THE SOIL 89 



necessary ingredients to the individual plant. 

 This method, while having much to recom- 

 mend it, has, I think, the disadvantage of rather 

 restricting one as to the position of certain 

 plants, irrespective of the suitability of aspect or 

 how they will work into the general scheme of 

 planting. On the whole it seems a better plan 

 to supply each plant, or group of plants, with 

 whatever they need at the time they are being 

 put in. This, however, is entirely a matter 

 of individual taste, so long as each plant gets 

 what it specially requires. But it will not do 

 to just put the soil each plant likes round its 

 roots ; there must be sufficient for them to 

 extend through. 



It has been proved by experience that some 

 plants, although found in nature growing in 

 soils of a special character, will thrive quite 

 satisfactorily in ordinary soil ; as an example, 

 most of the Ericas, Rhododendrons, or Azaleas, 

 which are essentially peat-loving plants, will 

 thrive quite satisfactorily in good fibrous loam, 

 provided it has no trace of lime. In fact, the 

 only exception I know of to the above rule is 

 that those plants disliking lime will not, as 



