THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 367 



If a clamp of shrubs is to be planted, the ground should be 

 trenched as deep as its nature and composition will admit, and if 

 poor, a moderate dressing of good rotten dung or loam will be of 

 great service in promoting a free and healthy growth. Heavy soils 

 may be improved by giving them a good dressing of road scrapings, 

 or soil obtained from the banks alongside the road, such as is to be 

 met with in country lanes. If it is not practicable to dress the 

 ground with light soil, a few barrowfuls should be provided to place 

 immediately over the roots for them to strike into. The holes for 

 planting should be made large enough for the whole of the roots to 

 bs spread out without cramping. AVhere single specimens are to 

 be planted singly on the lawn, or elsewhere, the holes should be 

 from four to five feet across if the trees or shrubs are any size at 

 all. It is impossible for them to do well when they are planted in 

 holes that are only just large enough to take the roots. "LTnless the 

 soil is naturally loose, it is like putting them into large pots, for the 

 roots have a difficulty in penetrating the hard soil with which they 

 are surrounded. When the holes are about the size I have men- 

 tioned, there is sufficient room for the roots to run in until they are 

 well established, and able to go through anything. The mere ques- 

 tion of breaking up the turf is not worth considering, for, after 

 allowing a week or so for the soil to settle, it can be laid down, and 

 in a few days, if laid down properly, no one would know that it had 

 been taken up. It is more especially necessary to have the holes a 

 good size in uncongenial soil, as it affords an opportunity of add- 

 ing a liberal supply of fresh stuff to make it in better workino- 

 order. 



The roots of any of the plants which I shall name must not be 

 buried deep, particularly in naturally cold and heavy soil. A little 

 of the surface soil should be placed for the roots to rest upon, 

 which, after being nicely and regularly spread out, should be covered 

 with the same kind of soil, and the hole filled in with the best soil 

 that can be conveniently had. The soil should be well trod as it is 

 thrown in, and then it is thoroughly firm throughout the whole 

 depth. I have frequently seen the whole of the soil returned to the 

 holes, and then slightly 'trod on the top. When this is done it is 

 impossible for the trees to do well, for the soil about the roots is so 

 loose that they have a difficulty in establishing themselves. After 

 the planting is finished, all the trees and shrubs that are likely to 

 be loosened by the wind should be secured in their places with 

 stakes, and if very sharp weather is likely to set in, a spriuklino- of 

 long litter should be placed about them to prevent the frost getting 

 to the roots or loosening the soil. Ko planting should be done 

 when the ground is frozen, or sodden with rain or snow. This is a 

 good time to plant, as it will give the trees and shrubs a chance to 

 make new roots before spring. 



I have briefly glanced through a few of the principal points to 

 be observed in planting, and we will now turn our attention to 

 picking out a few of the best kinds for early flowering. This is 

 somewhat of a difficult aff"air with so many good things to choose 

 from. The appearance of many gardens in spring would lead one 



