186 MISCKLtANEOUS ISTTEILIGENCE. 



thicknesses, sometimes being little more than that which forms the tiir! or 

 upper sward, and at other times lying from one to four feet under the surface. 

 That is generally the best which is of a moderate depth, being more withia 

 the ameliorating powers of the sun and atmosphere ; the other, lying deeper, 

 and being known to abound with crude, uncjualified matter, is very unfavour- 

 able to the growth of tender plants. This sort of soil is particularly adapted 

 for striking cuttings in geneial, on account of its firm, close texture, and re- 

 taining moisture longer than either peat or sand. 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 esjiecially in 

 dry seasons. — Second, of peat. 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 these situations, the very surface only should be chosen, 

 as that is found to contain a greater portion of the fine, drying, opening kind 

 of saud, so necessary to this species of soil. The places where I would recom- 

 mend to look for the proper peat, are those dry, healthy commons, where it 

 seems 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 saud, 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 selected, as producing the 

 best peat for use ; but the peat answering for one species of plants will not be 

 so congenial to another, brought from a very diftiirent situation and soil. It 

 will therefore be obvious, that a supply of every variety of soil should be 

 at hand. The peat should be laid in a heap for twelve months before used, 

 and be turned over a few times. Most plants grow freily in peat during 

 summer, but they require great care to supply them well with water. Plants 

 in this soil are often found to pL-rish in winter; the reason is, its extreme 

 lightness, and the cold necessarily produced by frequent watering. Shrubby, 

 hard wooded, and fine fibrous rooted plants, thrive well in peat and loam, 

 about equal proportions. — Sand is not used alone, except for striking cuttings 

 of plants in, such as heaths, &c. The soil of the interior parts of Southern 

 Africa is excessively sandy ; a considerable portion of saud should always be 

 used in the composts in which plants from that country are potted in. Pit 

 sand is the best for use; it is of a lively, vegetating nature, and is very supe- 

 rior to river or sea sand ; the whitest is the best. — Vegetable mould is that kind 

 of soil found in woods, produced by the annual fall of leaves, or by leaves 

 being collected together, and a layer of earth and a layer of leaves being 

 heaped together to the depth of half a yard or two feet; by being often 

 turned, in a year or two it becomes perfect mould. It is of a very loose, light 

 nature, and comparatively rich. In its simple state it is scarcely fit for the 

 growth of any thing, excepting annuals, as its extreme lightness, like peat, 

 renders it unable to support arborescent plants; however, when mixed with 

 Toam, having a more close and firm texture than itself, it is particularly use- 

 ful for Cape ])lants, as geraniums, &c., especially for annuals. — Of animal 

 manure, that procured from old hot beds, and rotted to a peifect mould, is 

 the most suitable. When mixed with a portion of loam, it is the best for 

 plants that have fleshy roots, also for half shrubby and herbaceous kinds of 

 plants, annuals, biennials, &c. It is never used simply by itself, and rarely 

 mixed with peat or sand. — I intend to continue my observations on soils at 

 some future opportunity, and will forward them to you. 



Avgust\l)th, 1833. " J.Price. 



On the Cl'LTDRE OF IXIAS, &C. IN REPLY TO THE QUERY OF SNOWDROP. 



— Having noticed a query in No. VI. of the Magazine relative to the cultiva- 

 tion of Ixias, &c., by Snowdrop, and as I have very successfully grown the 

 plants he makes request about, 1 herewith send in reply the method I have 

 pursued. I have cultivated liiias with great success, in pots kept in*a green- 

 house, and in the i>pen border. 



