Reviews and Extracts. 
71 
in nearly a dying state. They consisted of choice Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kal- 
mias, Androuiedas, &c. and had been fine plants, but were then in a most deplora¬ 
ble condition, as it appeared from the want of moisture. The situation of the bed, 
(over which I had nocontroul) was peculiarly high and dry, being near some fine 
old elms, the roots of wdiich penetrated to the bed, and dried up the soil. The 
compost in which they had been planted, was a kind of real peat or bog-earth, 
mixed with coarse sand, and was extremely difficult to moisten. The water 
either stood on the surface and evaporated, or ran off at the side and sank under 
the grass ; so that, although I watered freely every evening, the hot sun on tl)e 
surface, and the elm roots underneath, rendered all the labour abortive. 
“ I then set to work, and procured some of what I considered proper soil for 
them ; it is properly termed vioor-earth^ being found on most moors. Like the 
other kind, it is black ; but has this difference, it is thoroughly mixed with fine 
white sand, so much so as to have a shining appearance, and is more easily pervi¬ 
ous to water. With this moor-earth I formed the bed, after removius’ the old 
soil, and spread it about six inches thick on the bed. I was aware this was too 
thin, considering the situation j but I had another substance in view, which I ex¬ 
pected would be equivalent to more than another six inches. 
“ This substance is moss, with it I covered the surface of the bed about two inches 
thick, and gave a good watering. My expectations were not disappointed j the 
plants now stood the hottest sun without flagging, and in three or four weeks 
began to grow' freely, notwithstanding the rough operation they had undergone; 
this work having been done in the height of summer. The Rhododendrons forme<l 
their buds in abundance for flowering the following yeai-, and the Azaleas, Daphnes, 
Kalmias, &c. put on that flourishing appearance, which is the certain token of 
luxuriant health, 
“ Wishing to increase some of the more rare species, on laying them down and 
covering the steins with moss, I soon found that they threw out roots with surpri¬ 
sing facility; the stems being covered as high as the moss with those fine white 
fibres for which this tribe of plants is so remarkable. This 1 entirely attribute to 
the cooling qualities of the moss, which being congenial to the plants, and keeping 
the soil moist, greatly assisted me in that method of increasing them. Many of 
the shrubs, especially the Rhododendrons, scattered'their seed, which came up, 
and in two years were fit to transplant \ so that I should think nurserymen would 
find moss useful in propagation.” 
He also tried a few species of Orchtdece with the bed covered with moss, which 
grew very well, throwing up their flower stems fifteen to eighteen inches high. Tin’s 
treatment also suited all the hardy species of Prhmday especially P.furhwm ; but 
this is not all, Mr. Appleby found that where the plants had moss about them, the 
frost scarcely ever penetrated through it in winter—and in this manner Fuschias, 
Lobelias, Salvia Indica, the more tender Alpine plants, the Cape bulbs, such us 
Ixia, Gladiolus, &c., and such plants as are classed as cold frame plants, stood the 
winter and flourished well in the spring. 
Art, 25.—Page 325. —On the Cultivation of the Fig, By Mr. W. Pearson, Or- 
miston Hall. 
Ills trees are situated against a common wall, with a south-east aspect; the 
length of wall which the three oldest ti'ees cover, is seventy-six feet, by fourteen 
and a half high, with a cope w'hich projects fifteen inches, and is set at an angle of 
forty-five degrees or nearly. The border consists of a deep black rich loam, ra¬ 
ther light. The kinds are the brown and black Ischia; the former he considers 
the best fig, for it ripens easier, grows much larger, and is better flavoured than the 
