THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



ardent in their dcsiie to rectify one evil, i 

 should fall into auother. In ciiscs where 

 very old or large trees are to be dealt with, i 

 it is best to take two years to the work, 

 and do one-half at a time, or, in the first 

 mstaiice, to dig a hole three feet square 

 and three feet deep, directly in front of the 

 stem of tlie tree, and at about three yards i 

 from it. Then proceed to dig at the same 

 width and depth towards the tree, taking 

 care of all roots met with in so doing. 

 By this means the very large roots that 

 proceed from imder the stem downwards 

 may be got at and cut, whilst those that 

 spread on either hand, in a more horizon- 

 tal direction, will be preserved to cater for 

 the tree. If after a year the excessire 



vigour be not sufllciently restrained, it may 

 be proceeded against on cither side in the 

 same manner. On again filling the holes, 

 a portion of fresh soil should be used, and 

 such as is dug by roadsides, being critty 

 and porous, makes an excellent material 

 for the purpose; but as unfruitfulness some- 

 times proceeds from debility and weakness, 

 let me say that in such cases rich soil and 

 thoroughly decayed manure should be 

 lightly dug in among the roots with a 

 fork, mulchings of horse-dung laid over 

 them, and insjiring and summer waterings 

 of warm liquid manure should be given, 

 until sullicient vigour is obtained. 



ITekky Howlett. 



BOXES POR OEANGE-TREES. 



I HATE a great many orange-trees under ^ roots of the trees, remove old and replace by 

 my care, and a few very large camellias, i fresh mould, prune the roots, see whether 

 and other conservatory trees. The tubs they are iu a proper state as regards mois- 

 are very old and decayed, and I want to , ture, etc. The last particular I think 

 provide myself with new ones, and ask very material to their health ; the sides 



you for a pattern. My employer is liberal, 

 and will not object to the expense in jus- 

 tice to trees he is proud of, and whatever 

 you advise he will cheerfully pay for. We 

 are to have a set of Ransome's flower- 

 baskets on the terrace, and hereafter I 

 shall give you an account of the planting, 

 to which you have already ofi'ered us a 

 key. B. B. B. 



[Messrs. Beck, of Isleworth,make boxes 

 of slate, which are neat, durable, and very 



moderate in price. The best model for 

 woodenboxes is that originally described by 

 Mr. Charles Macintosh, of which he gives 

 the following description : — " Tlie advan- 

 tage that this sort of box has over those in 

 common use is, that you can with so little 

 trouble take them to pieces, and examine the 



folding down, you can, as oiten as maybe 



proved necessary, paint or pitch the in- 

 sides, which \m11, if properly attended to, 

 make them last, if of good wood, for 

 twenty years. Another advantage they 

 have over the boxes alluded to is, that you 

 can take the trees out of one box and 

 place them in others without taking them 

 to pieces, which you cannot do with those 

 that are made of strong framed posts, so 

 firmly joined together, that it is impos- 

 sible to take out your trees ; and, be- 

 sides, only two of the sides are moveable. 

 In taking this box to pieces you have only 

 to pull up the two iron bars, and gently 

 pull out two of the sides («), the remain- 

 mg sides lift up. I generally fill up 

 the bottom of the tubs with broken 

 bricks, tiles, and turf for draining, so 

 as to be level with the top of the bottom 

 bars.] 



