74 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



tion of soils and composts ; for, however great the care 

 bestowed upon the potting and watering of a plant may be, 

 if the soil is unsuitable, or not in a proper condition to 

 supply the requirements of the plant, every other care is 

 thrown away ; but if the soil is suitable it is surprising 

 with what tenacity a plant will cling to existence, under 

 very unfavourable circumstances. Every person who has 

 paid any attention to the management of plants knows 

 that in the. open garden as well as in pots the sweeter 

 the soil is that is, the more it has been exposed to 

 the ameliorating influence of atmospheric changes the 

 more suitable it becomes for all horticultural purposes. Even 

 maiden soil, fresh from an old pasture, is materially im- 

 proved by exposure to atmospheric changes for a few 

 months ; while in the case of soil from a wet locality, it 

 should never, under any circumstances, be used in the cul- 

 tivation of choice plants untill it has been exposed to the 

 varied changes of the Winter ; and if afterwards it can have 

 a few months' exposure through the Summer, it will be much 

 improved thereby. This improvement arises principally 

 from the expulsion of deleterious matters, the decomposi- 

 tion of vegetable substances, and the thorough disintegration 

 of the mass of soil. The surface sods pared from old pasture 

 land, if loosely stacked in some out-of-the-way place for 

 twelve months, will become a valuable compost for potting 

 plants. Such a pile should be found in every well ordered 

 garden. 



Hedge Plants. The following is a list of shrubs suit- 

 able for this purpose : Cupressus macrocarpa and Law- 

 soniana, Arbor vitae, Holly, English Beech, Pittosporum, (or 

 Matopo), African Box Thorn, Laurel (common), Osage 

 orange, Evergreen Privet, New Zealand Broadlcaf, Berberis 

 Darwinii, Retinospora pleumosa, &c. The common English 

 Laurel is our favourite for general purposes. These should 

 all be planted at such distances from the plants they are 

 intended to shelter so as not to injure them by the encroach- 

 ment of their roots. In forming a flower garden for the 

 first time, the ground should be trenched (as directed for 

 vegetables). Where the space is limited, we prefer beds and 

 gravel walks neatly lined with box, or some other plant. 

 Tiles and bricks can also be used with advantage. Grass 



