SOIL. 239 
son. However attractive this scheme may be in theory, it 
seems doubtful whether it would be very successful in 
execution. Masses of evergreens have a sombre and mono- 
tonous effect, even in winter, unless occasionally broken 
and varied by deciduous trees. The contrast of their leaf- 
less neighbors relieves the intenseness of their gloom, and 
sets off their brilliancy. Though a winter garden (the 
very name of which is chilling) is perhaps not very desira- 
ble by itself, the object sought to be attained should not 
be lost sight of. in the formation of the park and the flower 
garden. We can easily suppose a particular section of the 
latter to contain a predominance of evergreens, and to pos- 
sess the principal characters of a Winter Garden, without 
the formality of its name and purpose. In the endless va- 
riety of situations, it is not difficult to imagine a sloping 
bank, for instance, facing the sun, with a long walk skirt- 
ing its base, the lower side of which might be adorned with 
a border or narrow parterre planted with arbutus and 
periwinkle, whilst the slope is covered with the higher 
evergreens, and the summit of the acclivity is crowned 
with groups of deciduous trees, interrupted by a few strag- 
gling firs, through which the wind, unfelt below, might 
sigh its melancholy music. Again, a site for the Spring 
Garden, which need not be of very great extent, may be 
found in the vicinity of the green-house or conservatory, 
with which it is naturally allied. 
Sowl.—A variety of soils is required in the flower gar- 
den, to suit the very different kinds of plants that fall to be 
cultivated. To florists’ flowers particular compounds are 
“ assigned, and these shall be mentioned when treating of 
the flowers themselves. American plants require a peaty 
earth, varying from boggy peat to almost pure sand. Al- 
_, luvial peat, that is, boggy earth which has been washed 
