Ornamental Trees and Shrubs 63 



Lasiandras, Bougainvilleas, and Hibiscus doing well but 

 only on North and North East aspects, with shelter behind 

 them. It is false reasoning to say that because a plant frosts 

 off at Maritzburg it will not live on the colder high veld. 

 The young shoots are much more succulent and tender ini 

 warmer districts, while they may ripen better, and thus be- 

 come much harder, in a less hurried and colder climate. The 

 Jacaranda needs careful protection at Maritzburg on the 

 low-lying land. But at Johannesburg it becomes hardy and 

 deciduous. The frost effect is not nearly so deadly as the 

 dry and cold winds of Winter, which kill tender plants by 

 evaporation and dessication. 



(f) The variety of ti*ee$ chosen will depend upon the area of the 

 ground available. In a small town lot, large trees would be 

 ridiculous, and only small growing kinds of trees and shrubs, 

 of a fairly compact type, should be planted. At the other 

 extreme we may have large grounds available, room enough 

 for all, with lawns, glades, groups, masses, and even a pond 

 or lake. 



(g) When planting, carefully note the height to which the tree 

 will eventually grow, and its probable branch diameter. We 

 must not only avoid overcrowding, which always ruins the 

 shape of trees, but must also see that tall types are not put 

 in front of dwarf types. 



<h) Single specimens. For lawns and grass glades, and avenues, 

 trees also, should be very carefully chosen. Each should be 

 a perfect young tree, with no visible faults. In the case of 

 Cypresses, Pines, Cedars, &c., a very important point; is to 

 see that the lower branches are perfect, for a specimen 

 Cypress should show practically no stem at all the lower 

 branches should sweep down to the grass or gravel. 



(i) The ground for a shrubbery, and the place for a specimen 

 should be bastard trenched before the trees are planted. That 

 is, the first foot of soil should be well pulverised, and the 

 . next six inches loosened up. The mere digging of a good- 

 sized hole is not allowable a hole is nearly always a death 

 trap for the tree. Don't scamp the work at the very be- 

 ginning. You are planting for a lifetime, remember, and the 

 perfect growth of trees and shrubs is only possible when the 

 ground has been well prepared. 



