nspoct nnd location, sliadiiiij from sun, and (lrainin<f of the soil. IJut winter is not tlio 

 only tryinn; season for plants. 'J'lio severity of our hot summers is more frequently 

 injurious than we are in the liaKit of supposin^r. It is questionable wliether the exces- 

 sive ariiiity of our suminors is not more hurtful to exotic evcri^rcons than tlie winter's 

 cold. Their expansive foliairo j)rcsonts a lariro surface for evaporation, and in conjunc- 

 tion with a diminished supply of nourishment through the roots, the plant is drained of 

 its juices and cea.ses to grow. To render the extreme aridity less injurious, we must 

 liave recourse to shelter. Experiments have shown that the effect of wind is to increase 

 the dryness of tlie air. "Evaporation increases in a prodii^ouslv rapid ratio with the 

 velocity of the wind, and anything which retards the motion of the latter is very effica- 

 cious in diminishing the amount of the former. The same surface which, in a calm 

 state of the air, would exhale 100 parts of moisture, would yield 125 in a moderate 

 breeze, and 150 in a high wind." We can form but a faint conception of the amount 

 of moisture carried off by our scorching summer breezes, although its continueil effect 

 upon vegetation is well known, and its results but too apparent in stunted and arrested 

 growth during summer. The humidity that is constantly arising by evaporation from 

 the surface soil in hot weather is very congenial to vegetation. To prevent its rapid 

 exhalation is therefore a desideratum, and this is most efiectually accomplished by shel- 

 tering and cliecking the force of sultry winds. A deficiency of moisture in the soil is 

 frequently productive of failure in dry seasons. The only effectual means of counter- 

 acting this, is deep cultivation ; and, in clayey soils, underground-draining may be 

 considered a valuable auxiliary. I)raining, combined with deep cultivation, will secure 

 a regular and lasting supply of moisture during the dryest weather. At first sight this 

 fact does not seem very apparent, and many are afraid to drain, under the impression 

 that the soil would be rendered too dry. Deep cultivation, by loosening the soil, 

 increases its capacity for moisture. Soil, like sponge, can only absorb a certain portion 

 of water; if more falls upon it than it can retain, it becomes injunous unless carried 

 away tlirough drains. The increased depth of soil forms a reservoir for suspended 

 moisture, which in dry weather is conducted to the surface by capillary attraction, 

 where it is available for the purposes of vegetation. Another important advantage 

 consequent upon the removal of suj>erfluous water from soils, is their increased temper- 

 ature. Wet soil must always be cold, comparatively, because the heat of the sun is 

 expended in evaporating moisture instead of warming the soil. 



Having in a previous paper given my views respecting soil, in reference to its chem- 

 ical constituents, I need not again recur to that part of the subject In the paper 

 referred to, I urged the importance of an annual application of decaying vegetable 

 matter on the surface to represent the periodical layer of leaves and decaying grasses 

 in natural woods. A moments reflection will convince us of the importance of this 

 consideration, especially as many — indeed most — evergreen shrubs are furnished with 

 small fibry roots wliich run near the surface, and are consequently dependent upon this 

 surface stratum for their ramification and growth. 



Ihe list of evergreens suitable for shrubberies is by no means so limited as might be 

 mferred, judging from the appearance of our pleasure grounds. In order to render these 

 remarks of some practical use, I will give a brief descriptive list of those that I have seen 

 nig in this neighborhood, of a size sufficient to warrant their liardiness and 

 for decorative purposes, when propcrlv planted in a suitable aspect and loc 



