1879.] PLANTING SHRUBS. 167 



alter frost, will look tolerably well for a long time, but ultimately die 

 off in patches. Planting must, however, be done to some extent ; 

 and we have already ventured on many Hollies from 20 feet high 

 and downwards \ but it must be expected that a large percentage of 

 deaths will ensue, let the work be ever so carefully done, simply on 

 account of the debilitating effect of the hard winter. March plant- 

 ing is hazardous at all times, from this as well as the above con- 

 siderations. It would be judicious where possible to postpone the 

 work until April, to give time to the shrubs to recover themselves. 

 Of course hardy deciduous trees and shrubs are an exception. On 

 them the winter has had no bad effect whatever. Striking proof of 

 this was discovered in cutting down a variety of trees and shrubs 

 while the frost was barely out of the ground, though the atmos- 

 pheric temperature was comparatively high. The sap literally 

 poured out of the prostrate trunks as well as the root stocks of Wal- 

 nuts, Chesnuts, Laburnums, Lilacs ; while the wood of large Holly 

 trunks, Portugal Laurels, evergreen Oaks, and such like, was quite 

 dry, and even withered in appearance. We do not recommend April 

 planting as a makeshift under existing circumstances. Some of the 

 most successful planting of large evergreen shrubs, both large-foliaged 

 and coniferous, we ever made, was done in April, and under excep- 

 tionally hot weather. The growth of everything was on the move ; 

 and although the distance was not inconsiderable, the time which 

 elapsed between lifting and planting was allowed to be as short as 

 possible. Copious watering was immediately given. Large-foliaged 

 plants flagged for a time, just as Cabbage plants would, or bedding 

 plants, under a hot sun in May, yet scarcely a death occurred except 

 in the case of some large Wellingtonias, and this was clearly attrib- 

 utable to deficient watering. There seems no reason why shrubs 

 should not be managed as bedding-stuff, planted and watered in the 

 same way and at the same time. Hollies make fresh roots with 

 amazing rapidity under a hot sun, with plenty water. The greater 

 the activity of life the greater the chance of success, and vice versa, 

 for Hollies are proverbially ticklish to transplant in midwinter. 



The success or otherwise of all planting is influenced to an extent 

 seldom sufficiently appreciated, by the nature of the soil or the care 

 with which it has been prepared. A heavy soil, stiff and cold, newly 

 trenched or dug, or not dug at all, will in its conditions be scarcely 

 recognisable with the same soil if turned up months ago, and re- 

 duced and mellowed by the frost. Where such a soil has to be 

 dealt with, and where timely trenching has not been performed, it 

 is absolutely necessary that a friable mellow soil should be imported, 

 into which the roots of the plants must be laid, and with which they 



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