^90 Arboriculture as a Hobby. 



thrive. A stout stake should be driven in to support each tree 

 and to prevent the wind blowing it about, and thus letting air down 

 to the roots to dry them. 



In a closely grown plantation the trees provide their own 

 food. As the sun cannot get in to dry the leaves and so make 

 them easily blown away by the wind, they lie on the ground and 

 tot, gradually forming a thick layer of humus, from which the 

 trees draw their supply of nutriment. But when tiie trees are 

 planted many yards apart (even when the spaces are filled with 

 light foliaged trees as the birch) the sun and wind have free 

 access, and the leaves are blown away, thus depriving the trees 

 of their natural food. This should be replaced. The leaves 

 can be raked together and mixed with road scrapings or any 

 waste soil, or even the remains of a spent frame, and made into 

 a compost. This should be left for at least two years before 

 being applied, having been turned occasionally and sprinkled 

 lightly with lime to hasten decomposition. Som.e of this mixture 

 might be added to the soil when the young trees are first planted, 

 and afterwards used as a top dressing. There is no need for 

 a great quantity each year, but it should be dug in round the 

 trees to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. This will help the trees 

 considerably. Artificial manures, too, are often used. Basic 

 slag, kainit, sulphate of ammonia are all good for the purpose, 

 or if the soil be deficient in lime for the requirements of any 

 particular tree, ground limestone could be applied. 



If the park is grazed by sheep or cattle, a fence would be 

 a necessity round each group. This could be either of iron and 

 wire, which is the least noticeable, or a rustic fence could be 

 erected. Wire-netting would have to be used if ground game were 

 numerous. 



Each specimen should have a plate with its name, and date 

 when planted on, and records of the yearly height, growth, 

 girth, etc., of each tree could be kept. This would be valuable 

 as well as intere.sting to a succeeding generation. Of course, the 

 planter of the arboretum would not see all of the trees come to 

 maturity, but he would have the pleasure of watching them grow 

 from young transplants to sturdy young trees, and there is as 

 much beauty in a tree of, say, 30' years as there is in one of 150. 

 It is a different kind of beauty often, but none the less pleasing. 



There are manv minor hobbies that could be taken up by 



