EVERGREENS. 109 



may be made as follows : To two parts of sandy loam, 

 or indeed any sandy soil, which does not contain much 

 chalk or lime, add one-fourth leaf-mould, one-eighth 

 sand, and one-eighth well decomposed manure. If 

 wanted immediately, the whole should be well incor- 

 porated before using ; but much advantage would 

 result from allowing the mixture to remain twelve 

 months, turning the whole well together two or 

 three times, during that period. "When the fertility 

 of the beds becomes exhausted, as we have pre- 

 viously observed, a dressing of thoroughly rotten 

 manure will be found highly beneficial. Under such 

 conditions, manure is as grateful to a Rhododendron 

 or an Azalea as to the most confirmed of vegetable 

 gourmands. 



An important fact to be remembered in the culti- 

 vation of American plants, is that they must never be 

 allowed to become thoroughly dry at the root. Upon 

 the strict observance of this simple axiom rests much 

 of the success to be attained in the cultivation of these, 

 and all similarly fine-rooted plants. They experience 

 more injury from excessive root dryness than from 

 any other shrub we are acquainted with. Moisture 

 must be retained about their roots. From the want 

 of such, especially during the growth and maturation 

 of their wood, the whole economy of the plant becomes 

 affected, and it is then difficult to induce a healthy 

 reaction. The worst results follow. The wood being 

 imperfectly organised, flower-buds are but scantily 

 produced, and those in an unhealthy condition. The 

 results at the blooming season may be anticipated ; 



