ON CONIFERS. 



825 



recommend a granitic soil, and having this we need seek no 

 further. But in the detritus of tens of thousands of years, found 

 near the base, the trees grow better than they do higher up the 

 sides of the mountains. Conifers indeed like a good root-run, as 

 any Scotch Fir growing on deep soil will instantly prove. Lime- 

 stone, I believe, has been condemned, but the Conifers at Eastnor, 

 with few exceptions, grow well upon limestone rock, and limestone 

 marl of the stiffest character. The only Conifer which positively 

 refuses comfort, is the deciduous Cypress, a tree reputed to grow 

 with its knees above the soil and its feet below the water. The 

 worst of all soils are those resting upon gravel and oolite ; these 

 might be improved, but, containing as the latter does deleterious 

 matter soluble in water, a pinetum on the oolite, if possible, 

 should be avoided. All planters cannot command the best of 

 soils and sites, but those who can should keep their most tender 

 specimens above the line of frost and fog, sheltered from the 

 north and east, and if possible shaded from the early morning 

 sun. No one should accept a tree in a pot, or, if obliged to do 

 so, it should be a case of kill or cure, by washing away every 

 particle of soil at the outset, when with care he may peg out the 

 roots in a way that they cannot strangle each other. This reducing 

 the balls by washing is not half so general as it should be, 

 but the time is coming when pure tepid water will set 

 many doubtful plants, exclusive of Conifers, upon their 

 legs, by restoring them to a healthy condition.. I could 

 give many instances, would time and space permit, but two I 

 must relate. The first, a faltering Picea Webbiana, badly affected 

 by fungus, was carefully lifted, every root was washed clean, 

 dusted with lime, replanted in sound loam, and now, thirty feet 

 in height, it bears cones and is perfectly healthy. In the other 

 case I wished to plant a group of six Wellingtonias on the side 

 of a limestone hill, facing east. The surface soil, barely a foot 

 in thickness, and very poor, was dug up a spit deep, the grass 

 and turf were burned with wood, when the ashes were dug in. 

 forming a thin layer, about nine inches from the surface, and 

 extending over probably half an acre. The roots of the treeg 

 were washed and pegged out, and the trees never looked back, 

 but have formed superb specimens with rootlets forming a network 

 in the thin layer of ashes. 



Lime Soils. — Many of the Pines and Firs are found growing 



