AUGUST. 
235 
the first instance (clayey sub-soil), while the surface soil allowed the 
moisture to pass among the roots, it was retained in close proximity 
below, and given upwards in case of drought, thereby maintaining the 
necessary conditions of coolness and moisture, the extremes of stagna¬ 
tion and rapid evaporation being equally avoided; white in the other 
case (gravelly sub-soil), the moisture passed rapidly away, and the 
delicate hair like roots suffered from exhaustion in dry weather. Had 
the surface-soil been deeper in this latter case, or more retentive of 
moisture, the sub-soil would have been a matter of little moment. We 
believe the only conditions necessary for the successful cultivation of 
American plants is a soil that is loose and light, containing sufficient 
vegetable matter to preserve a due and equable amount of moisture. 
“This brings us to consider in what manner these plants may be 
introduced to the flower garden with the greatest advantage and effect. 
Where peat, or its component parts, are costly, or a garden is of limited 
extent, single plants may be inserted on the face of shrubberies ; 
standard Rhododendrons and others may be dotted here and there on 
lawns ; a clump or group of clumps may be formed in a suitable 
position, or a border may be planted wholly with them, either in 
separate masses or mixed. If the peat be plentiful, and the garden 
sufficiently large, a certain space may be set aside exclusively for their 
use, planting in mixed or separate masses with the walks or margins 
of turf. 
“ In the winter of 1855-56 we undertook the formation of a group of 
American beds in a small garden. It was agreed that the number 
should be five; two filled with the choicest Rhododendrons, one with 
Azaleas, one with hardy Heaths, and another with a mixture of 
Ledums, Andromedas, Pernettyas, and the like. The soil was most 
unsuitable, and therefore, after marking out the beds, it was removed 
to the depth of twenty inches, the bottom loosened six inches deeper. 
The sub-soil was dry, or we should have considered fourteen inches a 
sufficient depth. Peat was delivered on the spot in the form of turves, 
at 145. per ton, a lower price than. artificial peat could have been 
manufactured for. The turves were cut with the spade into pieces 
about an inch square, and afterwards well battered, that there might 
be sufficient loose soil to fill up the interstices between the lumps. 
The whole was cast into the beds, trodden firm, and allowed a few 
days to settle. The plants were then selected from the beds in the 
nurseries, choosing, as far as possible, those with flower-buds, varying 
the colours, and taking care that each bed contained sorts which 
flowered at the same period. This is highly important, for if kinds 
are chosen which flower at different dates, the effect is [never complete. 
The plants were first laid on the surface to ensure the best arrangement 
of colours, &c., and then planted with the spade, the soil firmly trodden 
around the roots. When the planting was finished, the beds were well 
drenched with water. Two or three times during the spring this was 
repeated ; and so complete was the success that not a leaf withered; 
and so abundant was the flowering, that within three months of the date 
of planting, this little spot was the most attractive in a beautiful garden. 
It may be remarked that the above description of the modus operamii 
