256 THE VILLA GARDENER. 



if trained to a single stem, handsome trees. This most sorts of trees and 

 shrubs will do when cut down, in less than one fourth of the lime that would 

 be requisite for the attainment of the same result from young trees. Before, 

 however, the operator ventures to cut down trees or shrubs to the ground, he 

 ought to inform himself of two particulars respecting them. First, whether 

 they are of kinds that stole, and, secondly, whether or not they have been 

 grafted. To cut down a tree or shrub that does not stole, or that stoles im- 

 perfectly, such as the spruce fir, the holly, or the juniper, is, in eifect, to 

 remove it altogether; and to cut down a grafted tree or shrub below the graft, 

 even if it should stole, is to substitute one kind for another. For example, 

 if a medlar, which is generally grafted on a thorn, and an almond, which is 

 commonly grafted on a plum, were cut down, there would shoot up in their 

 stead a common hawthorn and a wild plum ; while, if they were cut above 

 the graft, we should have the medlar and almond re-produced. Some of the 

 finest trees that are introduced into pleasure-grounds are different species and 

 varieties of crabs, cherries, thorns, plums, maples, variegated sycamores, 

 oaks, elms, to which we might add a host of others, all of which are grafted 

 on the common and free-growing species of their respective genera ; some a 

 few inches above the surface of the ground, and many at heights varying from 

 6 or 6 inches to 5 or 6 feet. If, then, these trees were cut down close to the 

 ground, we should have nothing but the commonest kinds coming up to succeed 

 them. In some cases, indeed, where a stock has been used which does not stole, 

 as in the case of all the resinous tribe which are grafted, there would be no 

 succession at all, which is still worse. There are also a number of trees and 

 shrubs which stole freely when young, but which scarcely stole at all if not cut 

 down till they have attained their full size. Among these are the beech, horn- 

 beam, Scotch elm, birch, privet, phillyrea, arbutus, and a number of others, 

 all of which will be found indicated in the Hortus Britannicus. By neglecting 

 to attend to cutting above the graft, we have known a tolerable collection of 

 trees and shrubs reduced to a mass of the commonest kinds, which it was 

 necessary to have re-grafted, or rooted out, to give place to fresh plants ; and 

 we know a large camellia-house in Kent, in which a collection of the finest 

 kinds of camellias having lost their leaves by insects and disease, and having 

 been ordered by the head gardener to be cut down, in order to renovate 

 them, were cut by an ignorant journeyman so low, that all the shoots from 

 the stools proved to be the single red. When a gardener of skill, and some 

 taste, has the renovating of an old place, he will generally be able to produce, 

 by cutting in and cutting down, very striking effects in a short time, from the 

 great rapidity of the growth of shoots from stools, the number which are 

 thrown up, and the immense bush, or tree, which is formed by them. We 

 have known the stool of a common laurel throw up shoots 6 ft. high in one 

 season, and a tree 20 ft. high raised from the stool of an ^^cer Pseiido-Pla- 

 tanns in five years. The stools of the locust (Robinia Pseud-^^cacia), in 

 suitable soils, will produce a considerable tree in three years, all the suckers 

 being removed but one, 



349. If the person whohas purchased or taken a lease of a residence which 

 requires renovating be much attached to gardening pursuits, and can afford 

 the expense, his best mode will often be to root out every tree and shrub on 

 the premises, except specimens of decided beauty, variety, singularity, or use- 

 fulness. By specimens of decided usefulness are meant such trees as shelter the 



