88 
A FEW FACTS CONNECTED WITH WHAT ARE TERMED AMERICAN PLANTS 
successfully grown in it, ancl their roots are tolerably sensitive. Indeed, as some enduring organic 
matter should form an item in the compost, it would appear highly eligible to use the sawdust as 
fresh as possible. 
Fourth, Old Thatch or Litter .—Here we have an article which will tolerably well represent the surface 
herbage of peat from the morass, which every one is anxious to possess with the peat. Those who 
have any quantity of this at hand, may strew it amongst the compost at the final turning, taking care 
to bury it beneath the surface; here it will slowly decompose, and be of much benefit. 
Fifth, Weeds, &c.—As American shrubs have no objection to charred materials, as, indeed, is the case 
with most things in the vegetable kingdom, I would recommend what I practice the year round with 
such refuse—to burn, or rather char it. In charring our brush-wood primings, &c., we make a point 
when the latter is half consumed, of topping, or casing the smouldering heap with all the garden 
refuse possible, the latter being wheeled to a central spot where the charring is done, for the express 
purpose. Such then forms an excellent material for almost any garden purpose, and may be 
liberally worked up as part compost for American shrubs. 
• As before observed, a very liberal amount of sand should be used ; indeed, without this the whole 
may prove a failure. Any kind of sand will do, and if sand is not to be obtained, an extra quantity 
of any ordinary soil of a very light and loose character—and of course containing much sand—should 
be used. No doubt that where it is difficult to procure a sandy material, ordinary soils might be 
burned for the purpose with good effect, 
In order to guide the inexperienced as to proportion in the use of the above materials, I will 
endeavour to show the relation they should bear to each other in point of quantity, according to 
my opinion. In doing so, however, I must endeavour to classify them a little, for some persons may 
possess the whole of the materials there enumerated, and some, perhaps but a few of them. Thus I 
would say of twenty parts, take of charred material, two ; of sandy loam, two ; of raw or undecom¬ 
posed vegetable matter, three ; of decomposed vegetable matter, finely divided, five ; of sand, eight. 
Of course the raw or undecomposed vegetable matter would comprise such things as weeds, leaves, 
straw or litter, hedge dubbings, &c., any or all of them, as the case may be. The decomposed 
vegetable matter would consist of the old tan, old manure, old leaves, old sawdust, and any old boggy, 
moor, or heath soil, which could be spared for the purpose ; any two or more of these well blended 
with the mass. As for the inorganic materials, which hold as it were an almost negative position, 
—their mode of action being for the most part of a mechanical character—debris of any kind, when¬ 
ever at hand, may help to constitute the mass, and to take the place of sand. 
Before concluding these remarks, there is one important point I would advert to as connected with 
the culture of American shrubs; and that is the necessity of securing a permanency of moisture in the 
soil. This is indeed so important, that it matters little how the compost is constituted, if this essential 
point be neglected. It is, we know, a very common practice to plant them on mounds, slopes, or 
embankments, at once the best situation for effect, and the worst for their culture. If their health 
alone were to be studied, sunken panels would in all probability be more suitable in the majority of 
situations ; and I think that such might frequently be introduced in the ordinary pleasure ground with 
a very good effect. Be that as it may, if they are planted on elevated beds over a thirsty subsoil, I 
would advise what has often been practised with great success, viz., the use of sphagnum, or other 
mosses, as top dressings, laying such on about four inches thick every spring—say, in the end of 
April, after a rainy period. 
As part of the general embellishment of ornamental grounds, these beautiful shrubs are doubtless 
superior to ail others; indeed, what place would be considered satisfactory without them ? When we 
consider the highly dressy character of most of them, their splendid, and sometimes gorgeous hues, 
their quaint and delicate pencillings, and the delightful fragrance of many of them, it must be 
confessed that no pains should be thought too great to obtain, and highly cultivate an extensive 
collection. Those who had the good fortune to see the display at the Regent’s Park Botanic 
Garden, last June, will not readily forget them, and the impulse given to their more extended 
culture, through such a noble display, must be immense. The chance they offer to the hybridiser, too, 
must not be lost sight of, and we may judge of what they will become in future, by the immense 
progress already made, a progress to which it is difficult to assign a limitation. Another great feature 
remains to be added—the eligibility, I mean, of a very great many of them for what is termed forcing. 
Take away these and the lovely Hyacinth from the forcing gardener, and a most lamentable void would 
be created, although we are now so rich in materials for this purpose. And when about to be 
subjected to the forcing process, where is the tribe that will so well submit to be transferred from the 
border or reserve ground, and return to it again with so little injury or difficulty ? 
