CHAP. VI VILLA GAEDENING 41 



has to be done by unskilful hands, from the middle of Sep- 

 tember to the end of October is the best time to move ever- 

 greens. The next best time is from the first of Ajiril to the 

 middle of May. Frequently in careful hands the spring plant- 

 ing is a great success; but there are little details iu the after- 

 management which enable the thoughtfid planter to counteract 

 vicissitudes of season, and these are mulching over the roots, 

 occasionally shading in the case of rare or choice specimens, and 

 sprinkling the foliage to check evaporation during a dry time 

 until the roots get into active work. 



In moving plants from a sheltered place to an exposed one great 

 care is necessary, and a shelter of some kind for -the first season in- 

 dispensable. In dealing with some soils, balls to the plants shifted 

 must, as far as possible, be secured of considerable size. In others 

 it is more important to secure plenty of unmutilated roots than 

 a ton or two of earth attached ; hence the importance, as I 

 said before, of studying each locality separately and on its own 

 merits, as it does not necessarily follow that because any par- 

 ticular line of action has been attended with success in one place 

 the same result will be obtained in all others. Usually the reason 

 why one person succeeds and another fails in similar operations 

 must be sought for in the personal character of the man. Merely 

 sticking in a tree or a shrub is not enough to secure success — 

 in fact does not deserve it ; and, as a rule, all men meet with 

 the success they merit in the long run. All newly-planted trees 

 must be secured from the eftects of wind, either by placing a 

 strong stake near and tying the main stem to it, wrapping a 

 piece of old sack or something soft round the stem to guard it 

 from injury by abrasion; or drive three stumps iu the ground 

 at equal distances round the tree, and, 5 or 6 feet from it, fix 

 a padded ring loosely round the main stem at the right elevation, 

 and attach three wires to the ring, and strain them to the stumps. 



CHAPTER VI 



Propagation of Trees and Shrubs. — If the heading I 

 have taken for this chapter was fully worked out and amplified 

 there would be matter enough for a good-sized treatise, but all I 

 am aiming at is to show amateurs how they may, if they wish, 

 propagate in a small way the trees and shrubs which form the 

 framework of their gardens and grounds. The proper time to 

 take 



Cuttings of trees and shrubs is in autumn, beginning with the 



