246 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 30, 1876. 



Turning again to the equivocal term loam we find that there 

 are certain kinds highly favourable to the growth of the Rho- 

 dodendron ; and although I eometimes think I can guess by its 

 appearance whe'her it is favourable or not, I am far more likely 

 to judge rightly if I see the vegetation it produces. There are 

 some kinds of loams, or soils, that seem to grow the Rhododen- 

 dron as well as the best peat that is to be met with, and in a 

 general way all eoUs that overlie the yellow sandstone, or it 

 may be the red one, seem to possess all that is required for the 

 purpose. Moreover, there are some soils in which this plant 

 thrives well that by appearance differ as widely as it is possible 

 for soil to do from peat proper. In the park here we have 

 three distinct soils — that on the highest part producing a poor 

 wiry kind of grass when laid down to pasture, and being of a 

 rather bright yellow colour, thin in staple, and so much inter- 

 mixed with stones that if an attempt were made to sift it 

 with a three-quarter-inch sieve more than three-fourths of the 

 whole would remain inside, yet in this soil the Rhododendron 

 thrives pretty well, although water is not to be obtained by 

 sinking at less than 100 feet, the elevation being upwards of 

 400 feet above the sea level. At the distance of less than a 

 mile, and some 250 feet lower elevation, the ground is a stiff 

 clay in which the Portugal Laurel thrives well ; but the Rho- 

 dodendron is not by any means at home, neither ia it at a 

 station about midway between these two, and where the land 

 is what might be called " good for ordinary purposes," most 

 shrubs, as well as Pines and other trees, thrive well in it, but 

 not the Rhododendron, the lime element I presume being too 

 prevalent in it, although the stones found near the surface 

 have DO appearance of chalk, neither are they hard like the 

 ordinary limestone ; but the plants named at the beginning of 

 these notes as indicating a suitable soil for the Rhododendron 

 are wanting, and in fact sufBcient trials have proved it not to 

 be a suitable place for this plant. 



Instances of the successful culture of the Rhododendron 

 being common enough, it may be instructive to give one on 

 the other side, llany years ago I was induced to try a quantity 

 of hybrid kinds on the different soils we have here, which in- 

 cluded a stiff retentive clay, a good loam in which most plants 

 and trees thrive, and a harsh stony soil. To give the plants 

 a better chance in the two first-named stations I had a quan- 

 tity of compost made up, consisting one-third peat of a doubt- 

 ful kind that came into my possession, but having lain a year 

 or two exposed to the atmosphere I expected what deleterious 

 property it once possessed might have disappeared, the other 

 ingredients being very good leaf mould and pond mud that 

 had lain a couple of years or more exposed to the atmosphere. 

 This last being from a pond in the park into which a vast 

 quantity of leaves were annually blown might be supposed to 

 be in a great measure leaf soil, and like the other two was in 

 good condition when used, being black and mellow ; a quantity 

 of sand was also added. I flattered myself with the hope that 

 it would just do for the Rhododendron, but the roots would 

 not take to it on any account. About half a barrowload or 

 more was given to each plant, placing it immediately around 

 its roots. The plants refused to flourish, except in one or two 

 places, when I afterwards found out the ball had accidentally 

 been placed adjoining one side of the hole, and it had rooted 

 into the natural soil. 



Now this experiment was not on a small scale, but perhaps 

 five hundred plants might have been so treated, and it was 

 provoking to see them languish and some of them half die 

 when they were expected to prosper. The ingredients com- 

 posing the mixture locrked as much like a Rhododendron soil 

 as anythin,^ could do. The leaf mould I cannot bring myself 

 to believe was in the least in fault. Then comes the pond mud, 

 and I have come to the conclusion that this material was the 

 offending one, or more so than the bog peat ; but the whole 

 gave me a lesson about mixtures which I have been very shy 

 of recommending since. When I hear of such and such a 

 plant delighting in a mixture of loam and peat I cannot but 

 think there must also be a third element to consider— namely, 

 water. I have for many years been led to the conclusion that 

 the character of the water is of more consequence than the 

 kind of soil for plants, and I confess it did not occur to me 

 then as it has done since to look to the water which composed 

 the pond. Like many others, I merely thought a pond was a 

 pond, and as cattle drank its water, and weeds, itc, grew in 

 it, I did not examine it further, yet I believe it to be the cause 

 of the misfortune, and that misfortune may be described in 

 one or at most two simple words — " calcareous matter." The 

 water supplied by springs irom the limestone, and but a 



short way off, had not parted with any of the obnoxious 

 qualities (obnoxious to the Rhododendron family only per- 

 haps) until it reached the pond, when of course it impregnated 

 everything in it, and the sediment, tree leaves, and everything 

 else became charged with matter not only distasteful to the 

 Rhododendron but almost poisonous to it. Such at least ia 

 my view. The lesson, however, was not lost. I have planted 

 a good many Rhododendrons since with a fair share of suc- 

 cess just in accordance with the natural condition of the soil 

 and situation, and keeping clear of mixtures. When obliged 

 to plant a Rhododendron coming from a peaty soil I have 

 found turf with a great deal of moss in it about the best in- 

 gredient to wean it from the peat. 



One word more on the rearing of the common kinds for 

 planting out in the woods and for covers, &c. Wherever a 

 suitable soil exists on which the Foxglove, etc., grow abun- 

 dantly, if a plot could be cleared in the woods and trenched, it 

 is good practice to purchase a number of small plants from 

 some nursery and plant them out in rows in the usual way, 

 and in a couple of years they will be excellent plants to move, 

 and being on the spot where they are wanted a larger ball can 

 be secured to each plant than is usually sent with it from a 

 distance where the carriage is so costly an item ; besides which 

 the plants, having become inured to the soil, grow better than 

 when received from another one. It may further be added 

 that young plants from some upland nursery where peat is not 

 plentiful succeed better than from the more favoured places 

 noted for furnishing the finest plants. In planting very 

 small plants the following spring exercises much inffuence 

 on their success or failure, as a period of dry weather may 

 scorch them up, especially aa watering by hand may not be 

 available. A rough shading will do good by evergreen boughs 

 or anything of that kind laid over them. Protection against 

 rabbits also is necessary where such a plantation is exposed ; 

 for, notwithstanding the oft-repeated assertion that rabbita 

 will not attack the Rhododendron, we have lost a good 

 many hundreds by them, and especially young plants newly 

 planted. — J. Eobsok. 



BOEONIA MEGASTIGMA. 



Now that this remarkable plant is becoming plentiful, and ia 

 purchasable at a reasonable price, the desirability of possess- 

 ing it is urged on all who possess a greenhouse or conserva- 

 tory. It has Eo claims to brilliancy of colour or gaiety of 

 effect, but it has high claims of attractiveness by its extra- 

 ordinary free-flowering qualities and its wonderful perfume. 

 Its odour has been alluded to aa resembling that of Primroses, 

 but some hundreds of Primroses would be required to dispense 

 a fragrance equal to one email plant of this Boronia. 



It is a Heath-like plant, but of free growth. Its foliage is 

 singularly slender and also somewhat sparse — precisely indeed, 

 of a character to show to advantage the great profusion of 

 small bell-shaped flowers. These are chocolate brown exter- 

 nally, their interior being yellow. They are produced from 

 the axils of the leaves in such numbers as to render the com- 

 mon remark of " all flowers " particularly applicable to this 

 plant. It is a native of the districts around King George's 

 Sound, and is there a favourite plant on account of the deli- 

 cious fragrance of the flowers — a fragrance which may truth- 

 fully be described as powerful yet not overpowering. It was 

 introduced to Eew from seed sent by Baron Von Mueller, and 

 subsequently living plants were presented to the Royal Gardens 

 by Mr. Thoyet, and it is figured in the "Botanical Magazine" 

 for 1873. It requires treatment similar to that given to free- 

 growing Heaths, and when well grown cannot fail to be 

 admired. 



A plant of it should have a place in every greenhouse and 

 conservatory. Most of the principal nurserymen have large 

 stocks of this Boronia — stocks, however, which are likely to 

 diminish, for this is a plant which cannot fail to become 

 popular when its peculiar merits are fully known. — F. H. S. 



THE ABBANGEMENTS OF COLOUES 



IN THE BEDS OF THE LONDON PAEKS AND GARDENS.— No. 10. 



Of all the varieties of shape and form of design for flower 

 beds, the scroll ia thought by some people of taste to be the 

 m^st agreeable. There is no doubt when those figures are 

 clothed with effective colours supported by congenial tints, 

 that pleasing and brilliant results maybe attained. The most 

 suitable place for a scroll bed is on the side of a grassy bank 



