288 



HORTICULTURE. 



Flower 

 Garden. 



Soil. 



Eitgings. 



mends a compost prepared of one-half earth from the 

 surface of a common, where the soil is light; and the 

 other half drift sea sand and old lime rubbish screened, 

 in equal parts. Decayed leaves of trees have long been 

 considered as forming the most suitable ingredient in 

 composts, where it is wished to imitate a vegetable soil. 

 Large pits are dug in convenient parts of the woods, 

 and into these the heaps of leaves and small spray are 

 raked during winter ; a slight sprinkling of the surface 

 soil being thrown over all, to prevent the leaves from 

 being blown about. After the lapse of a year, a very 

 light vegetable soil is thus procured ; while the half 

 rotten spray forms an appropriate soil for some kinds 

 of epidendrum, cultivated in the stove. 



In the first forming of composts, considerable atten- 

 tion should be paid to the thorough mixing together of 

 the ingredients. The heaps should not be round and 

 of great bulk, but should rather be formed into long and 

 narrow ridges, the sides of which may more effectually 

 be exposed to the influences of the atmosphere. The 

 compost should remain for at least a year before being 

 used, and should be several times turned over and mix- 

 ed in the course both of summer and winter. 



The best kind of rich manure for the flower-garden 

 is found in old hot- beds which have been formed of 

 stable dung and litter ; but even this should not be 

 delved into the borders without being mixed with a 

 portion of good loam ; for there are fewjlotvers to which 

 very rich manures do not prove detrimental. 



A quantity of pit sand should always be in readiness 

 for mixing with other soils, or for striking cuttings of 

 different plants. The purest and finest pit sand is pre- 

 ferred. However pure to appearance, it still contains 

 a portion of very fine vegetable matter ; sea-sand being 

 destitute of this, is not nearly so proper. 



To enlarge further on soils for the flower-garden 

 seems unnecessary. In Cushing's Exotic Gardener may 

 be seen a table of genera, shewing the peculiar soil 

 most suitable, in a general way, to each genus ; and the 

 same little book contains some very useful remarks on 

 the preparation and use of composts. 



It may here be observed, that for all border plants, 

 as well as for tulips, ranunculuses, and other flow- 

 ers kept in beds, the earth or the compost should 

 not be screened fine. It is enough if stones which the 

 spade sensibly strikes against be cast out, and if clods 

 be broken small at the time of delving. Screened earth 

 is apt to bind after heavy and continued rains, and thus 

 to impede the progress of the roots which it was meant 

 to facilitate. For plants kept in pots, and particularly 

 for seedlings and cuttings, the matter is quite other- 

 wise ; the soil for most of these should be made fine by 

 passing it through a sieve. 



Edgings. 



463. In the formal style of gardening which prevail- 

 ed in the 17th and the early part of the 18th century, 

 edgings of various kinds were much more needed and 

 more attended to than they now are. The compart- 

 ments of parterres were generally divided by box, and 

 on the margins of the walks were frequently small 

 hedges of lavender, or rue. Thyme, savory and hys- 

 sop, were also in those days employed as ornamental 

 edgings. 



464<. For the general gravel-walks in gardens, the 

 best edging is without doubt the dwarfish Dutch box 

 (Buxus sempervirens var.) A compact low hedge of 

 this effectually keeps the walks clean, by preventing 

 tie earth of the border from falling down into them, 



or being washed into them by heavy rains. If the box Fh>er 

 be kept low and regularly clipped, it endures in good '"den. 

 repair and beauty for several years. It is commonly !*T" Y ~""* 

 clipped twice in the year, in April and July. It should <<g "' 8S * 

 be kept about three inches broad at the base, and taper- 

 ing upwards to a sharp ridge. A linear and continuous 

 edging of this kind pleases every eye. Box is planted 

 either in the beginning of autumn, or in the spring 

 about the month of April. If slips having few or no 

 roots be used, watering is proper till the plants be fair- 

 ly established. 



Next to box, the plant which forms the best retain- 

 ing edging is pci liaps thrift or sea-pink ( Statice arme- 

 ria.) In June and July, when in flower, it makes a 

 showy edging ; and it answers the purpose during the 

 rest of the year with its dense tufts of leaves. It should 

 be replanted every year, or at farthest every second 

 year. 



The double-flowered daisy (Bellis perennis, var. fl. 

 pi.) has very long been used in this way. When kept 

 in repair, it forms an edging very pleasing to the eye. 

 The plants should be separated and transplanted every 

 season, in the beginning of September, and only one 

 strong item or bud left to each bunch of roots. 



Double catchfly (Lychnis viscaria, fl. pi.) is sometimes 

 employed ; but it seldom makes a neat edging : the 

 flowers are ornamental, but the stems are too tall. 

 Dwarf gentian (Gentiana acaulis) of all other plants 

 forms the most brilliant edging, while in flower in the 

 spring ; but it is necessary that a continuous azure line 

 be kept up, and for this purpose the verge must be of 

 some breadth : It is applicable therefore only to large 

 or broad borders, and it succeeds best in a strong or 

 clayey soil. London-pride (Saxifraga umbrosa) forms 

 a loose and straggling verge, but is very pretty while 

 the plants are in flower : It is fittest for a shrubbery 

 walk. Lady's cushion, or Indian moss as it is some-, 

 times called, (Saxifraga hypnoides] is occasionally plant- 

 ed as an edging, and makes a pretty enough appearance. 

 Some other similar species of. Saxifraga, such as palmata 

 and ccespitosa, may be used in the same way. 



For gay parterres, the large blue-flowered pansy vio- 

 let (Viola tricolor var.) makes a beautiful slight edging. 

 Although strictly speaking an annual plant, if it be 

 parted every season, it endures for several years. It is 

 very commonly used for adorning the margins of ele- 

 gant flower-borders in the neighbourhood of Dublin. 



Dwarf bell-flower (Campanula pumila, or C. rotundi* 

 folia var.) makes a fine edging for little borders where 

 nicety and beauty are studied. Sometimes a few feet 

 of the edging are formed alternately of the blue and of 

 the white variety. For small borders also, a very or- 

 namental edging may be formed of Stone-crop (Sedum 

 acre), preferring the variety which has the tops of the 

 shoots of a yellowish colour ; this, even during winter 

 or very early in the spring, having the appearance of 

 being in flower. 



It may be remarked, that patches of several of the 

 different edging plants which have been enumerated, 

 perhaps a few yards alternately of each, have an agree- 

 able effect, especially in a long or extensive border. 



Most kinds of edgings may be planted early in the 

 spring. In planting them, it is more proper to use the 

 spade than the dibble. The ground being slightly 

 beat, a drill is cut by the garden-line, perpendicular 

 on the side next the border ; the plants are then placed 

 against the perpendicular side, their roots spread out, 

 and the earth closed upon them. 



For edgings to square or oblong beds intended for 

 tulips, ranunculuses, or aimilar plants, thin boards 



