soil. 239 



eon. However attractive this scheme may be in theory, it 

 seems doubtful whether it would be very successful in 

 execution. Masses of evergreens have a sombre and mono- 

 tonous effect, even in winter, unless occasionally broken 

 and varied by deciduous trees. The contrast of their leaf- 

 less neighbors relieves the intenseness of their gloom, and 

 sets off their brilliancy. Though a winter garden (the 

 very name of which is chilling) is perhaps not very desira- 

 ble by itself, the object sought to be attained should not 

 be lost sight of in the formation of the park and the flower 

 garden. We can easily suppose a particular section of the 

 latter to contain a predominance of evergreens, and to pos- 

 sess the principal characters of a Winter Garden, without 

 the formality of its name and purpose. In the endless va- 

 riety of situations, it is not difficult to imagine a sloping 

 bank, for instance, facing the sun, with a long walk skirt- 

 ing its base, the lower side of which might be adorned with 

 a border or narrow parterre planted with arbutus and 

 periwinkle, whilst the slope is covered with the higher 

 evergreens, and the summit of the acclivity is crowned 

 with groups of deciduous trees, interrupted by a few strag- 

 gling firs, through which the wind, unfelt below, might 

 sigh its melancholy music. Again, a site for the Spring 

 Garden, which need not be of very great extent, may be 

 found in the vicinity of the green-house or conservatory, 

 with which it is naturally allied. 



Soil. — A variety of soils is required in the flower gar- 

 den, to suit the very different kinds of plants that fall to be 

 cultivated. To florists' flowers particular compounds are 

 assigned, and these shall be mentioned when treating of 

 the flowers themselves. American plants require a peaty 

 earth, varying from boggy peat to almost pure sand. Al- 

 luvial peat, that is, boggy earth which has been washed 



