506 Culture of American Plants, and the OrchtdecPi 



about 6 in. thick on the bed. I was aware this was too thin, 

 considering the situation ; but I had another substance in 

 view, which I expected would be equivalent to more than 

 another 6 in. 



This substance is moss : I procured it in large quantities 

 from a rocky wood above Kirkstall Abbey : it comes off the 

 rocks in large flakes, like fleeces of wool, and I have no doubt 

 may be found in all similar places. With this moss I covered 

 the surface of the bed about 2 in. thick, and gave a good 

 watering. My expectations were not disappointed ; the plants 

 now stood the hottest sun without flagging, and in three or 

 four weeks, began to grow freely, notwithstanding the rough 

 operation they had undergone ; this work having been done 

 in the height of summer. The rhododendrons formed their 

 buds in abundance for flowering the following year, and the 

 azaleas, daphnes, kalmias, &c., put on that flourishing appear- 

 ance which is the certain token of luxuriant health. 



There was a peculiarity in their growth, which I may just 

 notice. Wishing to increase some of the more rare species, 

 on laying them down and covering the stems with the moss, 

 I soon found that they threw out roots with suprising facility ; 

 the stems being covered as high as the moss with those fine 

 white fibres for which this tribe of plants is so remarkable. 

 This I entirely attributed to the cooling qualities of the moss, 

 which, being congenial to the plants, and keeping the soil 

 moist, greatly assisted me in that method of increasing them. 

 Many of the shrubs, especially the rhododendrons, scattered 

 their seeds, came up, and in two years were fit to transplant ; 

 so that I should think nurserymen would find moss useful in 

 propagation. 



There is a tribe of plants which, from the curious and 

 surprising structure of the fructification, is well worthy of a 

 place in the flower-garden; I mean the hardy Orchideae. 

 Often desirous of cultivating them, it occurred to me that the 

 bed covered with moss was a suitable situation. A few species 

 were procured, planted, and grew very well : flowering a 

 great deal finer than I ever saw them in a wild state, throwing 

 up their beautiful flower-stems 15 to 18 in. high, and increas- 

 ing at the roots three for one. That they succeeded so well 

 was owing, no doubt, to the equal temperature of the soil 

 under the moss, and to the dry subsoil which prevented the 

 roots from rotting, the bed being a similar situation to that 

 from which they had been brought ; namely, a dry, hilly, and 

 rather mossy pasture. This bed also suited all the hardy 

 species of Primula, especially P. farinosa, a beautiful native, 

 which flowered well, made large tufts, and shed its seeds pro- 



