460 PACKING NURSERY TREES. [April 



lutcola is a very hardy free flowering plant, and should be in every 

 garden ; it is a strong grower, flower stems about 2 feet long, with 

 an umbel of fine yellow flowers at top. It does well in the ordinary 

 herbaceous borders. 



P. viscosa is the commonest species in the Alps, about 4000 feet, 

 and has many varieties ; some are very viscous, and others quite 

 smooth on the leaves. I gathered a very beautiful large-flowered 

 variety on the Eifileberg a few years ago with a large white eye. 

 P. glutinosa is confined to the Tyrol, and is not nearly such a free 

 growing variety as viscosa ; it has narrow strap-shaped leaves, and is 

 a shy flowerer. P. ciliata is very pretty ; and a number of fine 

 hybrids have been raised between it and intermedia at the Botanic 

 Garden by Mr. Lindsay — two in particular, a bright rose-coloured 

 flower named Balfouri, and a rich purple named Linclseiyi. One of 

 the finest hybrids, however, was raised by the late Mr. M'Nab, and 

 is called ciliata, 2nn-purata ; it is exceedingly bright rosy purple, 

 and should always find a place in every rock garden. P. minima, 

 is not as a rule a free grower, but a plant in a friend's garden 

 in Berwickshire grew fully 6 inches across, and in the most 

 luxuriant health ; it was planted against a big stone sunk deep into 

 the soil. 



P. Parryi, which is one of the finest species we have, does not 

 thrive well with many people who have tried to grow it, but it does 

 well in leaf mould and sand ; and wherever it grows strong it flowers 

 freely dark purple flowers from a dozen upwards on the top of 

 flower stem. 



PACKING XUESERY TREES. 



BY KOBEr.T DOUr;LAS. 



THE public is well supplied with directions for handling trees 

 when received from the nurseries — liow to prune, how to 

 plant, etc. They should also be advised that when trees are 

 shipped to a great distance, and especially when they have to 

 endure hot weather in transit, they must be packed dry to prevent 

 heating, and when unpacked, must either be soaked for a few hours 

 in tepid water, or " heeled in " in moist ground, the tops covered 

 with hay or straw, and sprinkled and left in that condition a few 

 days before planting. Probably few planters could be made to 

 believe that more trees are injured by being packed too wet, than 

 are injured by being packed too dry. I am of tlie opinion that 

 more trees are injured by heating than by drying; but opinions are 



