14 



THE GARDENER, 



i:::v.:ences, and free for the action of the roots of 

 plants. _ 



A ricli Joarn. is the best for ninety-nine out of a 

 hundred of all trees, field and open garden vegetables. 



Calcareous eartli has for its base caibenate of 

 lime, combined ^vith argil and sand in diiferent pro- 

 portions. A soil of this kind, in ^hich the calcareous 

 particles are minutely blended with the chay. gives free 

 passage to the tenderesr fibres, retains moisture suf- 

 ficiently, and becomes friable when dry. 



Sandy or Siliceous Soil is tb?.t in which silex or 

 sand abounds. This is so deficient in cohesiveness, 

 that it cannot retain moisture, and is Tinabie to sup- 

 port any vigorous vegetation ; although suitable to 

 some plants, as will appear, and very u-cial by its me- 

 chanical efi'ects in correcting the defects of strong land, 

 yet it is not that which the gardener should choose. 



That dark- coloured VegetcOjle earth, of light sub- 

 stance, abounding in Humus, and based on freestone, 

 which is on manv of our heaths, is the best for manv 

 choice and delicate fiower plants, because a long time 

 elapses before all the veg-tabie matter it contains is 

 reduced to humus : and during that long- continued 

 process of decomposition, the carbon which is disen- 

 eaeed is constantly yielding" nourishment, and combi- 

 nations favourable to vegetation are unceasingly taking 

 place. But the gardener has to look to his general 

 purposes, and a soil wholly of this kind would not be 

 desirable to hun. 



Generally speaking, the excellence of soils is tested 

 by their specific gravity ; but for many plants a light 

 soil is the best, as will appear in the course of my ob- 

 servations. 



Aluminous or Argillaceous Soil, which is com- 

 posed principally of Argil and Silex, the former always 

 in excess, constitutins" a stiff clay, is the very worst that 

 a gardener can meet ; for it is so tenaceous, that it will nut 



