Horticultural Chemistry. 269 



Adjoining the pinetum, and winding through a pine wood, 

 is a drive bordered with cedars, and leading to the above- 

 mentioned avenue of that noble tree. 



In one part of the grounds an artificial elevation of earth 

 and gravel has been raised, for the purpose of commanding an 

 extensive and well wooded view. This is faced and orna- 

 mented with roots, and with stems of old beeches of a very 

 picturesque form, already much clothed with flowering and 

 other creepers. The work is still in progress, but even the 

 present effect is striking. 



Many other things at Dropmore would require to be noticed, 

 but our glance was too rapid to admit of more detailed recol- 

 lections. For the lists of flowers and pines, and the observations 

 on their culture and management, we are entirely indebted to 

 Mr. Baillie ; who has been head-gardener at Dropmore for five 

 years, and to whom it is but doing justice to state that every 

 thing under his care was in the highest order and keeping. 



Art. II. Outlines of Horticultural Chemistry, Sfc. By G. 

 W. Johnson, Esq., of Great Totham, Essex. 



{Continued from p. 135.) 



However varying in the proportions, yet every soil is com- 

 posed of silica, alumina, lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, salts, 

 and animal and vegetable remains. The most important con- 

 sideration is, what proportions those are which constitute a 

 fertile soil. The beau ideal of a fertile soil is one which con- 

 tains such a proportion of decomposing matter, as to keep the 

 crop growing upon it always supplied with it in a state fit for 

 introsusception, yet not so superabundantly as to render it too 

 luxuriant, if the object in view is the production of seed : but, 

 for the production of those plants whose foliage is the part in 

 request, as spinach, or the production of edible bulbous roots, 

 as onions, which have a small expanse of leaves, so as to be 

 almost entirely dependent upon the soil for nourishment, there 

 can scarcely be an excess of decomposed matter presented to 

 their roots. Spinach, on rich soils, will yield successive cut- 

 tings, the same as to asparagus : the latter, especially, demands 

 abundant applications of nourishment to its roots ; since, like 

 the onion, it has little foliage and slightly fibrous roots, at the 

 same time that, like the spinach, it has to afford repeated 

 cuttings, which, requiring a repeated developement of parts, 

 need abundant food, and that in the immediate neigh- 



