REMARKS ON COMl'OST FOR POT PLANTS. £3 



it, and to be kept pure and unmixed with extraneous substances until 



wanted for use. 



By vegetable mould, at least the kind best suited to our purpose, 

 is meant that which accumulates, or in a manner grows, if I may use 

 the expression, in woods, particularly those of long standing, by 

 the annual fall of leaves, &c, and their consequent decay ; the vicis- 

 situdes of a few revolving seasons reduces them to a perfect mould, 

 which is afterwards known by the above appellation. It is of a very 

 loo*e light nature, and comparatively rich, but far behind that pro- 

 duced bv the mixture of animal excrement. Yet it is doubtless of 

 an ameliorating nature, and highly recommendable for such plants as 

 delight ih a moderate and well digested manure. 



In its simple state it is hardly fit for anything except annuals, as 

 its extreme lightness, like the peat, renders it unable to support 

 arborescent plants with any degree of credit; however, when mixed 

 with loam, or any other soil of a more firm texture than itself, it is 

 particularly useful for West India plants, geraniums, and annuals m 



general. 



The best manner of procuring it is to have several large pits dug in 

 the most convenient part of the woods, into which may be annually 

 raked all the leaves in the vicinity, together with the general surface 

 of the ground produced by them in preceding years, which will 

 materially accelerate their decomposition, so that in a few months 

 they become a perfect mould and fit for use. 



Of animal manure, that procured from old hot-beds is, I think, 

 most suitable for composts in this department. It likewise should 

 hot be used for plants until rotted to a perfect mould; to promote 

 which, it should be well mixed with a small portion of loam m the 

 compost yard, whereby they will become better incorporated, and 

 more fit for use; it is necessary, however, not to add too much loam 

 to it in this process, as it is so much easier to add afterwards than to 

 take away, according as circumstances may require. 



This, mixed with a proper quantity of loam, is in general the best 

 compost for such plants as have soft fleshy roots, also for soft wooded, 

 half shrubby, and herbaceous kinds of plants, annuals, biennials, &c. 

 &c, but is never used simply by itself, and very rarely, if at all, 



mixed with peat or sand. 



The very great variety in the nature of plants, taken en masse, 



