TREATMENT OF THE GENUS GENTIANA. 
155 
duce. For the rest of the species, a loamy calcareous soil, which is undoubtedly 
to some extent blended with the substance of the rocks among which it occurs by 
the attrition of atmospheric and more palpable agents, is the invariable medium by 
which they derive nutriment, and into which their roots are extended. 
The legitimate deductions from these facts could hardly, we should think, have 
been misapprehended, had they been allowed the slightest deliberation ; and if we 
can now prevail on our readers to adopt the simple system about to be propounded, 
we hope shortly to see this lovely genus rescued from the opprobrium of inaptitude 
to British culture which has been so unjustly heaped upon it. 
Where a rockery is possessed, and its site is duly sheltered from the keen north- 
easterly blasts so frequent in the months of March, April, and May, and whose 
action on the newly-excited shoots of these plants is, if possible, to be averted, the 
most suitable treatment is to plant them in its crevices. But the perfect seclusion 
of the spot from cold winds seems indispensable, while the disposition of the rocky 
materials must be such as to leave fissures whereby drainage may be most efficiently 
conducted. Adequately to fulfil the latter object, it is further necessary that the 
group be raised above the surface of the ground, and be not situated in a low or 
marshy part of the garden. The best sort of material for the purpose is masses of 
limestone rock ; pieces of any kind of stone or fllints may, nevertheless, be freely 
used. Such a rockery might be formed in a retired nook of the smallest as well 
as the most extensive pleasure-grounds, and various species of Alpine plants could 
be planted on it in conjunction with the Gentians, so as to ensure greater diversity 
and efi"ect. Those who do not desire, or have a positive objection to, a feature of 
this order, may dispense with it by following the plan detailed in the 6th page of 
the present volume, and very successfully practised by Messrs. Young of Epsom. 
In choosing a compost for cultivated plants of this genus, it is advisable to hold 
lightness and rapid permeability by water as the most desirable characteristics ; and 
to mingle a little heath-soil with the loam employed. The least appearance of adhe- 
siveness should be regarded with suspicion, and the soil in which it is manifest at 
once discarded. If maintained in the spot we have indicated, and the first 
symptoms of a too great collection of moisture carefully noted, as well as their 
cause removed, all additional attention will be superfluous. Once in two or three 
years, the plants can be shifted, so that each shall have a new locality and soil, and 
at these transplantations, they may be divided to the requisite extent. Perhaps, 
when the autumnal weather is excessively rainy, it may be needful to invert a 
small flower-pot over the more tender species ; but the tasteful culturist will 
always have at hand a number of wooden covers, of different sizes, and similar in 
figure to a hand-glass, with which to shelter his choicer plants. 
