288 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Whether staking trees and shrubs or wind-waving is the worst 



evil is doubtful, but much harm is done by staking. It is costly and 



troublesome, especially so for those large trees that 



Staking trees, are seen in pleasure grounds, surrounded by a kind 

 of crinoline of galvanised wire. The evil of staking 

 arises largely from planting trees too big as "specimens." To plant 

 these is tempting to many, but generally we get a much better result 

 from small trees that want no staking. Planting ornamental trees of 

 considerable size is so common that staking is frequently done, and 

 very often the trees are injured by the stakes, not only at the root, 

 but also much in the stem, which sometimes leads to canker. It is 

 known that canker (as in the Larch) enters the trees more readily 

 where the wounds are ready to receive the spores, and we often see 

 fruit-trees badly cankered through staking. 



The wire-roping business for trees is a nuisance, as the ropes 

 cut in if in the least neglected, and the tree often snaps there, 

 and when the ropes are finally removed the trees often go down in 

 gales. The best cure for the waste and dangers of staking is to plant 

 small trees, but often where this is not done for any reason (and some- 

 times there may be good ones, as in planting vigorous-growing Poplars 

 to shut out things we do not care to see) we may do good by cutting 

 in the side shoots close to the stem. This leaves the tree with little 

 for the wind to act upon, and the need of staking is avoided without 

 injury to the tree. Transplanting trees involves so much injury to 

 the roots that somewhat reducing the tops does good in all ways. 



At Kew, when a large tree is transplanted, it is guyed up with 

 three lengths of soft cord (commonly called " gaskin ") if it appears 

 likely to become loose. This is better than a stake, cheaper, and less 

 likely to injure the stem by abrasion. A tree with branches low 

 enough can be stayed by driving into the ground three stout stakes 

 at equal distances round the tree, nearly at the circumference of the 

 branches, and tying a branch to each of the stakes. 



The picturesque grouping of trees and shrubs is a gain in the 

 avoidance of the trouble and danger of staking. The pinetum, as 

 seen in many country seats, is a scheme in which trees are isolated and 

 dotted so as to encourage them as " specimens," which is the wrong 

 way and the ugly way. In Nature these trees are almost always 

 massed and grouped close, so that they shelter each other, and if in 

 planting them we plant as a wood, closely, thinning them very care- 

 fully, we find them make trees and give better effects than in the 

 common way they are generally placed, as the trees protect and 

 comfort each other, and shade the ground. I have planted true 

 pinetums in this way, the trees in which have stood violent gales 

 without giving way, and which were never staked, any more than they 



