52 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



none tlie worse for its moving, and if it be good soil it soon 

 makes a goodly show. Much of course depends on the extent 

 of planting ; but, in a general way, half the quantity done 

 well is more profitable than a great extent managed slovenly. 

 It is the planting that settles the fate of a tree in a great 

 measure ; for if the trees be taken up well, judiciously pruned, 

 and well planted, it well repays the owner for all the extra 

 cost. 



The planting in gardens consists chiefly of fruit and orna- 

 mental trees, and shrubs. One of the most important points 

 to look to is often neglected — the placing of the plant at a 

 proper depth. Plant some trees too deep, and it is of httle 

 consequence, because they will strike new roots near the sur- 

 face ; but serve others so, and especially the coniferse, and 

 they will begin to get less healthy the first season, and 

 gradually dwindle, until they go right off. Gooseberry 

 and currant trees planted too deep will take no immediate 

 harm, but the chances are that they yield annually a plentiful 

 crop of suckers, and continue troublesome as long as they 

 live. 



Planting in Bad Soil. — There are many stratagems used, 

 when the soil is bad, to prevent the roots of trees from going 

 down to it ; some make a flooring of brick rubbish, others 

 actually put a pavement under the roots ; but the best way is to 

 give each tree a fair supply of good soil, by removing the bad 

 to make way for it, and filling it up with the top sjDit ; then to 

 plant high enough, and, before the tree is put in the ground, 

 cut every bit of the root that shoots downwards close off; 

 when this is done, the tree will do well for years, because 

 roots do not seek an uncongenial soil wliile there is any they 

 like to get hold of ; it is only when they have exhausted the 

 good within reach that they feel the effects of the bad, and 

 the pavement is as bad as anything. Deep planting ought 

 always to be avoided — it never can be good ; and it is only 

 those trees which will strilie root all the way up the trunk, if 

 there be soil to strike, that can prosper under the circum- 

 stances. The mulberry is one of these ; many have raised 

 mounds half way up the trunk, and the tree has been none 

 the worse ; but others are damaged greatly by being put even 

 a little below the collar. We remember a rose nurseryman 

 who planted a clump of standards, half standards, and dwarf 

 standards, to give a fine rounding effect to the mass of bloom. 



