272' THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



circumstanced becomes converted into a quagmire, the roots of the 

 shrubs perish, and, as a natural consequence, the plants sicken and 

 die. In planting single specimens on the lawn, too, similar results 

 will have to be guarded against, where the whole area of the ground 

 has not been trenched. Whether a large or small site is prepared, 

 there are few situations where a drain from the bottom will not be 

 necessary. I remember an instance — one among many similar ones 

 — where a number of Conifers were planted singly on a lawn, the 

 soil of which was very tenacious. Holes were properly prepared by 

 deep trenching and the addition of new soil, and the trees planted 

 at the end of September. For a time all seemed well enough ; but 

 by the following spring many were dead, and others, especially the 

 Junipers, of which there were several, had lost many branches 

 from sheer rottenness. On examining the soil it was found to be 

 little better than mud, especially at and near the bottom of the 

 holes. The autumn and winter had been very wet, and as there 

 was no outlet for the water, which of course collected in the loose 

 soil, the trees had stood for three or four months with their roots in 

 it, with what effect may easily be inferred. And, to make the 

 matter worse, the plants had not been placed high enough at the 

 collar in the first instance, and the soil having settled down below 

 the natural level, that important part of every plant was nearly 

 always surrounded by a pool of water. Great care should be taken 

 to prevent this, and as it is difficult to calculate to a nicety when a 

 tree is planted in newly moved soil, it should when possible be 

 allowed to subside before the tree is placed in it. Every specimen 

 on a lawn should stand a few inches at least above the natural level. 

 It is important to secure this, both on account of the well-being of 

 the plant and its appearance also. A tree standing on a gentle 

 elevation, which seems to spring naturally from the surrounding 

 lawn, has an infinitely superior appearance to one placed in a hollow, 

 other circumstances being equal. Of course, the success of a trans- 

 planted shrub or tree will depend in no small degree cpon the con- 

 dition in which it is removed. A shrub may be planted with perfect 

 success at a period by no means favourable to the operation if it is 

 carefully taken up ; while a similar one will fail at the best of all 

 seasons from damage to its roots by unskilful or careless hands. A 

 plant, it should be borne in mind, derives the chief amount of the 

 fluids which support it by the agency of its succulent root-tips, and 

 in proportion as these are destroyed, so are the resources of the 

 plant cut off till new ones are formed. If I were not convinced by 

 the practice I have often seen that this advice is needed, I would not 

 venture on so commonplace an observation. Presuming the pre- 

 paration of the soil for planting to be in every respect perfect, and 

 the season fitting, subsequent labours will be greatly influenced by 

 circumstances attending the plants to be removed — whether they 

 have merely to be taken from one part of the grounds to another, 

 or at most but a short distance; or received from a nursery many 

 miles away, and after a journey, possibly, of two or three days' 

 duration. It will be readily understood that the conditions of the 

 respective plants must differ materially, and will consequently 



