18 THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



coniferous order are introduced, as in planting these the soil taken 

 out of the holes may be spread over the surface, and the loam used 

 instead to close in their roots. 



There are two important points to bear in mind in improving the 

 plantations under trees. First, to place the most beautiful shrubs 

 next the walk, and to give richness to the foreground, using the less 

 attractive to fill in the rear, and make a dense background of dark 

 foliage. When the jjlanting has been completed, the great secret of 

 success will be to give abundance of water. As soon as the trees 

 overhead are in full leaf, all ordinary showers will be prevented 

 reaching the ground below. It is at that period the shrubs usually 

 begin to decline, and if not assisted some are sure to perish. Once 

 or twice a w^ek, according to the state of the weather, the roots of 

 the newly-plauted shrubs should be liberally watered, those at the 

 back first, and so on to the front ; to every one should be given at 

 least a pailful, and the larger specimens will require two or three 

 pailfuls each. "VYhen this part of the watering is done, there should 

 be thrown over them a smart shower from the garden engine, to wet 

 the foliage, and if the leaves are at all sooty, wash them clean by 

 throwing the water on with some force. Watering in this fashion 

 from the beginning of May till the middle of August will have a 

 surprising efiect ; the shrubs will by that time be clothed with ample 

 and glossy i'oliage, and there need be no more artificial watering till 

 May comes round again; but it ought to be repeated every year for 

 ever, if it is desired to have luxuriant underwood. It is drought, 

 and not shade, that kills vegetation under trees. 



In autumn there should be a mulch of half-rotten dung, about 

 three inches thick, laid down over the whole piece; and if the littery 

 part of this is unsightly, throw a little soil over to hide it, or, better 

 still, use short dung nearly rotten ; this does not offend the eye, and 

 is nearly as good as that a few degrees less decomposed. The large 

 trees so completely exhaust the soil, that there must be liberal 

 manuring, and the addition of fresh loam and leaf-mould for the 

 conifers, or it is impossible there should ever be much success in 

 forming handsome shrubberies under trees. 



We will now indicate the species and varieties to be depended 

 upon for luxuriant growth under the shade of trees, appending to 

 each a few words of description as a guide to amateurs, who might 

 not otherwise know which to select to suit their purposes. 



Pbiyets. — We place these first, because they are the cheapest 

 and most generally useful for planting under trees, and are very 

 attractive when they attain to a good size and flower freely. Ligus' 

 trum vulgare, the common privet, makes such long rods when in a 

 young state that it requires to be boldly pruned back every spring to 

 promote a bushy habit. There are white and yellow berried varieties 

 of the common privet well worth growing. It must be borne in 

 mind, however, that when grown in deep shadow they do not usually 

 fruit freely. Of the choicer kinds of privet we can strongly recom* 

 mend Ligustrum lucidum seiwpervirens^ a most beautiful shrub with 

 glossy leaves, and abundance of flowers in June. This and L. 

 Japonicum bear shade well ; they require a sheltered position, and 



