wise air is in a great degree excluded. A further advantage is gained from a perfect 

 system of drainage and increased porosity in the soil, in the ammonia and carbonic 

 acid conveyed into it by every shower. Kain- water absorbs these gases in its pas- 

 sage through the atmosphere, and the soil has the property of retaining them as the 

 water percolates through it. Air is also a principal agent in decomposition. There 

 are many unproductive soils that really contain all the elements of fertility, but in 

 the absence of decomposition they are useless for the purposes of vegetable growth. 

 In the absence of air and water, substances may remain unchanged, but under their 

 combined action the hardest rock must change and decay. When we reflect that 

 about nine-tenths of the whole bulk of plants is made up of gaseous matters, we find 

 sufficient reason for the luxuriance of plants in aerated soils, and the necessity of se- 

 curing them these conditions. 



The great secret of getting trees into rapid and vigorous growth lies in the prepa- 

 tion of the soil. Pits ought to be dug out not less than six feet across and from 

 eighteen inches to two feet in depth. The surface soil should be thrown out and all 

 bad and inferior subsoil removed and replaced by an equal portion of prepared com- 

 post. The diiference in five years growth between trees thus provided and those 

 planted in pits half that size, is quite surprising. Carelessness in planting indicates 

 itself for many years, in the numerous dead branches, short, stunted-looking growth, 

 moss-covered bark, and frequently by the death of the plant, while those planted in 

 thoroughly prepared ground, if removed with ordinary care, scarcely receive a cheeky 

 or show symptoms of having been disturbed. 



It is a common error, and a very pardonable one, for those who are anxious to 

 produce immediate effect, to plant the largest sized trees that can be procured. It 

 is quite possible to remove trees of very great age and size successfully. We have 

 well-authenticated instances of the removal of trees 300 years of age, and I have 

 seen a large plantation successfully transplanted after 30 years growth ; but to ensure 

 success in these extreme cases involves an expense which few would be willing to 

 incur. Neither is it practicable to bestow the same care and attention on trees that 

 are purchased at a distant nursery and have to undergo the perils and casualties of 

 transportation. There must be a certain proportionate balance maintained between 

 the roots and branches, and when the roots of large trees are severely shortened, the 

 branches must also be reduced to a corresponding degree. The question of size is 

 therefore dispensed with. So well is this fact understood in Scotland that the nur- 

 serymen there, annually commit to the flames thousands of pine, Norway spruce, 

 larch, &c., from three to five feet in height, which have out-grown a saleable size, 

 and for which there is no demand. All plants arc removed with least check when 

 young, and a uniform, vigorous and satisfactory plantation is most readily obtained 

 by early removal. 



[To be continued.) 



