General Mliccs. S07 



with a little care in watering, they grew and flourished as well as 

 any removed in the spring, and bore fruit the next season. The 

 subject, however, of transplanting in summer, has not occurred to 

 us since, until we met witli the following in the Gardener^s Chroni- 

 cle, and we commend it to the notice of our readers: — "In reply to 

 the inquiry in your Chronicle of Ma}' 8, respecting transplanting 

 large trees in full leaf, I beg to state, that at the ShetBeld Botanical 

 Gardens, we have for some time practised what we term the wash- 

 ing-in system, which has been attended with success in every instance. 

 Indeed, I doubt not that, by this method, trees of considerable size 

 may be removed at this, or any other season of the year, with safe- 

 ty. Towards the latter end of last May, I had occasion to form a 

 block or screen in a situation fully exposed to the sun, for which pur- 

 pose I transplanted a number of tall trees and evergreens, not one 

 of which was injured by the removal; and a fortnight ago, we dis- 

 posed of upwards of a dozen large horse-chestnuts, S[)anish chest- 

 nuts, limes, sycamores, and birches, all from ten to eighteen feet 

 liigh, in full leaf, to a gentleman in this neighborhood, the planting 

 of which I superintended: all, at this time, exhibit no appear- 

 ance of having been removed. In the first jjlace, we make the 

 hole where the tree is intended to be placed sufliciently large for tho 

 roots to be placed at full length, and in removing the tree, great care 

 is taken to avoid injuring or cutting the roots. If a ball of earth is 

 retained, so much the better, as it will assist in steadying the tree; 

 but if well staked it is not of much importance. As it is essential that 

 the roots be as little exposed to the atmosphere as {»ossiblc, we pro- 

 vide sufficient earth, either sifted, or finely reduced by the spade or 

 rake, and have in readiness as many buckets of water as will nearly 

 fill the hole; the tree is then placed in its intended position, the whole 

 of the water is then thrown over the roots, ;the fibres of which will 

 be supported by it; the fine earth is then expeditiously sprinkled over 

 the surface of the water, and gradually subsiding, fills all the inter- 

 stices, and gives stability to the tree, which is further secured by 

 three stakes, placed at right angles, which finishes the operation. 

 The work must not be trodden down, as is often done. — {Gard. 

 Chron) 



Bro/ttMS pratensis. — This species of grass is used in France for 

 lawns. In the grounds of M. Vilmorin, at Verreres, this grass, 

 sown by itself, is found to make an excellent close turf, and to remain 

 of a dark green in the hottest summer months, and in a dry sandy 

 soil. This is a fact of very great value, and it is placed beyond all 

 doubt, by several acres of dry sandy soil having been for some years 

 entirely covered by this grass, at Barres, where M. Vilmorin raises 

 his seed. — {Gard. Mag.) [This species of grass would be a great 

 acquisition to our agriculture, as well as to our gardens. In this 

 country, where the sun shines with such intensity, and where the 

 common grasses in the best of soils are literally dried "up, even in 

 tolerably moist seasons, it would be invaluable. For the purposes of 

 lawns and ])leasure grounds, if the above be correct, it will be invalu- 

 able to the possessors of villa residences. — Ed.] 



Tarred canvass is recommended as a good covering to pits and 

 frames. It may be nailed on the top edge of the pit, and made to 



