INTRODUCTION. 37 



leaves in the autumn, keeping* them heaped to- 

 gether in a pit or shady place, and, if occasionally 

 moistened with manured water to hasten decom- 

 position, a most valuable material would be ob- 

 tained for every purpose of the florist. 



These are the various soils and substances 

 which Nature presents to the horticulturalist, and 

 of which, and other substances, he compounds 

 his composts, according to their nature and capa- 

 bihties of receiving assistance from art. That 

 different plants require different descriptions of 

 soil is an universally acknowledged fact. When 

 a plant is first taken into cultivation, the culti- 

 vator generally takes a lesson from Nature, parti- 

 cularly as to the kind and qualities of the soil of 

 the native habitat ; rightly judging that his 

 artificial compost should be similar, in order to 

 expect and secure success in the management. 

 And though an exact resemblance in constitu- 

 tion and quality would be sufficient for the mere 

 existence and ordinary growth of the plant so 

 translocated, yet the florist is not merely content 

 with its existence : he will study to pamper it 



