Genera I Rema rks. 575 



injured by overgrowing them, they should he renewed once a 

 year at least so long as they are necessary. Where possible, 

 deciduous trees and shrubs should be transplanted in early 

 autumn, before the soil becomes very wet, especially if of a 

 tenacious nature, and then, unless the following summer be 

 unusually dry, or the trees large, they will need very little 

 attention in the matter of watering, on account of their having 

 formed new rootlets. Most evergreen trees and shrubs may 

 be transplanted with safety almost at any time of the year if 

 removed with a ball of earth ; but early autumn or late spring 

 are on the whole the best seasons to select. Coarse-rooted 

 trees and evergreens without balls of earth attached to their 

 roots require much more attention to ensure success in re- 

 moval. But in the case of valuable shrubs and trees, it is 

 usual to prepare them for a year or two beforehand, by taking- 

 out a trench around them at about two or three feet or more 

 from the stem, according to the size of the tree ; in this way 

 the roots are cut through, which causes them to branch out and 

 fill the soil immediately around the stem. If the tree or shrub 

 has never previously been transplanted, it is advisable to dig 

 underneath it on one side to cut the tap-root asunder which 

 most species produce when raised from seed. Firm staking 

 and a little mulching with rough stable-dung are worth more 

 than frequent doses of water, and shading during very hot or 

 drying weather with moistened mats is very beneficial for 

 evergreens when they have been transplanted with little soil. 

 Another important consideration in planting is the selection of 

 species suitable to the soil and situation* Under the heading 

 Classification of Plants some information on this point will be 

 found. Neglect of this rule is the explanation of our finding 

 what would be handsome examples of choice subjects in crowded 

 or concealed spots. The size a tree or shrub will attain is in 

 most instances easily ascertained, and this done, the necessity 

 of cutting down because they are too large for the situations 

 they occupy may be avoided. Overcrowding trees and shrubs 

 in planting is to be deprecated. Thick planting may be 

 resorted to to produce immediate effect, or for the sake of 

 mutual shelter ; but the plantations should be gradually thinned 

 out as the plants grow, or the result will be a dense thicket, 

 and in course of time the most undesirable species may kill 

 many of the pthers. 



It is a very common practice in planting trees in park and 



