264 * 
THE florist's JOURNAL. 
broken porous materials to carry off superabundant water from 
a flower-garden, as it is to employ drainage in the bottoms of 
flower-pots: or, if possible, it is more so; for we may regulate 
the supply of water to the pots, but we cannot cover our 
flower-beds from rain. We are fully persuaded, too, that the 
borders of the flower-garden are generally made both too deep, 
and of richer materials than the plants demand. 
The proneness of half-hardy plants to assume a redundancy 
of vigour in the open garden rather requires some reduction of 
the means by which it is engendered, than to increase stimu- 
latives to further it. 
Flowers are the main thing looked for, and we only want a 
sufficient growth to promote their developement, and to cover 
the bed with shoots and foliage. The effects of a deep soil are 
merely to allure the roots away from the surface, and gorge 
the entire system with water, which cannot be assimilated, and 
is hence opposed to the furtherance of a floriferous state. 
Some plants, as the Trop&olum tuberosum, Nierembergia linea¬ 
ris, scarlet Pelargoniums, Lobelia gracilis , and other small 
growing species, JMesembryanthemum tricolor, and the hardy 
dwarf Gentians, require but a very slight covering of soil, if a 
stratum of lime rubbish, charcoal, broken bricks, and similar 
bodies is laid beneath. 
Another thing which ought to be studied is, the contrivance 
of screens on the most exposed sides, particularly when the 
situation is subject to rough winds. By recommending shelter, 
however, we must not be interpreted to include shade, nor yet 
to advise a confined situation. Few conditions can be less 
favourable than a close stagnant atmosphere in a low place. 
The only shelter necessary is merely sufficient to break the 
foice of the strong sweeping winds, which mutilate tender 
things so excessively. In a moist place, in the bottom of a 
valley, a considerable play of air is useful in carrying off the 
noxious vapours and moisture, which there accumulate in the 
atmosphere; whilst, if the garden be situated on high or sloping 
ground, a screen of greater density will be essential. 
To promote'a healthy vegetation and abundance of bloom, 
a flowei-gaiden should decidedly have an aspect lying well to 
the sun. Most border plants, when not confined at the root, 
require as much light as possible, especially as the autumn 
