78 
THE FLORIST. 
particularly Pears, Plums, and Apricots ; and that these kinds will grow 
on richer soils than the Peach and Cherry. 
Where it is found impracticable to remove any portion of the over¬ 
rich soil of a garden, then the next best thing to do will be to employ 
only those materials which are found by practice to counteract soils 
containing a superabundance of organic manures. Lime is one of the 
best and the most readily procurable ; I can strongly recommend newly 
slaked lime, mixed with a small quantity of salt, as a valuable compost 
for old garden soils. The proportion to use should be after the rate of 
60 bushels of lime and 2 cwt. of salt per acre. Super-phosphate of 
lime, mixed with a small quantity of nitrate of soda, comes next, but 
is more expensive. Both these applications should be forked in imme¬ 
diately they are spread over the ground. Where new corflpost has 
been procurable, the subsequent use of manure should be guarded 
against. Let a dressing of hot lime be given every third year, adding 
phosphate and guano occasionally, in place of stable-dung ; and lose no 
opportunities of applying road-scrapings and marl, or calcareous soil, 
where much manuring is necessary, as it will improve the staple of 
the soil and tend to promote fruitfulness in the crops. 
Liquid manure is also a better material than stable manure for these 
gardens, as it is more easily taken up by plants ; and, with chalk or 
lime occasionally added, will tend to form a better and more productive 
soil, and one capable of keeping in good heart for years, without the 
danger of getting over rich. 
S. 
FRUIT CULTURE.—No. IX. 
BY MR. POWELL, ROYAL GARDENS, FROGMORE. 
(Continued from page 60). 
The Plum. —Among all our fruit-trees the Plum, perhaps, possesses 
the best constitution ; although it has passed through many stages of 
improvement, from the Wild Plum to its present state of perfection, 
our finest garden varieties are equally hardy as those in a wild state— 
where they are to be found growing and fruitful in the dry bank as 
well as in swampy ground ; and the cultivated kinds will accommodate 
themselves to all soils, aspects, and situations ; the foregoing remarks, 
however, do not imply that the Plum may be grown without some 
amount of care and attention; indeed it matters not what fruit we cul¬ 
tivate, from the Gooseberry to the Grape, fine fruit and healthy trees 
are seldom obtained except proper treatment and due care are bestowed 
on their cultivation. 
The Plum, like other fruit-trees, flourishes best in well-drained soil, 
especially if it be a retentive clay subsoil; although it luxuriates in a 
strong, clayey loam, thorough drainage is requisite to prevent the trees 
being covered with moss, which often infests them in damp situa¬ 
tions, and in which state it does not exactly render the trees unfruitful, 
but fine fruit cannot be looked for till they are cleaned from this 
