176 TREES AND SHRUBS 



as it doubtless is, it should give an idea of the 

 climatic advantages enjoyed by the district in 

 question. 



Many of the subjects mentioned are growing in 

 Tresco Abbey gardens, Isles of Scilly, but most of 

 these are also found in mainland gardens as well. 

 Where any have been met with at Tresco only, the 

 fact is noted, but these may also be present on the 

 mainland. 



The soil of the Scillies, which is composed 

 apparently of peat and disintegrated granite, and is 

 almost identical with much of that around Penzance, 

 is admirably adapted for hard-wooded Australian, 

 New Zealand, and Chilian shrubs and trees, and 

 almost all the species and genera enumerated would 

 be best suited by a compost in which peat and leaf- 

 mould and granite sand formed the chief proportion, 

 although it must be allowed that some alluded to 

 have been found to succeed equally well in sandy 

 loam. Porosity in the soil is indispensable, for, in 

 this district, where the winter rains are often ex- 

 ceptionally heavy, unless the water percolates rapidly 

 through the ground, stagnant moisture collects around 

 the roots, a condition which is absolutely fatal to 

 success. The advantages of the Cornish granite 

 sand are gradually being appreciated. Mr. Fitz- 

 herbert writes, " I was told the other day by an 

 acquaintance that since he had imported it by the 

 truck-load to his Sussex garden he was able to grow 

 many things successfully that he had before failed 

 with." 



