56 THE FLORIST. 
add a few more, but these will, I think, be a great gain to those 
who have them. Season, of course, has a great effect—in fact, I should 
say it makes all the difference. Pansies always do well in a moist 
summer. I will in a future No. give hints on the cultivation and 
general management of the Pansy, which, I have no doubt, may 
interest some of your readers. 
Tford Lodge, Sussex. Cus. B., JUN. 
SOILS, FRUITS, AND MANURES. 
(Continued from page 20.) 
WE sometimes hear the observation made that the original quality of 
the soil is not of so much consequence for fruit, as it can be easily 
improved by manuring; indeed, with sore, this reference to the manure 
heap is the universal remedy for unhealthy fruit trees, and only serves 
to show how imperfectly the action of soils on the constitution of fruit 
trees has been noticed. So far as our experience leads us to give an 
opinion, we believe the application of manure to most stone fruits is 
fatal, and to others a*very equivocal remedy, for a soil naturally 
unfavourable. Many kinds of fruits are known to be extremely fas- 
tidious -as to soil, and it is equally true that some varieties im each 
class will grow more freely than others in unfavourable soils; the 
question to -be solved is, to account satisfactorily for so great a difference 
in members of the same family. We shall not go so far as to Say that 
a particular soil and climate originates the peculiarities known to exist 
among fruits; but one thing is certain, that while some varieties 
of fruit refuse to grow with any vigour beyond a very limited range, 
others of the same class appear almost indifferent as to soil or situation. 
With these facts before us, may we ask vegetable physiologists the 
question, whether they have met with such a principle as a vegetable 
idiosyncracy in their investigations, to explain the likes and dislikes, 
the partialities and prejudices (if 1 may say so), of fruit trees for certain 
soils and localities ? 
The Vine, which, under a few restrictions as to soil, flourishes 
throughout the temperate regions of the Old World, producing its 
luscious fruit, and no less generous juice, from the 21° to 51° of north 
latitude, when transported to America, produces fruit of very inferior 
value ; its rich vinous flavour deteriorates, and its juice cannot be con- 
verted into anything approaching the wines of France, Spain, or the 
Rhine, and yet it is difficult to understand why this is the case. The 
climate of the United States is equally bright and warm as in those 
parts of Europe where the richest fruit and most generous wines are 
produced, and there is not that appreciable difference in the soil to 
account for the change produced in a European Vine when transported 
across the Atlantic. Indeed, we find those varieties of the Vine indi- 
genous to the American soil especially vigorous and productive, and as 
such are almost exclusively cultivated, though most decidedly inferior. 
