OH SOILS AMD COMPOSTS. 13 1 



" Genial Compost, generally applicable to superior fibrous-rooted 

 perennial herbaceous plants of the open ground, where (he 

 common earth is unfavourable , or their natural soil cannot 

 be obtained. 

 " Hazel-loam earth, from the richest pasture-ground ; bog-soil, 

 from meadow or other lowlands ; hotbed stable manure, fully rotted 

 down ; and liuest white sand, from the deepest pit, — mixing them 

 in equal quantities. On first putting the above together, apply 

 bullocks' or other blood, in the proportion of one gallon to the 

 quantity of compost to be contained in two wheelbarrows of the 

 common size. That the whole may be more effectually incorpo- 

 rated, give it repeated turnings over, and lay it in some situation 

 where it may remain fully exposed to the weather, as long as occa- 

 sion may require. The longer time can be allowed in preparing 

 it, the better will the compost prove. Where it is convenient to 

 allow twelve mouths, it will require to be turned over monthly; if 

 six months, once a fortnight; and if a shorter time, as only three 

 months, it will require to be turned over weekly ; but in such a 

 hart period, there will scarcely be sufficient time for the green- 

 sward to rot, which will prove a material inconvenience, as it would 

 decay many roots planted therein; and, consequently, must be 

 picked out before the compost is applied to the bed. On no account 

 be prevailed on to sift over the compost, which process is invariably 

 injurious, by promoting decay in most roots. 



" Long experience has fully demonstrated the great utility of 

 hazel-loam earth in the culture of superior bulbous-rooted and 

 other /lowers ; but the practice of later years has clearly proved 

 that our mode of treatment will admit of great improvement in 

 numerous cases by the addition of more soft and cool soils. In 

 the present case, the loam which ought to be procured is that par- 

 taking of a sandy nature, and somewhat light, thereby rendering 

 it more open and inadhesive, to admit of the fibres of the plants 

 most readily and effectually making way therein ; and the better 

 to discharge all heavy falling rains, and prevent standing wet, frc- 

 ntlv injurious to roots during tlie cold and chilling seasons of 

 the autumn and winter, whereas thai of a more close, binding, and 

 adheaivi nature, inclining to clay, would, by retaining such wet 

 or moisture, abundantly decay the roots. In procuring this loamy 

 ii, it will bo necessary to dig and take away all the turf 01 



