Arboriculture as a Hobby. 287 



island, although I have not seen one of the latter in Scotland. 

 The Acacia, the Tulip Tree, Service Tree, the Willow, Poplars, 

 and Maples should all be represented. The Maples are numerous, 

 but the Eagle-clawed, the Sugar Maple, and the variegated 

 varieties Acer Negunda are worth mentioning. I will not make 

 a longer list, as long lists get monotonous, but reference to a 

 standard work such as "Loudon's Trees and Shrubs'- or any 

 nurseryman's catalogue will show what an endless variety of trees 

 there is to pick from. 



I have given the list of trees without reference to soil or 

 situation, but in making the Arboretum, to find out the class of 

 soil or soils is the first thing to do. When these are known, 

 then the different species can be selected to suit each soil. What 

 suits one tree may be death to another, or at least the tree will 

 never come to perfection if planted in a soil unsuited to its 

 requirements. For instance, a Scots Pine will grow on sandy 

 soil and become a fine tree in time, but it would be useless to 

 plant an Oak in sand and expect it to grow into a specimen tree. 

 Again Willows and Poplars demand a moist soil, but others can 

 grow on soil that seems to be almost devoid of this commodity. 

 These trees generally have strong tap roots, which go deep into 

 the subsoil and obtain their supply of moistur^ from thence. 

 In the space pi a few yards even, we often find two different 

 soils. We expect to find a deeper and better class of soil in the 

 hollows than on the hill sides. Most trees will do well in good 

 •deep soil, but only comparatively few will grow to any size on 

 poor shallow soil. Some trees will not thrive where there is an 

 ■excess of lime ; others again will not come to perfection 

 without it. 



Climatic conditions play a great part in the selection of 

 species for different places. Frosty hollows should be avoided 

 when planting most of the exotic trees, even though the soil may 

 be quite suitable for their development. The common spruce 

 even often suffers from frost. Early autumn and late spring 

 frost causes thousands of pounds' worth of damage every year. 

 Therefore, in planting our miniature Kew Gardens, we must first 

 of all find out the class of soil that we have to deal with. 

 Secondly, find out the hollows where frost is likely to do damage, 

 •and avoid them. Thirdly, to see what natural shelter can be 

 obtained for the protection of the less hardy species from the 

 prevailing wind. 



