292 ON TREES AND SHRUBS IN LARGE TOWNS. 



that the present mode of obtaining trees for new planta- 

 tions is almost as bad as it can be. A list is prepared, 

 names and heights given, and sent round to a certain 

 number of nurserymen for prices. On their return the 

 prices are compared,, and the lowest tender is usually 

 accepted. This is the way to obtain the desired things for 

 the least expenditure of money in the first instance. The 

 articles are there by name, of the specified height, and of 

 fair appearance. But the chances are the process of 

 cultivation for safe removal when sold being a costly one 

 that the trees offered at the lowest price are of the least 

 value, having been cultivated to sell rather than to prosper 

 in the future. I have known many cases where plantations 

 have been filled on this principle, and the owners have had 

 the mortification of seeing numbers of subjects die off at 

 once, and others drag on a miserable but short existence, 

 which would not have been the case had they been 

 frequently transplanted from their infancy upwards. It is 

 a costly experiment to plant badly prepared trees, however 

 good-looking they may be, as the sum total of good ones 

 is of small Consideration in comparison with the total 

 expenditure of what may be called cultural and collateral 

 expenses. And then, what a loss of time and enjoyment 

 are incurred in waiting for the bad trees to die before 

 clearing them out and replacing them with good ones. I 

 would here go so far as to say that a large tree may be 

 removed with the same chances of success as a small one, 

 provided it has been properly prepared for removal before- 

 hand. The only qualifications of this remark are, the 

 contingencies of a bad soil, an unfavourable season, or 

 careless planting. 



3. It now remains to speak of the planting and after- 

 management of the trees : 



First, of Soils. Soils are so various that it is impos- 

 sible to particularise every one of them. If, however, we 

 speak of loam, peat, chalk, clay, sand and gravel, we shall 

 embrace the greater part. 



