CHAPTER VI 



SOILS AND MULCHING. 



IF one could choose one's own soil for the cultivation of trees and shrubs 

 generally, it \vould be a deep loam of a light rather than a heavy nature, 

 and free from all calcareous substances. Such a soil is easily worked and 

 would support the most varied collection of species, including the great 

 family of Ericacece, whose members give so much beauty to gardens. 

 The species found on limestone are numerous, but to very few of them 

 is lime absolutely essential. For some, such as certain species of 

 clematis and juniper, and such conifers as Abies Pinsapo, it is advisable 

 to add lime to soil deficient in it ; but generally one is led to fhe belief 

 that trees and shrubs inhabit limestone regions not so much from choice 

 as from necessity. The beech, for instance, or the whitebeam, commonly 

 found wild on the limestone, thrive' just as well apparently where it is 

 absent. Peat-lovers, again, are by no means incapable of thriving on a 

 loamy soil. The heath family, including such genera as Calluna, Erica, 

 Rhododendron, Azalea, Daboeda, and Pieris, are usually found wild on 

 peaty soil, but everyone of them will succeed in loam of a sandy nature 

 and free from lime, especially if decayed leaves be added to it. 



The great value of decayed leaves the " leaf-soil " of the gardener 

 as an ingredient in soil of any type is not yet generally appreciated, 

 although one hopes the old wasteful practice of burning fallen leaves, 

 after raking them together in early winter, has in a great measure ceased. 

 Every garden of any pretensions should have its " leaf-heap," where the 

 gathered leaves may be carted and turned over two or three times 

 annually as occasion offers. In two years a black humus is formed which 

 no tree or shrub, so far as I know, will object to, but which, on the other 

 hand, the roots of almost everyone will avidly seize on. For delicate 

 rooting shrubs like the Ericacece, eucryphias, stewartias, the more delicate 

 magnolias, Chilean and New Zealand shrubs generally, it is particularly 

 useful, and makes an admirable substitute for peat in many cases. As a 

 mulching for evergreens, a layer of leaves has much to recommend it, and 

 in the case of those with low branches like rhododendrons, which 

 prevent the leaves being blown away, it is a good plan in autumn to 



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