37 



by nature with the true agrostis, the rush of intruders 

 would be such, that no efforts in weeding would secure the 

 exclusive possession to our favourite. 



Why then do I boast of having succeeded in my own 

 low country ? Because I used policy : I selected ungenial 

 spots, long loaded with undischarged water, become acrid 

 about the roots of the plants growing on it ; poor and 

 stunted ; florin as well as the rest. I first changed the 

 nature of the ground by severe surface drainage, and en- 

 riched it by top-dressings. The paltry aquatics in posses- 

 sion derived no benefit from the change ; Nature had not 

 adapted them to such a soil; while the amphibious florin, 

 finding itself in its own favourite soil, instantly rushed into 

 luxuriance, smothering its rivals by the mass of its stolones; 

 —nor this without a struggle, calling for my interference, 

 as some of the old possessors, like florin, reconciled to 

 the change, started up into vigour requiring occasional 

 extirpation. 



The management of spontaneous elevated soles requires 

 no policy. Fiorin, as I have often proved by respectable 

 testimony, conflrmed by my ovm ten years' experience, 

 luxuriates equally at the top of the mountain and bottom 

 of the valley. — Not so the rivals it has to contend with in 

 lower regions. Every one of these shrinks from, or 

 pines under the severities of an alpine climate ; and should I 

 be called upon to except sprit and rush, — I reply that these 

 coarse intruders soon disappear under drainage and top- 

 dressing ; nor need the mountain-meadow maker take the 

 trouble of inquiring which of the portions he is able to 

 select, is best stocked with fiorin by Nature; he may rely 

 upon it, there is not a spot in which he will not find abun- 

 dance before him. 



There are indeed other circumstances of importance to 

 be attended to ; the roots of fiorin penetrate a very short 



