Culhire of American Plants. 305 



them with plenty of air, still covering up at nights, and occa- 

 sionally lining the bed with fresh worked dung when the heat 

 declines, being careful not to admit any of the rank steam, 

 which would immediately spoil them. After the plants have 

 grown to as large a size as the second frame will admit of, 

 give them their final potting into pots of from 10 to 12 in. 

 in diameter at top, and set them in the hot, peach, pine, or 

 green house for flowering, giving them abvmdance of water 

 in very warm weather twice a clay. By this management 

 I have grown them from 5 to 5^ ft. high, completely fea- 

 thered down to the pot, and producing the most noble effect 

 with their various colours and most beautiful double flowers. 



I remain. Sir, yours, &c. 



James Reed. 

 Bridgewater Nurse)-i/, Dec. 7. 1830. 



Art. XVII. Observations on the Culture of American or Bog Plants 

 and the Orchidece, with some Hints on acclimatising Exotics. By 

 Mr. Thomas Appleby. 



Sir, 



The care of a gentleman's garden in this neighbourhood 

 devolved upon me some years ago, in which was a large bed 

 of American plants in nearly a dying state. They consisted 

 of choice rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmias, andromedas, &c., 

 and had been fine plants, but were then in a most deplorable 

 condition as it appeared, from the want of moisture. The 

 situation of the bed (over which I had no control) was pecu- 

 liarly high and dry, being near some fine old elms, the roots 

 of which penetrated to the bed, and dried up the soil. The 

 compost in which they had been planted was a kind of real 

 peat or bog earth, mixed with coarse sand, and was extremely 

 difficult to moisten. The water either stood on the surface 

 and evaporated, or ran off at the side and sank under the 

 grass ; so that, although I watered freely every evening, the 

 hot sun on the surface, and the elm roots underneath, rendered 

 all the labour abortive. 



I then set to work, and procured some of what I considered 

 proper soil for them ; it is properly termed moor earth, being 

 found on most moors. Like the other kind, it is black ; but 

 has this difference, it is thoroughly mixed with fine white 

 sand, so much so as to have a shining appearance, and is 

 more easily pervious to water. With this moor earth I 

 formed the bed, after removing the old soil, and spread it 



Vol. VII. — No. 82. x 



