452 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



under north walls might be filled with the stalked Hellebores 

 known as Lent Roses. Coloured Primroses in various forms are 

 far more ornamental than nettles and chickweed, and would 

 generally thrive where these have been eradicated. A little 

 method easily keeps a garden clear of weeds when it has once 

 been cleaned. 



I have said little about improvement of soil, because I do 

 not wish it to be thought that a gay and flowery garden cannot 

 be made with the materials which everyone has at hand ; but 

 no doubt in many cases the number of choice plants which can 

 be grown successfully may be much increased by the addition 

 of peat soil to some of the beds. Also, if the natural soil is 

 stiff clay, it is generally advised to burn some of it and break 

 it small and mix it with the rest ; but it is not very easy to con- 

 struct the kilns for burning, unless the services of a brickmaker 

 can be obtained. In my own garden, where the natural soil is a 

 most unpromising cold clay, I have found very successful results 

 by getting riddlings from stone quarries of the size of small 

 gravel, and mixing it with the soil. The rougher and harder the 

 stone, the better ; this is far superior to ordinary pit or river 

 gravel, which rolls together and collects in hollows on the 

 surface. Indeed where soil is heavy and strong it is difficult to 

 add too much of such material. Half, or two-thirds, of it to a 

 depth of a yard makes excellent border soil ; and by adding a 

 still larger proportion I can grow even such genuine rock plants 

 as Saxifraga oppositifolia on the level ground. 



It is desirable to have borders varying in their degree of 

 lightness. Koad-scrapings, leaf-mould, coal-ashes, and all 

 similar materials are invaluable for mixing with heavy soils. 

 On such soils it is well to raise some of the beds 2 feet above 

 the ground by blocks of stone round the sides. Not only does 

 this help the drainage, but the stones may be covered with 

 Aubrietias, dwarf Phloxes, Rock-roses, and such like ornaments 

 down to the ground. Tree stumps are not good for this use ; 

 they encourage the growth of funguses, and give too ready 

 shelter to vermin of all kinds. This reminds me to speak of 

 garden vermin in general. I could tell ill-natured tales of many 

 little birds, but, next to a garden without flowers-, I should object 

 to a garden without birds, or one in which birds were persecuted; 

 but I will make an exception of sparrows, which have no redeem- 



