MISCELLANEOUS. 



Shrubs suitable as Undeegeowths foe Thickening Plantations. 



It is the opinion of many, persons that plants under other trees do not thrive, 

 because of the drip from those trees ; and hence arises the common phrase. 

 " They cannot bear tire chip." To me this appears a misconception. I think 

 that the success or non-success of plants introduced under trees ought more 

 to be attributed, sometimes, to a want of light and heat to accelerate and 

 mature their growth, and sometimes (even in the case of plants that will bear 

 the shade), to want of a strict preparation of the soil previous to their being 

 planted. In most cases, the existing roots absorb nearly all the nutriment 

 which the soil can give, and thereby impoverish it so much as to leave the 

 new plants no opportunity to do more than just live, or live in sickness. In 

 order, therefore, to promote their success, in the first place, spacious pits, 

 from two to six feet wide, and about half a yard deep, (according to circum- 

 stances), must be made, to disturb or clear away the existing roots and fibres. 

 Then a moderate quantity of good soil or decaying sods must be added ; 

 and it will be a further advantage if a httle humus of decayed leaves or 

 manure, or both, can be supplied, which would establish the plants fully. 

 By the way, all ornamental plantings, especially those cleared of all fallen 

 leaves, ought occasionally to be manured. The following kinds will be found 

 generally to flourish pretty well, except the overhanging trees are very much 

 crowded, which ought not to be, for the sake of ornament and effect, (as I 

 have remarked in the chapter on the management of ornamental trees). The 

 yew, common holly, and smooth-leaved holly, are invaluable for this purpose, 

 and, indeed, so are the variegated kinds for front situations. The common 

 and Portugal laurels, best evergreen and box-leaved privet, Daphne pontica, 

 Butcher's broom, box in varieties, English juniper, mahonia aquifolia, repens, 

 and other varieties, whins, brooms, hemlock-spruce, and the rhododendron 



