ON THE TREATMENT OF DECIDUOUS PLANTS. 131 



a fine specimen greets my eye from the window, which has been in 

 flower several weeks, and has remained in the American bed two 

 winters without any protection ; it is the greatest acquisition to the 

 garden we have lately had ; its early flowering rendering it remark- 

 ably conspicuous, and, as it were, " alone in its glory." 



In the article on Fuchias, superphosphate of lime is recommended 

 to be applied to the surface of the earth ; any information as to quan- 

 tity, price and where procurable, of this new enricher of the soil, 

 would be gratefully appreciated. 



ARTICLE V. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF NEWLY PLANTED 

 DECIDUOUS PLANTS. 



BY MR. J. D. PARKS, NURSERYMAN, DARTFORD NURSERY, DARTFORD IN KENT. 



On the impropriety of heading deciduous plants at the time of plant- 

 ing, as is the general practice with gardeners and others. This 

 proceeds from the little knowledge they have regarding the physiology 

 of plants. 



It is the leaves which digest or convert the crude sap taken in at 

 the roots into pure sap, for the support and growth of the plant. 



Again, if the leaves be the means of attraction of sap upwards, 

 and also if they attract electric fluid from the atmosphere, as is sup- 

 posed they do, all this goes to show how improper to shorten or head 

 them down, as electricity is a promoter of growth. By not heading, 

 in consequence of length of wood, and that beset with buds, the 

 plant has a considerable quantity of leaves early to perform all the 

 different offices, to establish the plant ; whereas, if headed down, it is 

 Midsummer almost before they have any quantity of leaves for any of 

 the hefore-mentioned offices. 



I have at this time a pear and an apple-tree in my nursery, a con- 

 spicuous proof of what heading down is. These having been left 

 unpruned in the same row as others headed annually, those not 

 headed are five times the size of those which have been headed. I 

 know a tree planted with all its head it will make five times as much 

 root as it would headed. 



Two years ago a neighbour bought Quick of mc to plant a hedge. 

 I tried to persuade the man who planted it not to head it when 



