112 



ON THE DEODAR. 



As a very general planting, therefore, will doubtless take 

 place, both with regard to timber purposes and to ornamental 

 or landscape gardening, I would beg to call the attention of 

 planters to the effect it is qualified to produce in scenery, and 

 some other points connected with its culture. 



In the first place I would direct attention to its hardihood. 

 I have watched the effects of severe winters on plants in a 

 variety of situations, and in various stages of growth, and I 

 cannot say that I ever knew even the leader (which is of a very 

 succulent character from its continuing to grow so late) to suffer 

 from low temperature. I have indeed known them to become 

 discoloured through cold and dry winds, especially if planted 

 in stagnant soil ; but on the whole it may safely be affirmed that 

 the tree is as hardy as any of our other forest-trees, and quite at 

 home in the humid climate of Britain. 



With regard to soils too it is an astonishing tree ; almost any 

 kind seems eligible. I have found it to thrive equally well on 

 tenacious loams and on light sandy soils, or on any of these with 

 a mixture of peat, leaf soil, or any other vegetable matter. 



Another circumstance of some import may here be referred 

 to concerning its endurance of moisture at the root. This is a 

 point which deserves the planter's particular attention. The 

 Deodar will not thrive in a swamp ; at least my experience does 

 not lead me to infer that such is the case. I have planted several, 

 however, within the last five years, both on sandy knolls and on 

 the margin of a pool, where the ground is only about 3 feet 

 above the water-level, and where also the soil is of that con- 

 sistency that it might be taken for ditchings or pond-bottoms ; 

 in fact, a moist alluvium. 



Now in such a situation and at this period we have the Deodar 

 exuberant with health : I must, however, observe that such were 

 planted on the ordinary ground-level, and moreover I took the 

 precaution to cut an issue for the water (which might otherwise 

 lodge) down to the edge of the pool. A slight excavation 

 was made where the tree was to be planted ; the excavation com- 

 municated with the outlet or issue ; and both excavation and 

 outlet were filled to nearly the ground-level with bricks, stones, 

 or other imperishable material. On this the Deodars were 

 planted, and of course when filled up and the turf restored, they 

 stood on a slight mound, which, in consequence of the amount of 

 organic materials (as new tree-leaves, &c, which I invariably 

 throw beneath the tree of whatever kind) has gradually sunk, 

 and now the Deodars on this moist site appear as though they 

 had been planted below the ordinary level, as other common 

 trees or shrubs on sound soils. 



I mention these little matters in detail, in order to assist in 



