OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTING SHRUBS, &C. 285 



tity to soak the ground clown to the lowest part of the roots ; in short, 

 tlie whole should be made like a kind of puddle. 



By tliis practice, which is particularly necessary in spring and autumn 

 planting, the earth is carried down by the water, and every crevice 

 among the roots is filled. Care must always be taken to have as much 

 earth above the roots of the plants as will prevent them from beino- 

 exposed when the water has subsided. The best plan is to take an old 

 birch broom, or anything similar, and laying it down near the root 

 pour the water upon it ; this breaks tlie fall of the water, and prevents 

 the roots from being washed bare of such earth as may adliere to them; 

 in tills way time is saved, for the water may be poured out in full 

 stream from a pail, a watering-pot, or even from a spout or pipe in the 

 water-cart or barrel, when the situation is such that this can be brou^-ht 

 up to the plant. 



After the first watering has dried up, the earth should be levelled 

 round the stem of the plant, and as far out as the water has been put 

 on, but not trod. If the plants are large, a second watering is some- 

 times necessary; but in ordinary-sized plants one watering is quite suf- 

 ficient ; and after remaining twenty-four hours, more or less, according 

 to the nature of the soil, the earth about the stem and over the roots 

 should be trod as firm as possible, and, after treading, should be dressed 

 witli a rake. 



The Situations in which the Plcmfs ivill thrive. — "With re^rard 

 to the situation in which each shrub should be planted little can be 

 said here ; to form a correct judgment of this, a knowledge of the 

 natural habitats of each is required ; this knowledge may be easily 

 obtained by referring to a botanical catalogue, and other works treat- 

 ing on the subject. Some shrubs love a dry and elevated situation, 

 and will not thrive if crowded with others, — some are rather tender 

 and must have warm and slieltered places, — others are very hardj^ and 

 will thrive planted anywhere, — others, again, will not grow freely 

 unless they.are placed in low, damp ground, — and others do not flourish 

 if much exposed to the rays of the sun. 



The hind of Soil best suited for tliem. — ^With respect to soil, hardy 

 shrubs may be divided into two kinds, viz., first, shrubs requiring 

 common soil, and, second, those shrubs constituting the American 

 garden. A rich light hazel loam undoubtedly suits the greater part 

 of tlie first class of plants, althougli many of the stronger growing 

 kinds will make fine bushes on almost any kind of soil. The American 

 plants, as Kalmias, Rhododendrons, Andromedas, &c. &c., make the 

 finest plants and the best show if they are planted in a soil composed 

 for the most part of sandy peat ; but, in tlie absence of this, a very 

 good compost may be made for them of light hazelly loam, river sand, 

 and vegetable or leaf mould, equal parts, or a little peat earth mixed 

 with it. After having taken out the original soil from tlie proposed 

 border to about a foot and a half deep, substitute the above mixture in 

 its place. 



