Gardening for Amateurs 



513 



Special Plants for Special Soils 



THE nature of the soil must always 

 be the first and most important con- 

 sideration of the planter, so that 

 he may be able to proceed along the 

 right lines in the process of improving 

 it for the reception of various plants. 

 Naturally, soils vary in different districts, 

 but even in the same districts the most 

 remarkable disparity in the nature of the 

 soil is sometimes apparent. While some 

 plants seem to thrive in practically any sort 

 of soil, most kinds, if given the opportunity, 

 will show a marked partiality for one par- 

 ticular soil. That is to say, one plant prefers 

 a peaty soil, while another does best in heavy, 

 clayey ground. But while this is recognised, 

 it is, of course, entirely out of the question 

 to think of providing each plant with a 

 rooting medium which has been proved to be 

 best suited to it. It can be, and is, carried 

 out to a certain extent, particularly in the 

 cultivation of Alpine plants, but as such 

 undertakings are usually on a limited scale, 

 they need not be considered here. 



It follows, then, that if we cannot provide 

 soil to suit the plants, we must endeavour to 

 obtain plants to suit the soil. Now, as regards 

 what are termed garden plants, by which are 

 meant annuals, biennials, and perennials 

 usually grown in flower beds and borders, it 

 is possible to improve or alter almost any soil 

 sufficiently to meet their requirements, for 

 if the soil is well cultivated they will thrive. 

 It is when we come to shrubs and trees that 

 the partiality for certain soils mentioned 

 above is brought prominently to notice, and 

 as these are responsible in no small degree 

 for the beautifying of gardens, an endeavour 

 should be made to plant such as are known 

 to thrive in the soil that has to be dealt with. 

 Plants for Clay Soil. Clay soils are 

 those containing not less than 50 per cent, of 

 clay. These are the most difficult of all to 

 work. They are improved by draining, and 

 the addition of any light, sandy material ; 

 when manuring use long, strawy horse 

 manure. The following can be recommended 

 for planting in clay soils : Acer dasycarpum 

 and A. platanoides, two very handsome 



Maples ; Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse 

 Chestnut) ; Ailantus glandulosa (Tree of 

 Heaven) ; Amygdalus communis (flowering 

 Almond) ; Aucuba japonica ; Berberis Aqui- 

 folium (Mahonia), a well-known yellow- 

 flowering shrub ; B. Darwinii, orange flowers, 

 followed by blue berries ; Betula alba (Silver 

 Birch) ; Buddleia globosa, produces orange 

 ball-like blooms in summer ; Cerasus Lauro- 

 cerasus (common Laurel) ; C. lusitanica 

 (Portugal Laurel) ; C. Avium and C. Padus 

 (flowering Cherries) ; Clematis Flammula, 

 Jackmanii and Vitalba ; Colutea arborescens 

 (the Bladder Senna) ; Cornus Mas ; Corylus 

 Avellana ; Cotoneaster buxifolia and mi- 

 crophylla ; Crataegus (Hawthorn) in variety ; 

 Cytisus (Broom), albus (white), biflorus 

 (yellow), purpureus (pink), scoparius (common 

 yellow) ; Deutzia crenata and gracilis ; 

 Diervilla grandiflora ; Euonymus in variety ; 

 Garrya elliptica ; Genista hispanica ; Hama- 

 melis arborea, Japonica and virginica ; Hyper- 

 icum calycinum ; Hollies ; Jasmines ; Kerria 

 Japonica ; Laburnum ; various Magnolias ; 

 Philadelphus coronarius ; Pyrus (flowering 

 Crab) ; Rims Cotinus and glabra ; Ribes 

 aureum and sanguineum (flowering Currants); 

 Robinia Pseudacacia ; Rosa repens ; Salix 

 (Willow) alba and daphnoides ; Sambucus 

 racemosa (Elder) ; Spartium Junceum (Span- 

 ish Broom) ; Spiraeas ariaefolia and lindley- 

 ana ; Tamarix gallica, pink flowers in August ; 

 Viburnum Lantana, lovely in autumn ; V. 

 Opulus (Guelder Rose) ; V. Tinus (Laurus- 

 tinus) ; Yuccas filamentosa and gloriosa. 



Plants for Lime Soil. For planting in 

 calcareous soils, i.e. soils which contain over 

 20 per cent, of lime, the following are suit- 

 able : Acers in variety ; Amygdalus com- 

 munis ; Berberis Aquifolium, Darwinii and 

 aristata ; Buddleia globosa ; Caragana ar- 

 borescens and spinosa ; Ceanothus azureus, 

 dentatus, and veitchianus ; Cedrus atlantica 

 glauca (grey-leaved Cedar) ; Cistus ladani- 

 ferus nnd villosus ; Clematises ; Cornus Mas 

 and sanguinea ; Cotoneaster microphylla and 

 rotundifolia ; Crataegus in variety ; Cytisus 

 albus, biflorus, purpureus, and sessilifolius ; 

 Deutzia crenata and gracilis ; Diervilla ; 



