A FEW FACTS CONNECTED WITH WHAT ARE TERMED AMERICAN PLANTS. 
87 
mould, and old and spent tan, and finally some fine heath soil, such as had accumulated in Delamere 
Forest, by the action of heavy rains ; of the latter we did not spread more than three inches in thickness. 
And here, he it observed, that we might have availed ourselves of hundreds of loads of heath or moor 
soil; but the business had to be hurried, and, moreover, economy of horse labour is no mean consider¬ 
ation in this country, where there is so much demand for team work in other affairs than gardening. 
The results, however, have shown, that had we incurred ten times the expense, success could not have 
been more complete ; and that the very material necessary for the high culture of American shrubs, 
with some trifling additions as correctives, existed on the very spot. All these materials then were 
thoroughly blended together to a considerable depth, much of the raw or undecomposed rubbish, weeds, 
&c., coming- up during the operation ; such were of course turned down in the trench. 
On this mound was planted a tolerably complete collection of American shrubs, from the families 
of Rhododendron, Azalea, Kalmia, Ledum, Andromeda, Daphne, Erica, &c., together with such things 
as the Berbcris family, Cotoneaster, Arbutus, Laurustinus, &c. These have flourished even beyond 
anticipation; indeed, nothing can exceed their robustness; and certainly the growth of the Ericas, 
(principally in an admixture of the clayey subsoil with the heath soil and leaf mould) exceeds all I 
have ever witnessed. May not this furnish a hint for the culture of our exotic Ericas ? 
Now here we have a case in point: no mystery in all this. The materials with their proportions 
would stand nearly as follows - Sand, one part; clayey subsoil matter, two parts ; decomposed vege¬ 
table matter, two parts; undecomposed ditto, as weeds, &c., five parts—admitting, in addition, that 
a considerable volume of rubbish or raw vegetable matter remained at the bottom of the mound undis¬ 
turbed ; and which the fibres of the coarser kinds would doubtless reach in due time, and here find food 
in abundance. Surely these things should teach the amateur, or those young in gardening affairs, 
that vegetable matter ought not to be despised, because it has assumed the name of old tan, or saw¬ 
dust ; and indeed, that as to plants which prefer a soil rich in humus, it matters little what the 
name, or from whence, providing it has once been a living vegetable itself. 
Still some little preparation is necessary, or at least advisable, with such materials as sawdust, 
weeds, or the stuff of the rubbish-yard; and I must beg to offer a few remarks, which may, perhaps, 
serve as a beacon to assist the uninitiated in avoiding extremes, tending to disappointment. 
The following materials, then, one or other, or perhaps all of them, being within reach of every 
person, may be made to form an artificial composf adapted to the culture of American shrubs :—Rotten 
leaves, old and well-spent tan, sawdust, old thatch or litter, weeds, grass mowings, vegetable refuse, 
the bottoms of old wood-stacks, old manure, &c. Any of these in a highly decomposed state, 
blended with a certain proportion of loam, or ordinary garden soil, and a liberal amount of any kind 
of sand, may be rendered fit to cultivate American shrubs. Still, as a mixture of two or three will be 
better than one alone, I must continue my observations a little farther. It must here be remarked that 
it is the character of all decomposed vegetable matter, in a highly comminuted state, to enter speedily 
into the composition of the vegetable fabric, to subside rapidly, or to be washed away by heavy rains. 
This, therefore, must be guarded against, and it will be found, that undecomposed vegetable fibre in 
some shape, is the medium to employ, in order to carry out this object. Now such organic matter 
may consist of tree leaves, of lumps of peat, peaty turf, or moor soil; or indeed any vegetable matter 
which will be long before total decay takes place; the latter principle, be it understood, is much de¬ 
pendent on the matter being coagulated, or in masses—not totally disintegrated, as in the character of 
the material itself. Thus far then, as to precautionary measures ; I must now take up the subject at 
the digressive point; and, in doing so, must offer a few comments on the character of each material 
suggested. 
First, Rotten Leaves. —Where such materials as old tan or saw r dust are liberally used, it would be well 
to have the leaves in as fresh a state as possible. The best I have found for this purpose, are those 
which have been used a few months for hotbeds or linings. These generally form into clots or 
masses, and such need not be too much divided, for they will prove antagonistic to the tendency before 
alluded to, of washing away, or subsiding. If any manure shall have been mixed with them, they 
will be none the worse. 
Second, Old Tan. —I am not aware -what effect tan in a fresh state may have on the American tribes, 
not having tried it; such, however, is not likely to present itself for the purpose, and therefore little 
need be said. Old tan, however, which has almost become soil, is a very suitable assistant in the 
compost, and may be used to a considerable extent. 
Third, Sawdust. —Equally eligible with the former, as, indeed, it well may be, for what are such 
articles but wood in one stage or other of decay. I have never used sawdust in a perfectly fresh state, 
but should not for a moment question the propriety of such a proceeding: for Orchids have been 
