

202 A FEW WORDS ON EVERGREENS AND OTHER MATTERS. 



less than tlirec feet per annum. In three j'cars the roots were again at the bor 

 (Icrs of the clay, and, for the sake of an ex]tcriment, we then left them to battle 

 with their tUnicnlties as best they could. The annual growth began sensibly to 

 diminish, till the tliird year its leader grew but si.\ inehes ; the side branches 

 partook of the stunting, when we relented, and gave another course of feeding 

 by extending the trenches ; the growth immediately was sensibly increased ; the 

 second year it was as vigorous as of old, and is now one of our best specimens ; 

 but there it stands, its annual growth marked by the leader and side shoots, a 

 monument to the truth of the remark, that trees can be fed as readily as a Berkshire. 



There is nothing surprising in this ; for, though trees do grow under difficulties, 

 and sometimes with only a few prongs penetrating between rocks, to have rapid 

 growth we must give them suitable soil ; merely planting a tree is not sufficient, 

 in the majority of cases, to insure its full beauty. 



Two other specimens of the Norway fir, in which we take considerable pride, 

 have succeeded, till the past year, in a remarkable degree. Clay was dug out 

 and removed to the depth of five feet, till sand was found ; the holes were made 

 six feet wide ; leaf mould and fresh top soil were made ready, and the trees, pre- 

 viously dug around and left standing on a point that resembled a reversed acorn, 

 or a turnip, till thoroughly frozen, were put upon a sled, and carefully deposited ; 

 the holes had been receptacles of hundreds of cart loads of shavings, which 

 were burnt daily therein, for the sake of safety to a new building, and with a view 

 to the disintegration of the surrounding clay. For four years the trees flourished, 

 to the admiration of every one at all observant of nature ; but, the past season, 

 they grew less than half as much as during the previous years. On examination, 

 it was found that the rootlets had passed the made ground and some inches of 

 the burnt clay, and, having ceased to find their natural nourishment, had ceased 

 to be grateful for former kindness, and complained as plainly as if in words. This 

 day, while we write, the rootlets have been carefully approached, and treated to 

 another meal that will take them some years to devour. 



The roots of evergreens rarely descend deep, so that we have them within 

 reach of our " feeding troughs." So simple an operation should not be neglected 

 whenever the trees, speaking their own language, implore the owner for assistance. 

 The omission of this duty will account for the stunted appearance of thousands of 

 evergreens in any neighborhood where the soil is deficient in the proper ingredients, 

 and too many neighborhoods are so, to expect favorable results without similar 

 care. 



Disappointments have occurred in many attempts to imitate the planting abroad, 

 but it should not discourage us. If we cannot have all the variety that English- 

 men have, we have an abundance of superb trees for a plantation of great extent. 

 If the Cryptomeria Japonica is not hardy, or the Araucaria imbricata dies by slow 

 degrees, substitute something else ; the Pinus excelsa, the Cedar of Lebanon, 



as a proud ship of the line among coasting vessels," hardy in the middle latitudes 

 the United States, and beautiful beyond compare— the Hemlock and N 



