns are mixed mth the Polypody (Polypodium 

 vulgare), St. John's-wort (Hypericum), &c., along with a sprink- 

 Ung of Heath, the soil is generally more shallow, and contains 

 large stones or boulders. Still, although shallow, it is always 

 kindly, and will grow forest trees better than its appearance 



