294 ON TREES AND SHRUBS IN LARGE TOWNS. 



of 2 feet 6 inches, and converted or improved where neces- 

 sary on the above principles. 



In planting single trees, it is a good plan to make 

 what gardeners call " stations," to give them a good start 

 in life. By a " station" is understood a piece of ground, 

 say 3 feet square, the soil of which is loosened to the 

 same depth, and improved by the withdrawal or addition 

 of materials if necessary, according to the suggestions 

 already given. 



If a good practical gardener is employed in planting, 

 he wants no instructions from me or anyone else ; but as 

 this is not always the case, I will venture on a few 

 remarks. 



When planting trees, the roots should be carefully 

 spread out, and fine mould settled between them before 

 filling up the ground, which should afterwards be firmly 

 trodden down above them. The careless and foolish 

 practice of allowing the roots of trees, when planting, to 

 be huddled together with their ends often turned upwards 

 instead of downwards, is often the cause of indifferent 

 aftergrowth and premature dacay. Trees should not be 

 planted when the ground is sodden with water, lumpy, or 

 sticky. 



Large trees require staking, that the wind may not 

 sway them to and fro, and hinder the formation of fresh 

 rootlets. The tree-guard too, is often a necessary adjunct 

 as a protection against mischief or accidents. 



For the first year after planting, trees and shrubs 

 should be watered copiously, heads and roots, in dry 

 weather, driving the water with moderate force upon the 

 leaves, with the object of removing the impurities that 

 will have settled on them. As time goes on the pruning- 

 knife will be called into requisition, to preserve the 

 symmetry of the trees, and prevent an overgrowth that 

 would interfere with the free circulation of air, or prove an 

 inconvenient obstruction of light. Nothing that I could 

 say on this subject would be strictly applicable to the 



