32 CONIFEROUS PLANTS. 



mechanical support of the tree ; in fact, they often 

 destroy each other, and in every instance of a plant 

 which in its young state has been subject to the 

 confinement of a pot, these conditions will be evident. 

 Of course new roots strike out, and take a horizontal 

 direction, but they are only of secondary importance, 

 and will ever remain disproportionate to the proper 

 support of the tree. In short, pot-grown plants have 

 many disadvantages without a redeeming quality. 



The objections to plants grown in the open ground, 

 supposing them to have been properly managed, have 

 no real weight. They can always be removed at 

 proper seasons for planting, to any distance, without 

 risk of failure from the effects of their removal. 

 Frequent transplanting while in the nursery will have 

 induced the production of numerous healthy roots, 

 ready to commence their important functions the 

 moment favourable opportunities are presented. Acce- 

 lerated by the stimulus of new soil, growth will be 

 rapid and vigorous. And so far from being injured 

 by removal, great benefits will result. They will 

 at once gain firm hold in the soil, and support will, 

 if required at first, be quickly dispensed with. 



It will possibly be expected that we should say 

 something of the comparative value of plants raised 

 respectively from cuttings, seedlings, or grafts. Every 

 purchaser knows that, as a general rule, seedlings are 

 in most cases preferable, and beyond this we can add 

 little that could be absolute. So much depends on the 

 kind of cutting, or graft, or stock, that, where in many 

 instances it would be difficult to decide whether a 



