t 



938 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



December 7, 1912. 



IMPORTANT POINTS IN 



PLANTING. 



Too deep planting is the chief cause of 

 failure in connection with the transplanting 

 of trees and shrubs. Many planters, un- 

 fortunately, have few opportunities for ac- 

 quiring experience in this branch of gar- 

 den work, and as a consequence they do not 

 trouble themselves about plant physiology^ 

 or the reason why certain results follow 

 certain operations. In proof of this I am 

 constantly coming across young trees with 

 their stems buried ; and recently, finding 

 a plantation of birch and conifers with from 

 12 inches to 18 inches of their stems under 

 the surface of the soil, 1 thought a note on 

 tfie evils attending such a practice niigiit 

 afford some folks an opportunity of putting 

 tlieir trees right. 



In much-exposed situations inexperienced 

 planters put the roots well down to secure 

 the trees in their places. I'nder such con- 

 ditions, especially on heavy soils, very 

 few of them live through the following 

 summer. I once saw several acres of land 

 which had been planted with Austrian pine 

 in this nuinner, with not a single plant 

 alive. The evils of deep planting, there- 

 fore, cannot be made too clear, to prevent 

 disaster and avoid disappointment. If the 

 stem of a conifer, or hardwood tree, is 

 buried, the bark is killed on the portion 

 below the surface, and the returning sap 

 is unable to reach the roots. AVhen this 

 takes place root extension is stopped, and 

 the tree dies of starvation. In some soft- 

 w^ooded trees and shrubs the buried stems 

 will throw out adventitious roots, and by 

 this means save themselves. Those, how- 

 ever, which will do this are few in number, 

 compared to plants in general, so that, 

 when dealing with those we are not sure 

 alK>ut, it is better to err on the safe side 

 and keep their stems out of the ground. 

 There is a space between the true stem 

 and true root , which is so constructed 

 that it will adapt itself to either 

 being buried or left exposed. This 

 is the space between the root and seed 

 leaves, but except in melons, cucumbers, 

 and other rapid-growing plants, the seed 



leaves (ootvledo 



are efone before the 



plant reaches a size large enough for per- 

 manent planting. 



In the absence of these defining marks 

 (cotyledons), an allowance of from one to 

 two inches of stem can be made for it, when 

 the tree or shrub is being planted. Any 

 trees or shrubs that were planted too 

 deeply during the. last planting season 

 should be raised at once to the proper level. 

 In exposed }x>sitions stakes should be pro- 

 vided for all the taller, and more bushy 

 plants, to prevent them 1>eing sw^ayed about 

 by strong winds. At all seasons it is very 

 important to successful pbuiting that the 

 roots of trees and shrubs should be moist 

 when thev are put in the soil but more 

 (vspecially is this the case in the spring 

 months. An excellent plan is to unpack 

 a consignment imme<liately it arrives, and 

 place the roots in water for a couple of 

 hours, then plant. Even thoroughly mois- 

 tening the roots in a bucket or tub of water 

 just before planting will be found very 

 beneficial. Roses and other deciduous 

 shrubs that are shrivelled from long ex))o- 

 sure should be wholly submergefl in water 

 for twentv-four hours before thev 



are 

 planted. 



A common error among the uninitiated is 

 that of putting farmyard manure directly 

 upon the roots of trees and shrubs at plant- 

 ing. This is a pernicious practice and is 

 usually followed by injurious results, 

 especially if a large quantity of man- 

 ure is employed, as it decomposes the 

 existing roots, and kills anv voung root- 



lets that make their appearance. If the 

 land is poor, and the plants will benefit 

 from a richer medium^ the roots should 

 first be covered with soil, then a light layer 

 of manure applied, finishing with soil on the 

 top. Or the manure can be used entirely 

 for a mulch, when its virtues will be washed 



down to the roots by rains, and the strawy s^ape supplies the frame, 

 matter serve to preserve moisture in the 



Of slopes clad with beauty, and vistas of 

 blossom seen between breaks " of tree 

 life, and through valleyed depressions, 

 much might be written. Here is the colour 

 dominant of the scene, life aglow with 

 waving beauty, the finish of the picture, to 

 ch the backe;rounds ' ' 1 



too 



surface layer 



If these points were more carefully 

 observed when trees and shrubs were 

 planted there would be fewer failures to 

 record than there usually are, and planters 

 would derive more satisfaction and gratifi- 

 cation from the results attained. 



Planter. 



great a task to specify typical flowers for 

 these slopes and vistas, for so 

 available and eflfeetive. 



any are 



Where would one begin and end in the 



and 



Good 



us that they are so 

 wider choice and 

 beauty. 



a greater display of 



Tritomas (kniphofi^as 



if 



, . ^ , you will), 



flaming their glowing spires of blossom in 

 late summer, are an example. Intensity of 

 colour, stately appeal ance, tell greatly, and 

 for distance effects thev arp «^nnorh Gol- 



THE GARDEN OF NATURAL 



BEAUTY. 



— I — -— - 1-w 1'^' ri.* ■ 4 



The garden-maker of to-day must face the glowing solidagos gleam in the August 



fact that he has to provide for differing ' ^ -^^ 



features, and for a greater diversity of 

 ai-tistic phases than his fore-runner of a 

 few years back. 



Tlie garden of to-day has to be a garden 

 that is singularly free from stereotyped 

 ideas. The sameness which cliaracterised 

 stone-walled terrace gardens, which cropped 



— _K _ _ ~V ■ ■ —m m 



up in every ornamental bedding-out design 

 has to be a thing of the past. The 



garden-maker must strive to "produce a 

 garden which shall be original in design, 

 pleasing in its outlines, and ornamental in 

 effect when planted up. To do this he must 

 study both the ground at his disposal, and 

 the possibility of using new ideas to pro- 

 duce the most pleasing effect. 



pects 



ready 



V i — 1. 



vogue at the present day offer 

 mine of suggestion to the garden-maker. 

 The rock garden, the water garden, the bog 

 garden, the wild garden, the heath gar- 

 den, the Japanese garden, and many other 



sunshine. Drifts of montbretias running 

 through the hollows and masses of Tiger 

 lilies against grey stones and sloping banks 

 call for the attention of all beholders! 

 Whatever is planted, let the area be planted 

 for telling display. Dot pia^nting is a dismal 

 failure in the garden of natural beauty. 

 Tiny plants are capable of great effects 

 when used in large quantities. May I in- 

 stance carpetings of mossy saxifrages, of 

 banks with cloud-drifts of Viola gracilis, of 

 aubrietias hanging in great masses from an 

 old wall, of golden alyssums glowing on 

 sunny slopes, and anemones or scillas on 

 shady ones? These small plants certainly 

 tell, and so do many other associated sub- 

 jects. The great idea is to plant in colonies ; 



sweeps of 



colour must be brought into being. Bulb 



winding drifts, broad masises 



eharmmg features, all give of the beauty 

 and suggestion to the formation of a new 

 garden. 1 do not advise anyone to study 

 a, garden, or a garden feature, with a Wew 

 to repeatuig it in another. Study gardens 

 as much as you like, but don't copy. 

 L tilise existing ideas as a means of inspira- 

 tion to new ideas, as stepping-stones to 

 carry one over to new fields of beauty. 



It IS a wise policy to consider first what 

 one s ideal garden would be, and then with 

 a free hand, and a free use of the varyincr 

 ideas, arising from the above-mentioned a^ 



beauty must inevitably have its place, for 

 among the bulbs we obtain some of our 

 finest effects. 



Tall flowers, particularly those of a grace- 

 ful habit, including delphiniums, verbas- 

 cums, eremurus, foxgloves, campanulas, 

 etc., are of the utmost value; for the back 

 of lower-growing plants, for coming up be- 

 tween the greenery of shrubs,and for making 

 striking displays of beauty, these tall-grow- 

 ing plants are of the utmost service. A 

 narrow, winding walk of grass or stone, 

 flanked on either side by masses of these 

 delphiniums, foxgloves, etc., which tower 

 up to shut one off from the outer world, is 



usually one of the best-loved features of a 

 garden. 



pect« of garden art, one should assurediv ■ ^^Pi^' without ending, and miss- 



evolve a garden worthy of the name WhprP ^""^^ fp.n + 1l.oe. rv.o,. T 



rocks are utilised, one can easily give ^reat 

 diversity to the garden scene. A few out- 



'^l«P-g bank 



1 1 



mounds, niceVclotheron thT crowns^ wUh f^'^'ng water, and the reflecting power 



low-spreading conifers, will ofttimes nro- ^ .P°**^^' ^re two strong reasons for its 



vide the key of the whole scene existence m gardens. The colourings of 



Flat stones for -i r.oT.r,.o„ x \i ' Tohage and flowers mirrored 



are best for semi-formal direct paths, and 

 for use under norgolas, etc., but for wan- 

 dering through the low-valleyed depressions 

 or up the slopes, or through the water- 

 ways, a natural stone, with roughish (though 

 flattened) face will be found more suitabfe 

 as they not only harmonise freely with the 

 landscape, but also ensure a firmer foothold 

 In all gardens trees and shrubs must bear 

 a part in the general scheme ; and indeed 

 during the spring montlis the beauty of 

 flowering trees is really the most noticeable 

 . id cha,„„„ feature of the landscape. 

 ^^itlT' '"^'^ are useful as back- 



mg many features; may I point out that 

 the garden should have water in some shape 

 Or form, winding pool, mirrored w^ell, rip- 

 pling stream, or lily-clad lake ; it should be 

 existent in some form or other. The music 



^ , . ny charming 



effects of light and shade, and the silvering 

 glow at twilight, and in moonlight, must 

 he personally known to be fully realised. 

 Furthermore, the use of water brings much 

 of interest in its train. The hosts of water- 

 lovmg plants, the great additions to the 

 bird and insect life, and the charm of fishes 

 darting in rapid movement, add to the 

 charm of a garden. 



And, in conclusion, may I remark that 

 arbours clad with greenery and blossom/' 

 the free use of roses in the old-fashioned 

 ^ray, the garden of sweet-scented plants, 

 great groups of white lilies, ma^es of tall 

 May-flowering tulips, and an ample allow- 



, rounds, giving tone and ^r>lni;ri.^l ^^""^^ long-stemmed blossoms for cutting 



ture, and to briak up the Stni. f i ^'^ '^^tural garden such a tremendous 



'r. ^ tne flatness of a land- adranta^r^ ^^^^ p^^.i ^.^A^r. oc +^ .lefv 



scape 



effecti\ 



comparison 



P. S. Hatward. 



11 . ' I »Vi 



