DECORATIVE USE OF FLOWERS. 



125 



and texture of the soil, and other causes. As a rule 

 the most genial, that is the warmest, aspects should 

 he chosen, though there are exceptions to this, as in 

 the case of bush-fruits, such as Gooseberries and 

 Currants, these being mostly finest and, more sin- 

 gular still, sweetest on the coldest sites. 



Of course, thorough di-aioage, so as to prevent 

 the possibility of the accumulation, rather than 

 insure the removal, of stagnant water, is indispens- 

 able. A depth of two or more feet of good soil 

 should also be provided, and where it is impractic- 

 c.ble to obtain such a depth all over the surface, the 

 system of mound or ridge and furrow planting may 

 be resorted to. It has almost passed into an axiom 

 among cultivators that a load, that is a cubic yard, 

 of earth will suffice to grow and preserve in health 

 and fertility a fruit-tree for a good many years. 



On wet soils and subsoils considerable success has 

 heen attained by forming the soil into a mound 

 above the line of the general surface. 



Forming Barriers against the Roots 

 Penetrating too Deeply into Barren Soils 

 or Injurious Subsoils. — It used to be thought 

 that a barrier of barrenness would suffice to arrest 

 the boring properties or downward tendencies of the 

 roots. Hence layers of stones, brick refuse, chalk, 

 and even puddled clay and sea or other sand were 

 placed under the roots of trees to keep them near to 

 the surface. 



Such expedients only hastened the downward 

 course of the roots. Hence the origin of concrete, 

 stone, slate, or asphalted bases for fruit-tree beds 

 and borders. These proved successful in preventing 

 the roots going further down ; but as they were 

 generally covered with a layer of drainage, the latter 

 seemed to draw the roots down to the concrete or 

 barrier, where they were not seldom found spreading 

 out into a perfect network of fibres just where there 

 was least for them to feed on. 



Hence, though the practice of rendering the base 

 of fruit-tree borders impervious to the roots is still 

 adopted in many cases, the modern fruit-grower 

 entices the roots up by liberal culture and food on 

 the surface, rather than arrests their downward 

 course by physical obstacles to their further pro- 

 gress. 



Among these improved methods of root-culture 

 are : a firmer surface, freedom fi^om digging, and sur- 

 face feeding in the form of mulching with maiden 

 soils or nourishing manure. 



Most of the dwarfing stocks employed are also 

 distinguished by freer rooting, and this tendency is 

 intensified by the modern practice of root-pruning. 

 But as most of these practices may be again alluded 

 to in describing the special culture of particular 



fruits, it will not be needful further to advert to 

 them in these general remarks on the fruit garden. 



Fruit garaens on grass are mostly called orchards, 

 the trees in them necessarily having rather tall 

 stems and being placed at considerable distances 

 apart, in order to keep the grass green underneath ; 

 but not a few orchards are sub-cropped with fruit- 

 bushes and Raspberries, and such are again inter- 

 cropped with vegetables. But, generally, modern 

 fruit gardens are planted with dwarf or pyramidal 

 trees, at distances of from four feet to six, or, at the 

 most, eight feet asunder, only leaving sufficient 

 space to SL&ord free access for cultui-al purposes and 

 for gathering the crops of fruit. The entire area is, 

 in fact, covered with the trees, and the surface of 

 the soil kept free of weeds or duly mulched over to 

 conserve the moisture or feed the roots. By keeping 

 each species and variety of fruit as nearly as may be 

 to itself, each may the more readily have the special 

 culture that it needs, without injury, or interference 

 with others. 



DECOEATIYE USE OF FLOWERS. 



By James Hudson. 



INTRODUCTION. 



AMONG- the various uses to which cut flowers 

 and plants are applied, perhaps there is no 

 one which has received such impetus of late years 

 as decoration of a festive character. Flowers are 

 now in far greater request for the embellishment of 

 the dinner-table, as well as in many other ways, 

 than was the case even a few years ago. This has 

 been undoubtedly the means of fostering a greater 

 demand for those plants and flowers that are the 

 best adapted for such requirements, causing many 

 suitable subjects to be cultivated in numbers, 

 whereas formerly only solitary examples were to be 

 found in many establishments. It has likewise 

 been productive of good in bringing many flowers 

 into more prominent notice. Flowers that would 

 escape the notice of many a casual observer in the 

 open air, when surrounded by more gaily-attired 

 examples, will oftentimes meet with much favour 

 when artistically arranged in suitable vases, and 

 brought under close observation, so that their par- 

 ticular beauties are the more readily discernible. 



Even with a limited space at command,, there are 

 numbers of suitable subjects that can be advan- 

 tageously cultivated for the purposes now being 

 dwelt upon. The immense numbers of herbaceous 

 plants, of many genera and species, will yield a 

 good supply the greater part of the year, and the 

 intervening periods can easily be bridged over by 

 those who have a green-house at their command. 



