THE AROLLA, OR SWISS PINE, 103 



with a hinge so that the upper part can be lifted at will whilst the lower rim 

 remains fast to the box. 



In the formation of a nursery for Swiss Pine the following considerations 

 occur : — 1. The situation ought not to be lower than 3,280 feet above the sea 



The S\ i s level, and the soil should correspond perfectly with that of the 

 pine in place of cultivation, so that plants raised in slate must not be 



the nursery. 1 . i • i • r • ri-vi j i i 1 



transplanted in limestone, for instance. 2. Ine ground should 

 be prepared by digging 20 to 24 inches deep. 3. To prevent the seed or young 

 plants from being washed away by heavy rains the beds should be laid quite 

 level. 4. The plot should not be made on the skirts of a wood, but in a per- 

 fectly open situation, so that light and air have access to every part. Water 

 sprinkled on the beds during dry summers does good, but in the case of my 

 own nursery I have found it better, during periods of drought, to cover the seed 

 with Fir branches, not laid on the bed itself, but placed on the paths obliquely, 

 so that the ends, crossing one another, formed a kind of roof, which was a 

 protection against frost and heat alike. It is also a good thing to lay moss 

 between the plants or seeds, as it keeps the ground moist and breaks the force of 

 rain or hail, but, unfortunately, also introduces noxious insects into the garden. 

 The beds prepared, the seed is sown in May or June, according to the altitude 

 and the state of the weather. 



For years I have made use of the following simple methods, and raised great 

 quantities of plants of the Swiss Pine. The seed formed part of the November 

 crop, and was at once placed in dry s^nd in wooden boxes and protected from 

 mice. The boxes of seeds were kept in an airy cellar during the winter, and 

 frequently examined in the meantime. In the spring, before sowing time, the 

 seed was cleaned, and, for protection against mice and birds, mixed with minium, 

 conveyed to the forest nursery, and there placed in moist sand. After about 

 fourteen days the seed was transferred to the beds prepared for it, in drills about 

 5 inches apart, covered i|to 2 inches deep. The seed-beds were not watered, 

 but, as before described, protected with branches of Fir. The next year showed 

 a gratifying success, many of the beds were covered with plants. In the second 

 year the transplanting of the seedling plants commenced. 



Eucryphia pjnnatifolia. — This beautiful free- 

 growing shrub from Chili bears its flowers early in 

 autumn, when blooming shrubs are rather scarce. 

 The flowers are pure white with a central tuft of 

 yellow stamens. When in flower it is a charming 

 shrub, the chaste white flowers contrasting well with 

 the dark glossy green leaves. It is free flowering, 

 and thrives in a rich loamy soil, when it soon forms 

 a handsome bush of 8 feet or more in height and 

 over 30 feet in circumference. A scarce shrub and 



seldom met with in gardens, probably owing to the 

 only means of propagation hitherto being by layers. 

 I should like to ask through Flora if it has up to 

 the present ever been raised from seed ripened in 

 this country ? Here plants have been raised from 

 home-saved seed. They took fifteen months to ri- 

 pen, and the seedlings appeared in two months after 

 being sown. This valuable shrub is sure to be 

 planted extensively once home-raised plants become 

 plentiful. — T. Ryan, The Gardens, Castlewellan. 



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