146 ON SOILS, ETC. 



ting powers of the sun and atmosphere ; the other lying deeper, being 

 known to abound with crude unqualified matter very unfavourable 

 to the growth of tender plants, unless exposed in the compost yard 

 for a year or two to the weather, whereby, it will become fit for all 

 strong growing woody kinds, or fruit trees in general. 



Loam, being found answerable to the purpose for which it is designed, 

 it should be immediately carted borne and heaped in a clean part of 

 the compost yard for a few months, so that the turf, and fibres of 

 the grass, may have sufficient time to decay, and the whole become 

 more qualified for use through the action of the season : when it has 

 lain thus for some time together, it will be found to be in a very 

 good state for working. 



This sort of soil is particularly adapted for striking cuttings in 

 general, on account of its firm close texture, and the twofold quality 

 of retaining moisture longer than either peat or sand, and at the 

 same time, its own natural dissolubility, which admits the young fibres 

 of the cuttings to push through it freely, as soon as formed, to that 

 which they more immediately like to grow and flourish in, a stratum 

 of which is generally put in the bottom of the pot. 



From its strength it seems more adapted to arborescent plants in 

 general, which have powerful roots, that are seldom able to support 

 themselves in lighter soils, more especially in dry seasons ; while 

 from its purity and sweetuess, it may be said to give additional 

 flavour to the most delicate fruits. 



The word Peat, is generally understood to mean common bog 

 earth ; however, that which may literally be termed bog, is by no 

 means proper for our purpose, on account of its wet coagulating 

 nature, and tendency thereby to rot the roots of the plants ; at least 

 if peat is to be taken from those situations, the very surface only 

 should be chosen, as that is found to contain a greater portion of the 

 'fine, drying, opening kind of sand, so necessary to this species of soil. 

 The places where I would recommend to look for the proper peat, 

 are those dry healthy commons, where it sems to form a medium 

 between bog earth and sand, it is not unfrequently found forming a 

 mere skin, over a bed of pure sand, or gravel. The turf or sod, cut 

 about four or six inches deep, is always the best for use, as it is in 

 general the lightest, and abounds with sand, as already mentioned, 

 which is I think invariably found to be the finest near the surface in 

 such cases. Spots where the wild heath grows luxuriantly should be 

 diligently selected, as producing the best peat for general use; but 

 when it is considered that of the plants mostly cultivated in this kind 

 of soil, some grow in swamps near rivers, others in barren sandy 



