40 INTRODUCTION. 



consistence. It should not be liable to knead in 

 working, nor run together under heavy rain. By 

 the addition of sand, rotten dung, or leaf mould, 

 it must be sufficiently porous to receive, and as 

 readily discharge, any excess of water, as well as 

 allow the penetration of every quality from the 

 air, which is beneficial to plants. 



Enriching. — The high fertility of the soil in- 

 tended for flowers is one of the principal pro- 

 visions to be made for their prosperity. In the 

 compost every ingredient should be present that 

 experience has discovered to be useful, and every 

 quality added which successful practice sanctions, 

 or even what rational ingenuity may suggest. 

 The luxuriance of the plants depends on the 

 suitableness and temperament of the compost ; 

 and the richness of the tints depends on the qua- 

 lities contained in it. 



OF COVERINGS, STAGES, &c. 



For the defence of fine bed-flowers from in- 

 clement weather, and to preserve them in beauty 



