284 OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTING SHRUBS, &C. 



imitation of nature ; being in some places bare and gravelly, in others, 

 covered with woods quite to the water's edge ; now flat and adorned 

 with flowers and shrubs, tlien steep, rockj-, and forming deep winding 

 caverns, where pigeons of the wood and water-fowl build their nests. 



OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTING SHRUBS, &c. 



BY A THIRTV YEARS* NURSERY PRACTITIONER. 



The proper season for planting shrubs has often been a subject of 

 inquiiy, and having, as the foreman of a large shrub nursery establish- 

 ment, "had tliirty years' experience, I am enabled to furnish a portion 

 of information that may be useful to some of the readers of the Flori- 

 CULTURAL Cabinet. 



Deciduous shrubs and trees are those which shed their leaves in 

 autumn ; and as soon as the foliage begins to fall, which is usually by 

 the middle of October, this class of plants may not only be safely 

 planted, but it is the very best period to perform it in. Such as are 

 then planted strike root immediately, and being thus established at the 

 following spring season, they push shoots at once, and the first year 

 become objects of satisfactory display. The next best months are 

 November, Feliruary, and INIarcli. When planted in December, 

 January, and April, they do not succeed near so well. 



The "evergreens, in general, if taken up with due care, may be suc- 

 cessfully planted at any period of the year, excepting June and July, 

 but even those months also, if with balls of soil, attention to sprinkling 

 over-head with water every evening, shading, &c. There are, how- 

 ever, particular seasons when they succeed far tiie best. 



If the situation be dry, and the soil light and sandy, they should be 

 planted (witli the exception of Hollies) in October and November, if 

 the weather be mild ; oii the other hand, if the situation be low and 

 the soil retentive of moisture, they should be planted early in JNIay. 

 In both cases it is indispensable that all large trees and shrubs be re- 

 moved with good balls, and that the roots be not injured. Hollies 

 sliould always be removed from the end of May to the end of June. 



In planting evergreens, whether it be done in a dull day, a wet daj^, 

 or a dry day, it is necessary to keep in view the expediency of keeping 

 the plants for as sliort a time out of the ground as possible— if only a 

 few minutes, so much tlie better ; and in all cases, when it can be 

 done, wlien great ntuubers are to be plantetl, we shoidd, if possible, 

 have some men stationed to take up the plants, others to carry tliem, 

 and a third set to put them in tiie ground. 



In all seasons, situations, and soils, the plants should be well soaked 

 with water as soon as the earth is put about the roots. Where the 

 water is not at hand, so that it may be easily carried or wheeled by 

 men, a horse with a water-barrel on wheels should be used. As soon 

 as tlie plant lias been put into its place, the earth should be filled in, 

 leavino: a snfiicient hollow round the stem, and as fiir as the roots ex- 

 tend, to hold water, wiiich should then be poured in in sufficient quan- 



