114 Extracts f ram the Journals. [Jan., 



have not obtained a proper soil. The vegetable that decays on 

 the ground, is not entirely resolved into its original elements, but 

 a portion held together by a stronger affinity, mixes or combines 

 with the earth. Frequently, however, it accumulates in low 

 places, and thus forms the rauck of our woods, and the 'peat of 

 our bogs. 



It should be remarked that muck and peat appear to differ as 

 much as the plants that produced them. Muck (as w^e use the 

 term) is chiefly formed from the leaves of deciduous trees, as the 

 maple and basswood, while peat is derived from bog moss and 

 other subaquatics. The former is mild, and an excellent manure 

 for Indian corn — the latter is sour, and better adapted to plants 

 that are not found on calcareous lands. 



The farmer and the florist act from very different motives, and 

 select very different plants, nutriment being the main object with 

 one, and beauty wuth the other. From the fertile plain, and the 

 river flat, the cereal grasses were probably derived, as well as 

 those that constitute our pastures and meadows; and it is worthy 

 of notice that all these delight in calcareous soils. On the con- 

 trary, the florist has taken a wider range, and chosen his favorite 

 from every variety of soil: not only from plains and alluvions, 

 but from the cold mountain, the rugged hill, the moist valley, the 

 comparatively barren waste, the shady swamp, and the open 

 marsh. To many of these plants, however, lime is deleterious; 

 and a perfect flower garden ought to represent a diversified coun- 

 try in miniature: shade and sunshine; here a plant of fertile soil, 

 there a tract of bog, near it steril earth, and yonder a bed of 

 sand. 



In arranging plants in the border, different methods have been 

 adopted. Sometimes shrubs and the stronger perennials have oc- 

 cupied the middle line, while smaller sorts, and especially bulbs, 

 have been set near them in little clumps. This arrangement, 

 however, though very economical on account of room, prevents 

 the necessary culture; and many kinds, such as monthly roses, 

 large double larkspurs, or the later sorts of phlox, suffer greatly 

 in consequence. Their beauty depends on their vigor; and their 

 vigor on the fine tilth of the ground where they stand. It is best 

 therefore, to leave room enough round them for the free exercise 

 of the spade, or the hoe. 



The vigor of herbaceous perennials, however, that increase by 

 new stems rising closely round the circumference — may be mate- 

 rially assisted by division and transplanting every two or three 

 years; for if neglected, the central stems, owing to the confined 

 position of their roots, suffer from starvation, and in many in- 

 stances, produce no flowers. Several species of veronica, spircea, 

 iris, and phlox, may be cited as examples. 



