WINDOW GARDENING. 



91 



the fact, that some young seedlings in a growing state were removed from a cold 

 greenhouse to the open ground without protection, and subjected to eight degrees 

 of frost in the first week in May, last year, without injury. The plants now 

 growing in this country are, of course, at present rather small ; but as it is a rapid 

 grower, and of easy propagation, its price is much more moderate than is usually 

 the case with new introductions. 



WINDOW GARDENING, 



( Continued from page 75 J 



In our last number we referred to the principal difficulties attending the cultivation 

 of Plants in rooms, and we ventured to offer a few suggestions calculated to remove 

 some of these hindrances to success. We will now notice in detail the most impor- 

 tant operations connected with pot culture, and endeavour briefly to explain the 

 principles on which these depend. 



Soils. — It is well known that the plants ordinarily grown in the open air will 

 not all flourish in the same description of soil, and this is equally true with regard 

 to those treated artificially in the greenhouse or window. These different require- 

 ments depend primarily on the varying structure of the root. Plants with fine 

 hair-like fibres, such as the Azalea, Heath, and Acacias will not succeed in a strong 

 retentive loam, which would be impenetrable by their rootlets ; whilst, on the 

 contrary, a soil of this nature is indispensable for the Camellia, Pose, and many 

 other plants. Where, therefore, but one description of soil is attainable, success in 

 the cultivation of widely different classes of subjects can hardly be looked for ; but 

 happily there are, we imagine, but few localities where a small quantity of any of 

 the following ingredients may not be procured : — 



1. Peat or heath-soil, such as is found where the common heather and ling 

 flourish wild. This consists usually of soft black particles arising from the gradual 

 decay of vegetable matter, a varying proportion of sharp white sand, and generally 

 the roots of those plants flourishing in the vicinity, are more or less abundant. The 

 best peat is that containing about one-fourth its bulk of sand, and the presence of a 

 few roots enhances its value. The value of good peat can hardly be exaggerated, 

 many plants will flourish in nothing else, and there are very few which do not 

 derive some benefit from the admixture of a small portion with the other constituents 

 of the soil. When mixed with loams of close texture it renders them less adhesive, 

 and although we do not wish to speak too positively, we arc inclined to think that 

 its black carbonaceous particles have the same property of absorbing the carbonic 

 acid, ammonia, etc. of the atmosphere, which pure charcoal is known to possess. 



