4iS 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



newly moved trees is that 

 their roots are left too long 

 above ground, and that is 

 why the percentage of loss is 

 so much smaller among trees 

 moved from one part of an 

 estate to another than among 

 those which come from a dis- 

 tant nursery. The secret of 

 successful removal is to get 

 as big a ball of earth with 

 the roots as possible, and 

 where the soil is inclined to 

 fall off to tie up the ball in 

 a bag of matting while it is 

 being shifted. Before replant- 

 ing see that all bruised and 

 damaged roots are cleanly cut 

 off and those that remain 

 spread out evenly and not 

 crumpled up, then shake fine 

 soil well into them and over 

 them, and have it well trodden 

 in, seeing that the same pro- 

 cess is repeated several times 

 during the process of filling 

 up the hole. In the case of 

 a dry spring following where 



RETINOSPORA bQUARROSA, WITH P1NUS AUSTRIACA IN BACKGROUND. J r ° 



you have lately planted trees, 



their chances of life will be greatly increased if you are able to water them, although 

 no amount of watering will produce for them what they really require — a moist 

 atmosphere ; accordingly, it is far more useful to syringe their heads and stems well, 

 and so encourage the rise of the sap, than to saturate the ground round them, as after 

 recent removal their root action is so feeble that they cannot absorb much water in 

 that way, and unless they are very well drained water merely lies there and does more harm 

 than good. A very good plan is to bind the whole of the stem with hay-bands, as these hold 

 the water and keep the bark protected from the drying influence of sun and wind. 



It may now be well to consider what SORT OF TREES you should plant in your 

 garden with the best prospect of success. 1 have heard before now a friend say, " I really 

 don't know what trees would do with me, and 1 don't want to have the trouble and expense 

 of planting a lot of trees which, owing to soil or situation, may never do any good." To 

 such an one 1 would reply, " Walk out into your country lanes or fields, and see what are 

 the finest trees growing naturally ; if you are living on heavy clay soil they will be 

 found to be Oak and Elm ; if on a light gravel, Walnut, Spruce, Scotch Fir, etc.; if on chalk, 

 Beech, to give a few examples. You do not want in your garden to reproduce exactly the 

 trees which you see flourishing along your roadsides, but what you can do is to learn from 

 these what species are likely to succeed with you, and then you can get garden varieties of 

 them which to the casual observer will be perfectly distinct, though botanically they are the 

 same." It must be borne in mind that the commonest tree in a vigorous and healthy state 

 is a finer object than one which (however beautiful and conspicuous in its own habitat) is, 

 owing to unsuitable conditions of soil and climate, struggling painfully for bare life. 



