Lowering of the large Palm at Hale Hall. 445 



the beginning or end of October. The cuttings should be taken 

 off close, at the commencement of the season's growth ; or if 

 stripped off, and then cut, so much the better. I have found 

 silver, or pure v^^hite, sand, with a small portion of peat or heath 

 mould, answer the purpose better than sand alone. With re- 

 spect to bottom heat, I have been successful both with and with- 

 out it ; but should certainly say that a little, at a certain season, 

 was of service, although by no means when the cuttings are first 

 put in. I would recommend the cuttings, for the first five or six 

 weeks, to be covered with a bell-glass, and placed in a shaded 

 part of any house or pit where the thermometer generally stands 

 about 60° ; after which they may have a little bottom heat, 

 which may be increased until they are rooted. It is doubted by 

 many, whether plants of Coniferae I'aised from cuttings will ever 

 form leaders, like seedling plants, unless a leader be selected 

 for the cutting. I can only say that all I have raised have formed 

 good leaders, and many of them have grown 6 in. this season 

 (1837). It is well known to many that the common spruce fir and 

 others will, in certain situations, layer themselves, and from the 

 points, &c., of their lower branches throw up as good trees as 

 the original. In the statement of the "Whim Spruce" (p. 249.), 

 and also on this estate, we have instances of the common spruce 

 performing exactly the same thing; and here, in many in- 

 stances, they have formed the fourth tree from the original, the 

 situation being quite different from that at the Whim, and an 

 exposed place on a solid bed of chalk. When layers are 

 found to form good leaders, I think cuttings are quite as likely 

 to do so. 



High Clere, July 20. 1837. 



Art. V. Jiyi Account of the Mode in tvhich the large Palm at Hale 

 Hall, Lancashire, was lowered Five Feet. By John Nickson, 

 Gardener to J. J. Blackburn, Esq., M.P., at Hale Hall. 



The following is the method in which the large palm at Hale 

 Hall was lowered 5 ft. in April, 1834 ; and I shall feel proud if 

 you think it worthy of a place in your Magazine. 



The Sdbal Blackburnmna (a description and history of which 

 are given in Vol. V.) becoming too high for the house, I received 

 permission to lower it, which I accomplished in the following 

 manner : — 



For several months previous to the undertaking, the house 

 was kept at a low temperature, and water was withheld from the 

 roots, in order to suspend the growth of the tree, and enable 

 it to withstand the operation. A drain was also cut, of suffi- 

 cient depth to keep the foundation dry. I then commenced by 



