TREES AND SHRUBS IN GARDEN AND WOODLAND. 



385 



even no more than a few inches long, is left, the new bark' and wood are unable to close 

 over it, and the wood ultimately decays and acts as a conduit for moisture and fungoid diseases. 

 A coating of liquid tar over the wound, renewed once or twice till the new bark" has closed 

 over, is a perfect protection against these evils. Trees decayed in the centre, with only 

 an outer layer of healthy wood, are, of course, doomed, but by filling up all holes in the 

 early stages of decay, and thus keeping out moisture, their term of life can often be lengthened 

 by many years. Holes made by woodpeckers can sometimes be plugged up with a piece of oak - . 

 This, if left on a level with the bark, will often enable the latter to close over the hole. Large 

 holes may be filled with cement or even built up with bricks, the surface being made water- 

 tight and tarred over. 



WE hope the useful article of Mr. Bean will assist those who have yet to learn that a great 

 host of flowering trees and shrubs, and evergreens also, are rarely used in the English garden. 



PRUNUS SERRULATA IN FLOWER. 



It is time a thorough awakening occurred in respect to the pleasure grounds and woodland, 

 for one sees there trees and shrubs utterly unsuitable for their position, possessing neither 

 beauty of leaf, flower, nor form, and frequently jammed together in a way to destroy all 

 characteristic growth. 



Of recent years many important introductions have come from abroad, and these should 

 be considered in planting in the future. It is well also to take up one family of shrubs or 

 trees and plant the most beautiful varieties in it, avoiding always the desire to obtain mere 

 collections, for these are never satisfactory, unless the garden is of sufficient size to group 

 families together with good effect. Be careful that in the use of variegated foliage this is not 

 overdone, for nothing is more distressing than a surfeit of spotty leaves. The advice of Mr. Bean 

 to avoid Conifers, which are never happy in this climate, is excellent. One has only to walk- 

 through an English park where Conifers have been planted with little consideration as to their 

 suitability for the position to see how much expense is frittered away. 



