2 Commercial Gardening 



and divide it into sections by planting shelter hedges. Beech is excellent 

 for this purpose, though, owing to its somewhat slow growth, the green 

 oval-leaved Privet is frequently used instead. In these sections there 

 should be planted the more tender subjects as they come from the frames. 

 As they develop they should be transplanted to the more open part of the 

 nursery, their place being taken by further batches of young " growing-on " 

 stock. 



A word as to transplanting in general. To ensure safe removal from 

 the nursery to the customer's garden the tree or shrub must possess a 

 good supply of fibrous roots. These can only be produced by regular 

 transplanting in the nursery. No definite or fixed line can be laid down 

 as to how frequent this should be, as much depends on the soil, the 

 character of the plant, &c. Whilst very frequent transplanting would 

 develop numerous roots, it would at the same time have a retarding effect 

 on the growth. Experience will teach as to how often it is advisable to 

 transplant; the point to bear in mind is, that it should not be neglected 

 or overlooked. 



Another point that requires attention is the method of cultivating 

 trees for street and avenue planting. Too frequently they are grown in 

 blocks row after row, side by side. This is a mistake. Unless a tree 

 has space, air, and light it cannot be expected to attain its proper 

 development. The better way is to plant in single rows, these being, 

 say, 15 or 20 yd. apart. The intervening ground may be occupied by 

 dwarfer-growing shrubs. 



Seeds require to be sown under glass or outside according to their 

 hardiness or otherwise. Spring is usually the best time to sow. Out- 

 door grafting is usually done in March, and budding in July, when the 

 sap is in full flow and the bark lifts readily for the ripened buds. Cut- 

 tings for outside are usually made and planted during the autumn, using 

 well-ripened wood. Plants such as Privet, Poplars, Ribes, Weigela, Wil- 

 lows, and deciduous subjects in general should have the cuttings made 

 at least 6 in. in length, firmly planted closely together in rows, not 

 more than 1 in. of the top part of the cutting being above ground when 

 planting is completed. Cuttings inserted in pots, boxes, or pans indoors 

 are usually of a softer growth than one would plant outside, consequently 

 they may be inserted at various periods during the growing season. 



Layering is practised with many shrubs that are of dwarf growth. 

 Some of the more common sorts of Rhododendrons are propagated in 

 the same way. 



Where grafting indoors is referred to, it must be understood to have 

 reference to stocks that have already been established in pots, and may 

 be carried out during autumn, winter, and spring. As a rule it is unne- 

 cessary to use wax for indoor grafting, though it is essential out-of-doors. 



Acer (MAPLE). A large trade is done in some kinds of Maple, of 

 which the best-known kinds, perhaps, are the Common Sycamore (A. 

 Pseudoplatanus) and the Norway Maple (A. platmoides). Of the Syca- 



