OBSERVATIONS 0^f BRITISH PLANTS. 229 



differ, as to wliat constitutes a proper soil for any particular plant, or 

 genera of plants, that, after listening to the various verbal descriptions 

 of some, and searching the analytical and chemical comljinations laid 

 down by others, one is constrained to arrive at the ratlier uncomfor- 

 table fact that nobody seems to understand what a proper soil consists 

 of. Now, this arises from the fact, that the word proper, whicli 

 sounds so like, and is so often used as a definite term, should, in this 

 case, be considered as indefinite, and tliat simply from the fact tliat the 

 same end may be arri\cd at equally certain by different routes, and all 

 equally deserving the appellation jjroper ; or, in otiier words, that a 

 plant may be successfully grown in a great diversity of soil ; all, and 

 each of which mny, \\\t\\ propriety, be considered proper soil. One 

 person grows a particular plant in some particular soil, to greater 

 perfection tlian in any other. Another person arrives at a lii<e result, 

 in a soil widely different in many respects ; yet, each considers the soil 

 he employs as tlie only proper one ; and, thus, to the end of the chap- 

 ter. Every one knows tliat all cultivated plants (excepting, of course, 

 Epiphytal orchidese), are divided, as far as soil is concerned, into two 

 classes, tlie one requiring rich vegetable mould, usually designated 

 loam, to whicli is added various decomposing vegetable matters ; the 

 other requiring heath soil, such as is found in abundance wiiere even 

 the Calluna vulgaris flourislies. From these simple individual sub- 

 stances, a soil in whicli any plant will flourish may be constituted. Pro- 

 vided there is nothing in a soil wliich we employ actually deleterious 

 to vegetable life, it matters very little wliat the chemical combinations 

 may be. When you read an elaborate analysis of what a soil ought to 

 consist, treat sucli with all the respect due to the scientific skill evinced, 

 but treat it as a theory in your operations, not as a practical guide 

 And when some votary of a particular genus of beauties, dilates with 

 rapture on tiie minutiae of his weigliing and measuring, in the com- 

 bination of his compost, do not damp his ardour by telling him how 

 much easier he might have arrived at a like conclusion. In all cases 

 employ ayl'/^'ro^w soil, suitable in character to tiie class of plants you are 

 operating on, of course modifying its richness to the results anticipated ; 

 and do not so much attend to its chemical combination, as to its me- 

 chanical texture. 



'> 



OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH PLANTS, &c. 



BY JUVENIS, 



I PKAD in your Number of tlie present month (.July), page 168, 

 " \Ve ardently hoj)e that what we have written nsay bring many of 

 our wildings a step nearer our homes, and tliat the attention of our 

 readers may be employed at the present delightful period of the year 

 in collecting such plants as may suit their tastes and localities." Under 

 lliis feeling, some time ago I wrote to you, strongly advocating extra 

 attention by the florist and scientific gardener, to our early-blooming, 

 wild, and Innuble companion of our youthful and more aged walks, the 

 brilliant Dent-de-leon ; but to my second ap|)lication you required to 

 know if I was in earnest. Yes! as earnest as I ever was in my life; 



