461 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Decombor 11, 1873. 



Humboldt County, writes that it is very fragrant and the finest 



of all Californian Lilies. At the same time an nnuBually large 

 gale of other rare Lilies will take place. 



LEAF MOULD. 



I AM now collecting about twenty or thirty loads of leaves, 

 which I shall put into a square heap, confining them by means 

 of a few hurdles, if I have no better place. If they are dry I 

 shall well water them, and they will soon produce a gentle heat. 

 I then put them on the Sea-kale and Rhubarb pots, and about 

 eight weeks afterwards I begin cutting Sea-kale, and by having 

 a succession I secure a good supply throughout the winter. 

 In spring I remove the leaves to where I intend growing 

 Vegetable Marrows, and in May I plant-out two or three strong 

 plants of these ; they seem to enjoy the leaves, and I get a 

 good supply as long as the season lasts. In winter I turn the 

 heap, in spring I find it fit for the potting shed, and in the 

 following winter for flower beds and borders. I never think of 

 using manure while I have a supply of leaf mould. The leaves 

 are principally Beech, and by collecting them every year I 

 have always a good supply. I avoid having any more sticks 

 with them than I can help. I have never once doubted its 

 being a very useful article in the garden, and I find it suits 

 Cinerarias and other plants admirably when mixed with sandy 

 loam. — 0. Oepet. 



; ORNAMENTAL PLANTING.— No. 12. 



DETAILS OF PLANTING— Continued. 



The manner in which the lifting, packing, and removal of 

 trees are done materially affects their future prosperity. Every 

 sound root and fibre that a tree has, when placed in its perma- 

 nent position, contributes to its safety and to the promotion 

 of a free strong growth in the ensuing season. The natural 

 proportion or balance of root and branch ought always to be 

 maintained so far as it is practicable, and it is doubtless owing 

 in some measure to inattention to this important fact that 

 many trees are lost. It will, I think, set the whole matter 

 clearly before your readers if I describe the method which was 

 lately followed in transplanting an Araucaria of about 12 feet 

 high. 



Four men were required for the job, each of them having a 

 spade and digging-fork. Fust of all, the branches were secured 

 by a string fastened to the stem at about 8 feet from the base, 

 coiling it thence downwards around each tier of branches, 

 bracing them upwards and inwards as closely as possible. 

 Then a chcle was marked on the soil, at 18 inches from the 

 stem, as a centre. At about a foot outside this came another 

 circle, and the men were set to work, taking care that no spade 

 came inside the outer circle, outside which a trench was made 

 about 18 inches wide and deep. Then with the forks the foot 

 of soil lying between the outer and inner circles was carefully 

 removed from the roots ; and when this part of the work was 

 finished there stood the tree with a solid ball of earth 3 feet 

 in diameter, the sides bristling with roots a foot long. Mean- 

 while a couple of new garden mats had been prepared by sewing 

 two sides together with packthread, and a trolly brought close 

 at hand for the removal. The soil was excavated from beneath, 

 and the combined mats passed under, enclosing the whole ball 

 with the pliant roots packed safely around it, all being made 

 firm and secure by means of a packing needle and string. 

 The tree was then lifted on the trolly and wheeled to its 

 destination. 



The position selected for this tree was upon a lawn that was 

 made about two years ago, and the removal of the turf brought 

 to light a curious soil, or rather mixture of soils. Charcoal 

 dust, ashes, stone chippings, and other di'hris were found with 

 soil proper — a light sandy loam ; for this was originally a 

 slight hollow which had been filled up with some of the re- 

 fuse that always accumulates near a new building. An area 

 of 3(! square feet of the surface was broken up and thoroughly 

 stirred 18 inches deep, nothing being removed from this some- 

 what singular mixture excepting pieces of wood ; then the tree 

 was hoisted into position, the mats removed, the roots straight- 

 ened-out, carefully arranged, and packed firmly with soil in 

 regular order from the bottom of the ball upwards, and a thick 

 mulching of fern placed on the soil over the roots. Imme- 

 diately after the branches were released the tree was secured 

 by four wires fastened to its stem and to stout pegs driven 

 into the soil on opposite sides, and the work was finished. 



The trolly which was used proved so thoroughly efficient 



that I send a sketch of it (fig. 1). The obtnse angle at which 

 the long handle is fixed renders it a powerful lever, so that by 

 tUtiug down the end of the trolly a heavy plant may be pushed 



upon it, and then lifted by depressing the handle. Thus, large 

 shrubs may be removed with much less labour than when the 

 ordinary four-wheeled trolly is used. Fir;. 2, a form of the 



Fig. 2. 



common rock barrow, is a useful implement for transplanting 

 smaller shrubs. It has no legs, and shrubs may be taken up 

 with a large ball of earth, placed upright upon It, made fast by 

 cords, and removed with greater faciUty than by any other 

 means. 



It is best, as a general ride, to plant all Conifers on mounds 

 that are made broad, low, and flat rather than high and narrow 

 and with steep slopes or sides, the object being to slightly 

 elevate the tree so that it may run no risk of damage from an 

 excess or accumulation of rain water about its base, and at the 

 same time not -to put it upon a high mound that will very 



likely become parched and dried-up by the hot sun of the suc- 

 ceeding summer, which is about the most critical period of a 

 tree's existence. Fig. 3 represents a section of the right form 

 of mound, fig. i of the wrong one. 



/ 



Another very important matter, concerning which it is pro* 

 bable greater ignorance prevails than any other part of tree* 

 culture, is the application of water. In a fine planting season, 

 like that which we now have in the south of England, when 

 high winds disperse the fogs and mists of November, so much 

 that bright sunny days relieve the gloom of winter in an 

 unusual degree, special attention should be given to newly 

 planted specimens of large size and of an evergreen character. 

 From the length and density of the branches, the roots of thefco 

 trees cannot derive much benefit from passing showers, and 

 they suffer very much from the excessive evaporation caused 

 by drying winds ; so that it water is not given abundantly 

 to both roots and branches the shrubs will be injured, as 

 will be clearly seen in the weakly growth that follows. If high 

 winds and dry weather prevail in March some water may also 

 then be required — not a mere dribble applied to the soU about 

 the roots, but an abundant drenching over every part. Only 

 take care so to plant that superfluous water passes freely from 

 the roots, and harm can hardly arise from excessive watering. 

 Close attention should be given to this matter throughout the 

 summer. 



To recapitulate. A tree or shrub must bo lifted carefully 

 with a compact ball of soil in proportion to its size, and with 

 as many sound roots as possible. The soil must be thoroughly 

 prepared for it by stirring, draining, and any mixing or addi- 

 tion of other soils that may be found neccssaiy. All damaged 

 roots must be removed with a clean cut. Every root must be 



