8 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



DK.rEMBf:it 3. 1897 



Specimen Cattleya LabiaU. 



hannony with other conditions existing. 

 The planting of the interior should not 

 be attempted until a comprehensive study 

 of the ground has been made from all 

 points; cast iron rules can not be framed 

 here for guidance; perhaps the configura- 

 tion of the ground will permit of the devel- 

 opment of a more or less large open space 

 surrounded by rising ground, than which 

 nothing is more simple in its dignity and 

 expression. Assist nature in the direction 

 indicated b}' clearing away from the open 

 any scattering trees or shrubbery, unless 

 the trees are perchance of noble propor- 

 tions and not too frequent to destroy the 

 effect of distance; plant then the rising 

 ground to form a background — a setting 

 for the picture- reaching out to within 

 the borders of the meadow at places, 

 forming bays and bends for the play of 

 lights and shadows, and apparentl}' 

 lengthened vistas, or misty distances. 



Old existing woods which have grown 

 without inteUigent care can be improved 

 in outline, naked boles can be hidden, 

 and the foliage line brought to the ground 

 by the judicious planting of their borders, 

 for which purpose nothing can excel cor- 

 nels, viburnums, amelanchiers, the Judas 

 tree and sumacs. 



To correct a bad line or to blend the 

 natural wood into the general scheme it 

 may be necessary to plant timber trees, 

 adding them to the old forest; the effect 

 of this is bad while the trees are small, 

 and is to be avoided if the intended effect 

 can be attained by cutting out a part of 

 the forest. 



The water side can be treated effect- 

 ively by planting heavily bold points or 

 bluffy shores, allowing the meadow to ap- 

 proach the water at low bays or indenta- 

 tions in the shore line, the general effect, 

 however, should be that of enclosure. 



Roads and walks should never intrude 

 into or cross large open spaces designed 

 for foreground or vista effects, and they 

 are happily planted when, as they skirt 

 meadow or plantation, openings are 

 occasionally left on either hand for 

 glimpses into the recesses of the woods or 

 over the broad open ground; walks and 

 shade should go hand in hand, and onh' 

 be divorced under extreme exigency. 



The preparation of ground for planting 

 is a matter of the first importance. If it 

 lacks in depth of good loam the omission 

 should be generously supplied; without 

 good soil vigorous tree growth cannot be 

 obtained, and large expenditures for pro- 



curing it is money well invested and in 

 the line of strict economy in park admin- 

 istration. 



Unsatisfactory also are results if holes, 

 are simply dug into the hard packed 

 ground, or if the surface is merely 

 skimmed by the plow, and the trees 

 thrust in and left to fight as best they 

 may with a growth of grass or weeds; give 

 to young tree plantations the same culture 

 a good farmer would give were the trees 

 hills of corn; plow and subsoil at least 

 twice during the previous fall months, 

 and reduce tlie ground to a fine mellow 

 condition. 



When planting for groves or masses, 

 plant thickl}-; the intended permanent 

 trees may be planted from thirty to fifty 

 feet apart, according to expected develop- 

 ment, and the space between filled with 

 other trees ten to twelve feet apart to 

 ser\'e as protection, from which selections 

 can be made from time to time (as growth 

 proceeds and overcrowding threatens) for 

 planting elsewhere. Close planting is 

 conducive to rapid growth from the pro- 

 tection each affords the other; the plan- 

 tation also ser\-es as a nursery, the profit 

 of which will amply pay for constant 

 never tiring culture, the only note of 



