iSyo.] THE ART OF SKELETONISING LEAVES. 259 



the rubble in the bottom, and fill in the soil to the desired depth. This 

 operation should be done a few weeks before the planting takes place, 

 so that the whole may have somewhat subsided. The young trees 

 may then be carefully lifted, using steel forks for the operation, so as 

 to injure the roots as little as possible. All rank root-growths should 

 be cut away by a clean cut, and should any of the roots have a down- 

 ward tendency, they should be removed if not capable of being placed 

 in a horizontal position. In the act of planting, put 2 inches of finer 

 soil where the roots are to lie. Place the tree upon this, spreading 

 out the roots regularly in every direction, cover them over to the depth 

 of 2 inches with the finer soil, and fill up the hole with the soil of the 

 border. Should it be dry, a good watering will be necessary to settle 

 the soil about the roots. When planting, the roots of the tree should 

 be kept at least 6 inches from the bottom of the wall, or the result 

 wil 1 be that as they increase in size they will press so much against 

 the wall as to draw the upper branches away from it altogether. 

 About the beginning of November a good mulching ought to be placed 

 over the roots, to prevent their suffering from frost on account of their 

 being placed so near the surface. This mulching may remain till the 

 beginning of March, when danger from severe frost is over. About 

 the beginning or middle of May, in very dry localities, it may again be 

 replaced to protect the roots from the effects of drought, and removed 

 in autumn as already directed. The trees when planted should not be 

 nailed against the wall for some considerable time, as the result of this 

 would be what is termed " hanging." They should, however, be tied 

 up to a few stakes placed in the soil to prevent injury from wind. 



James M'Millan. 

 {To be continued.) 



THE ART OF SKELETONISING LEAVES. 



This subject having excited a little interest amongst some horticultur- 

 ists recently, I took the liberty of appealing to a lady friend who has 

 been very successful as a skeletoniser of foliage, requesting her to 

 favour me with the modus operandi by which she produces her speci- 

 mens ; which, I may say, are of an admirable character, some groups of 

 hers having received, a few years since, the highest honours that could 

 be awarded in the particular class in which they were exhibited at a 

 large and important county exhibition. I am pleased to say that my 

 request has been cheerfully complied with, and I am enabled to lay the 

 result before the readers of the 'Gardener.' We are first told that 



