282 BRIEF REMARKS. 



open space for the roots to be laid out at full length ; aad to wash in 

 the soil amongst them with water, by first throwing the soil on the 

 ball of earth which accompanied the roots, and then pouring water 

 over it to wash it down among the roots. In very hot weather, roots 

 will suck up their full from this watering in a few hours, and fresh 

 roots are made in a few days, from which, and the fresh soil, a plant 

 from a poor soil may be better fed, and do better afterwards, than if 

 it had not been removed at ail. If we now suppose some unforeseen 

 accident to have caused the roots to reject the water, and not to 

 extend themselves by new growth for one week, why in that case death 

 would ensue immediately. 



Some six and thirty years since, the late Sir William Middleton 

 brought a packet of seeds of the Tree-box from Box Hill, in Surrey, 

 from which a great number of plants have been reared by Mr. Lovett, 

 bis gardener — now one of the most contented race of our old gardeners, 

 living " in a cottage near a wood," in tli(! middle of the park, and 

 although in his eightieth year, he enjoys a walk round the gardens as 

 much as any of us, to see " all these new fancies," as lie terms the 

 present style of gardening. Some of those box-trees which Mr. Lovett 

 planted thirty years since on a long dry bank under large trees, now 

 form a thick screen for a " winter garden," from which, when we want 

 a " box," we can draw full-grown plants without being missed. 

 Among other " new fancies," we resolved last May to make a hedge 

 of full-grown box-trees for one side of a new terrace, which was in 

 progress under the directions of Mr. Barry, the celebrated arcliitect. 

 At iirst, it was proposed to plant this box- edge next September, as re- 

 commended by Mr. Glendinning in tiie Journal of the Horticultural 

 Society, who removed a hedge of large hollies for tlie Society last 

 September witli perfect success ; but, ou a second consideration, I 

 wished to prove how far Mr. Barron's views of planting could be relied 

 on upon a very different soil from that on which he has practised with 

 such marked success : and as tlie plants were at hand, and no stint of 

 them either, if we did fail the loss would not be felt. All tliis being 

 duly considered, my worthy employers, seeing I had rather an itching 

 for the job, gave their consent to liave liie hedge planted at once. Tlie 

 box was then ia the middle of its growth, and I wished to wait until 

 the growth was completed, whicli would be about the third week in 

 June ; but, owing to the arrangements of the masons and bricklayers, 

 I must eitlier get in the edge at once, or put it off till the middle of 

 August. This was considered a point ratlier in favour of tlie planters, 

 as if the box-trees should die under the operation, they would have a 

 loophole for escape, and could say, *' it Mas all owing to their being 

 removed at the ciitical time of their annual growth." A trench, 

 twelve feet wide and four ieet deep, was opened, the old soil removed, 

 and a fresh supply carted in, and the trench was filled up to within 

 eighteen inches of the top ; the whole was gently stamped down as 

 the soil was put in, so that it could settle but very little afterwards, 

 and when the bed was ready for tlie plants, that is, within eighteen 

 inches of the top, it was stamped down quite close. There were two 

 reasons for this last pressing of the soil : the first reason, that it should 



