176 THE GARDENER. [April 



lay bold of the soil. Plants being lifted for the first time do not show 

 the same precocity. 



March is perhaps a less favourable month for transplanting than 

 either February or April. Moist weather and short days are pre- 

 ferable to the longer days and dry winds of March, although March, 

 so far, has been favourable. The earth begins to get warmer in 

 April and the air moister, and it is probably the best month for mov- 

 ing coniferous subjects. We have some dozens of Deodars, 12 to 16 

 feet high, and other trees and Conifers of small size yet to move. 

 When to plant is, however, generally determined by circumstances : 

 how to plant is not. The ground, whether for clumps, beds, belts, 

 or single specimens, should be trenched at least 18 inches deep, 

 turning down the sod to the bottom ; in the case of single speci- 

 mens on grass, a much larger site should be trenched than is really 

 necessary for the spread of the roots, and in this case special care 

 should be taken not to plant deep. Deep-planting on untrenched ground 

 is a great evil ; the loose soil is readily waterlogged, which never can 

 happen in trenched ground ; the roots are also in a box of unstirred 

 earth which is practically impenetrable, whereas a tree planted high 

 has the chance and choice of rooting along the surface-soil. Many trees 

 linger out a stunted life, or die from deep-planting alone. Stays or 

 stakes of some sort are absolutely necessary to all newly-planted trees 

 and large shrubs ; dwarf shrubs with balls do not require this precaution. 

 In the case of specimen trees, three wires stretched equidistant from 

 a collar of straw, or a piece of an old nail-bag, the other end of the 

 wires secured to plugs in the ground sunk overhead in the turf, is most 

 effectual and sightly. In planting, all roots should be laid out horizon- 

 tally, not in a whorl or layer, but at right angles to the stem of the 

 plant at the various points of issue ; this to be performed as the soil 

 is being filled in. We prefer not to tread the soil until the hole is 

 well filled up, then one good treading is given. 



The manner of lifting a tree or shrub is of equal importance, or 

 really of more importance, in large plants, than the planting of them 

 with a view to their future success. We lately received two large 

 batches of Evergreens : the one lot was beautifully lifted, the roots 

 entire to their extremities, like a newly-made birch broom ; the other 

 lot had their roots cut short with the spade, as if a turfing-iron had 

 been shoved along underneath the nursery-row, the object being to 

 get them out of the ground with the least labour possible, their roots 

 being like the said birch broom when worn to the handle. It is an 

 axiom of a friend of ours, largely engaged in planting, that he don't 

 want a ball to any tree if he gets the roots. What to plant, is a pro- 

 position somewhat embarrassing, from the wealth of beautiful subjects 



