r^Gd On the Cultivation of American Plants. 



following will be found an excellent method. Having de- 

 termined the outline of the beds, remove the soil a good 

 spade's depth, with all its attached vegetation, to some con- 

 venient spot immediately contiguous to the operations ; then 

 cart away from eighteen inches to two feet of the remaining 

 soil, well breaking up the bottom; trenching it eighteen 

 inches would be better still. Upon this cast in the surface 

 soil previously removed, well chopping it with the spade as 

 the work proceeds, filling up with a sufficient quantity of 

 prepared soil, so that after settling down it shall be a few 

 inches below the natural surface. During dry weather, after 

 the beds are planted, the surface should be kept constantly 

 stirred with the hoe and rake, for the double purpose of pre- 

 venting the growth of weeds and retarding evaporation. 

 Should an excessively dry season occur, the whole surface 

 of newly planted beds may with advantage be wholly cov- 

 ered with the short grass from the lawns. It will at least 

 prevent the necessity of a frequent iise of the watering pot, 

 the application of which in all out-door gardening is a prac- 

 tice ' more honored in the breach than in the observance.' 

 If the beds are situated in the neighborhood of trees, they 

 are sure to be invaded by a legion of roots which, if allowed 

 nnmolested possession, will in a few seasons appropriate the 

 whole of what you had intended for your favorites. But as 

 we recommend American plants, in such situations, to be 

 replanted and the soil trenched to a depth of two feet every 

 autumn, and every third or fourth year the whole mass of 

 soil trenched to the bottom — there will not be much to fear 

 upon that point, and the mass of soil, by being constantly 

 rendered permeable to the autumn rains, will always contain 

 a large amount of moisture. There need be no fear of the 

 plants suffering from removal, as rhododendrons can be trans- 

 planted with perfect safety, even after they have attained an 

 immense size, more especially when they have constantly 

 been subjected to such treatment." 



In conclusion, the writers point out the error of supposing 

 that these directions will involve a large outlay. " Nothing 

 can be more erroneous. The directions apply to the poorest 



