On Planting. 4^9 



ought not to depend upon such remote chances of success, and whose 

 habits of observation should enable him to make choice of proper plants 

 adapted to the locality ; nor is it necessary to apportion the space 

 available for planting with the regularity of patterns of a wall-paper 

 or a carpet, as nothing can be more repugnant to correct taste than 

 the recurrence at regular intervals, and with mathematical exactness, 

 throughout a large mass of woodland, of the same forms and tints the 

 whole season through. 



One point which deserves the consideration of all planters is the 

 judicious admixture of deep-rooting and surface-rooting trees, as by 

 adopting this method a more complete occupation of the whole soil is 

 secured. Another is the necessity of thoroughly clearing the ground 

 of all remains of its former vegetation before proceeding with new 

 plantations upon old forest or woodlands. By such means alone can 

 the destruction of insects iujurious to the timber be secured. 



The value of the spruce and silver firs as nurses and screens 

 is often underrated ; for where they have sufficient space they retain 

 their lower branches even to old age. By shortening the top they 

 may be made to afford good bottom shelter, and the spruce may even 

 be clipped into a compact hedge. Its protection during the earlier 

 stages of its growth far exceeds that of the Scotch fir, and it will 

 develop a good bottom in about one-half the space required by the 

 latter. The growth of the silver fir is slow at first, but after the age 

 of nine or ten years it shoots up rapidly. 



In an article specially devoted to planting it is unnecessary to 

 make more than a passing allusion to the connected operations of 

 fencing and drainage, without which in most situations the planter's 

 labours are thrown away. A thoroughly secure fence, impervious to 

 sheep, cattle and horses, is the first consideration. The advan- 

 tages of thorough drainage are numerous ; for besides opening up the 

 soil to the beneficial influences of the atmosphere, and of high 

 temperature, it removes many substances injurious to vegetation, and 

 by breaking through the almost impenetrable pan which forms in 

 all soils at a greater or lesser depth, it permits the escape of super- 

 fluous moisture during a wet season, and enables the roots to penetrate 

 to a greater depth in search of food. The increase of temperature 

 vnich follows thorough drainage of very wet land is seldom less than 

 ^en degrees, and sometimes as liigh as twenty. By its influence trees 

 obtain an earlier start in spring, make larger growths of wood during 

 the summer, and as the soil retains its heat till late in the autumn, 

 the new wood becomes more thoroughly matured. 



Purely ornamental planting comes more immediately within the 

 scope of what is called landscape gardening. In this department 

 great advances have been made during the present century ; but we 



