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T O 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[January, 



out. l^ure enough the earth had been rammed in 

 liSrd-^nouglf Dv.er the roots. But it was over the 

 roots and that was all. There was none in and 

 about the roots. The very matted condition of the 

 roots was against the earth getting in and about 

 them. The pounded earth had formed an arch 

 over the mass of roots and not a particle of earth 

 was through them. Not one in a hundred of the 

 fibres were in conJact with the earth, and of course 

 they all dried up. If the trees had a few prong-like 

 roots the mere pounding would have been enough 

 to get the earth tightly about them ; but when a 

 tree has a mass of fibres, the man with a little sense 

 lifts the tree gently up and down, so that the loose 

 light earth may fall into every crevice, even assist- 

 ing it with his fingers or a fine stick ; and then, 

 after he has the earth surely in and around every 

 root, he pounds it down as firmly as possible, in 

 order that the earth may be tightly about the 

 roots. The fact is, the advice we gave was not 

 followed, and it is generally so in the cases to 

 which we have referred. We do not know that 

 we can give a more seasonable hint than this in 

 planting trees : The first and essential point is, to 

 get plenty of roots, and then to see that the earth 

 is not only put into every crevice among the mass 

 but that it be pressed and hammered in as tightly 

 as possible. 



Wherever any part of a tree does not grow 

 freely, pruning of such weak growth, at this sea- 

 son, will induce it to push more freely next year. 

 All scars made by pruning off large branches, 

 should be painted or tarred over, to keep out the 

 rain. Many fine trees become hollow, or fall 

 into premature decay, from the rain penetrating 

 through old saw cuts made in pruning. Also the 

 branches should be cut close to the trunk, so 

 that no dead stumps shall be produced on the 

 tree, and bark will readily grow over. Many 

 persons cut off branches of trees in midsummer, 

 in order that the returning sap may speedily 

 clothe the wound with new bark ; but the loss of 

 much foliage in summer injures the tree, and 

 besides, painting the scar removes all danger of 

 rotting at the wound. 



Some judgment is required in pruning flowering 

 shrubs, roses, etc., although it is usual to act as if 

 it were one of the most common-place operations. 

 One of the most clumsy of the hands is commonly 

 set to work with a pair oi shears, and he goes through 

 the whole place, clipping off everything indiscrim- 

 inately. Distinction should be made between 

 those flowering shrubs that make a vigorous 

 growth, and those which grow weakly ; and be- 



tween, those which flower on the old wood of last 

 year, and those which flower on the new growth 

 of next season, as the effect of pruning is to force 

 a strong and vigorous growth. Those specimens 

 that already grow too strong to flower well, should 

 be only lightly pruned ; and, in the same individual, 

 the weakest shoots should be cut in more severely 

 than the stronger ones. Some things like the 

 Mock Oranges, Lilacs and others, flower on the 

 wood of last year — to prune these much now, 

 therefore, destroys the flowering ; while such as 

 Altheas, which flower on the young wood, cannot 

 be too severely cut in, looking to that object alone. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



SHADE TREES FOR FLORIDA. 



BY A CONNECTICUT SUBSCRIBER. 



In a recent number of the Monthly some one 

 asked about street shade trees for Florida. No 

 one who has seen the great variety that make 

 their home in her forests ought to be troubled 

 about a choice. I say at once, plant the trees in- 

 digenous to her soil. As to the China and Tulip 

 trees which you name, the first is insignificant in 

 size and has no special grace or dignity. Aside 

 from fragrant flowers and a good summer shade, 

 it does not fill the bill of a fine street or lawn tree 

 for Florida. The Tulip tree I do not believe will 

 flourish there. I never saw it growing in the State. 



For her broad avenues or parks no trees can 

 rival the grand ship-timber Live Oak, or the 

 stately evergreen Magnolia. For narrow streets 

 and areas the smaller evergreen oaks of Florida 

 and her flowering maples have a fitness and 

 beauty unsurpassed. The fact is, that throughout 

 the Gulf States, and in South Carolina and Geor- 

 gia, no one need go outside their forests to know 

 what trees to plant. 



The smaller evergreen oaks have a special duty 

 in a climate where there are many hot days when 

 frosts and the wintry blasts possess the North. 

 .My first entry into Florida was on a very sultry 

 day, about the last of February, 1864. The ever- 

 green oaks of Jacksonville were gladly welcomed 

 by the soldiers, who tramped along her streets 

 from transports. Their full robe of foliage and 

 the broiling sun cheated the imagination with a 

 semblance of summer. There are many such 

 sultry days all through Florida's delicious southern 

 winter. On the 23d and 24th of December, 1864, 

 the weather was warm enough to make a full 

 summer garb delightful. 



As to the evergreen Timber Oak and Magnolia 



