On the Cultivation of American Plants. 361 



tensive practice shows that, with a small expenditure of 

 well-directed labor, rhododendrons may be induced to repay 

 the attention of the cultivator in any part, and almost any 

 locality in Great Britain. 



" A more unpromising appearance than that originally be- 

 longing to the present American nursery at Bagshot, can 

 scarcely be imagined. In its present improved state, it 

 affords a good example of what can be done in the most 

 sterile spots. The ground in question forms part of fifty 

 acres, the whole of which is rated in the poor's rate book at 8/. 

 The soil, which is from twelve to fifteen inches in depth, is 

 a black sandy peat, resting upon a clayey subsoil very defi- 

 cient in vegetable matter, and naturally incapable of produc- 

 ing any crop. With cultivation it has been rendered in the 

 highest degree productive. The first operation was to drain 

 it from three and a half to four feet deep ; it was then 

 trenched two feet deep, and to every acre so treated, from 

 thirty to forty tons of good farm-yard manure Avas added ; 

 and as a precautionary measure, in order to exhaust the 

 rankness attendant upon this treatment, it was deemed 

 necessary to take off the land a root crop of potatoes, car- 

 rots, turnips, and mangold wurzel. After this treatment, 

 American plants were found to thrive amazingly, but, like 

 all crops in very poor soils, they continue to be benefited by 

 the application, from time to time, of suitable enriching 

 materials. 



" It must not, however, be understood that American 

 plants will flourish in a very poor soil ; on the contrary, 

 there is evidence every where that, nearly all plants delight 

 in a rich one. Even mosses, lichens, and heath, are more 

 healthy and vigorous in the richest localities. AVith a trifling 

 expense, however, the poorest soil may be rendered suitable 

 for rhododendrons. An excellent compost may be made as 

 follows : — To two parts of sandy loam or peat, or in fact 

 any sandy soil that does not contain much calcareous mat- 

 ter, (American plants exhibit a great dislike to that,) add 

 one fourth leaf-mould, one eighth sand, and one eighth 

 rotten manure. If wanted immediately, the Avhole should 



VOL. XVI. NO. VIII. 46 



