THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 47 



hence we often see newly planted trees covered up to the stem with 

 paving stones, or gravel, and perhaps so situated that the soil is daily 

 trodden on right up to the unfortunate prisoner. The nearer the 

 roots are to the atmosphere, and the more porous the soil ahove them 

 is, the better. I have just planted some fruit trees on the top of 

 treriched ground, without digging a hole at all. There will in this 

 case be a small mound, visible above the surface, and the trees will 

 require a strong stake, and careful attention as to watering in dry 

 days in spring ; but with these precautions, I have no doubt the plan 

 will be successful. The smaller roots should be carefully preserved, 

 arranged round the tree as much as possible, and kept near the 

 surface. It thus appears that in transplanting, care should be taken 

 to preserve the bunches of fibres which are too often torn from the 

 stronger roots, and left in the ground. It is to be lamented, that 

 even in nurseries too little attention is given to this matter, for we 

 often see trees sent out with only a strong stick of old root attached, 

 all that was really valuable having been cut or rent away. The 

 remedy for this unworkmanlike treatment is for amateurs to be 

 more knowing on such matters themselves, and to refuse to purchase 

 trees which are so roughly treated. Firmly tread down and water, 

 and your work is done, always remembering to keep a watch as to 

 drought during the first spring and summer. 



HINTS ON SMALL GARDENS. 



jjN treating of the subject of small gardens, it may be as 

 well in the first instance to consider the subject of 

 gardens which it is desired to alter or improve, and it 

 often happens in this case that a considerable portion 

 of the space is occupied by one or more trees. Now 

 trees are decidedly out of place in little gardens ; and unless they 

 are useful as screens, or are regarded with particular favour, we 

 would strongly recommend their removal, as few plants will grow 

 under them, and they are very littery in the autumn ; but if it is 

 desired for one or both the above reasons to retain them, care should 

 be taken to select Buch plants and shrubs as will thrive in their 

 shade, or exposed to their drip. Or it may happen that the old 

 garden is filled with some deciduous shrubs, as lilacs or snowberries, 

 which during the winter months are about as ornamental as a bundle 

 of sticks ; in the spring they produce a few flowers possibly, but in 

 the summer the dust and smoke render them anything but orna- 

 mental ; and in the autumn they make the whole place untidy, 

 besides they are gross feeders, and extract all the nutritive qualities 

 from the soil, and sap the moisture a considerable distance around, 

 and make it impossible for smaller plants to thrive near them; 

 therefore we would recommend that such, with all other old or worn- 

 out shrubs, whether deciduous or evergreen, be discarded without 

 mercy. Sometimes we have seen the little frontage overrun by a 

 species of starwort, or what is worse, by couch or twitch grass ; the 



February. 



