AttKANGEIVlENt OF AMERICAN PLANTS. 169 



the fact that a moist situation is a sine qicci non to its successful culti- 

 vation. The means by which this can be attained are, we consider, 

 very simple, and which we will endeavour to show. They are these : 

 By deep trenching the natural soil, and keeping the beds in wliich tiie 

 plants are growing perfectly flat, and below the surrounding surface, in 

 order to prevent the escape of a drop of moisture otherwise than by 

 evaporation. In preparing beds for American plants in such situations, 

 it is absolutely necessary to trench or in some way prepare a soil, 3 or 

 4 i^Qt in depth, as tiie only means of establishing a lasting resource of 

 moisture. The following will be found an excellent mode of pro- 

 cedure where the situation is dry and the soil wholly unfit for the 

 growth of American plants. Having decided the outline of your beds, 

 remove the soil a good spade's depth, with all its attached vegetation, 

 to some convenient spot immediately contiguous to your operations ; 

 then cart away from 18 inches to 2 feet of the remaining soil, well 

 breaking up the bottom, or trenching it 18 inches would be better still. 

 Upon this cast in the surface soil previously removed, well chopping it 

 with the spade as the work proceeds ; filling up Avith a sufficient 

 quantity of prepared soil, that after settling down it shall be a few 

 inches below the natural surface. During dry weather, after the beds 

 are jjlanted, the surface should be kept constantly stirred with the hoe 

 and rake, for the double purpose of preventing tlie growth of weeds, 

 and by maintaining a smooth surface retarding evaporation. Should 

 an excessive dry season occur, the whole surface of newly planted beds 

 may with advantage be wholly cohered with the sliort grass from the 

 lawns. It'will at least prevent the necessity of a frequent use of the 

 watering-pot, the application of whicii in all out-door gardening is a 

 practice ' more honoured in the breach than in the observance.' If the 

 beds are situated in the neighbourhood of trees, they are sure to be 

 invaded by a legion of roots, whicli, if allowed unmolested possession, 

 will in a few seasons appropriate the whole of what you had intended 

 for your favourites. But as we recommend American plants in such 

 situations to be replanted and the soil trenched to a deptii of 2 feet 

 every autumn, and every third or fourth year the whole mass of soil 

 trenched to the bottom, there will not be much to fear upon that point — 

 and the mass of soil by being- constantly rendered permeable to the 

 autumn rains will always contain a large amount of moisture. There 

 need be no fear of the plants suffering from removal, as Ehododendrons 

 can be transplanted with perfect safety, even after they have attained 

 an innnense size, and particularly so when they have constantly been 

 subjected to such treatment." 



The catalogue may be had by post, on remitting four postage stamps 

 to Messrs. Standish and Noble, and we recommend it to our readers as 

 well worth procuring. 



ARRANGEMENT OF AMERICAN PLANTS. 



Br SCRUTATOR. 



In many places, where ornamental planting has been attempted, proper 

 advantage does not appear to have been taken of the very beautiful 



