REMARKS ON THE CULTURE OF HARDY DECIDUOUS 
AND EVERGREEN SHRUBS, 
WITH A SELECTION OF SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. 
The culture of hardy shrubs is in general simple and easy, the chief things to 
be noticed are- — the proper season of planting- — the situations in which the plants 
will thrive — the kind of soil best suited for their growth — and the encouragement 
given to enable them to thrive afterwards. 
The 'proper Season of Planting. — As soon as the leaves have begun to fall in 
October, deciduous trees may be planted with safety ; and althoug-h this planting 
season continues until the trees begin to swell their buds again in the spring-, yet 
those plants have invariably succeeded best with us which were shifted in October, 
November, February, and March, and those the worst that were planted in Decem- 
ber, January, and April. 
Evergreens, in general, if taken up carefully, may be planted with success at 
any season of the year, provided dull or dripping- weather be taken advantage of for 
the purpose. There are particular seasons, however, when they will thrive with 
much greater freedom than at others. If the situation be dry, and the soil light 
and sandy, they should be planted (with the exception of hollies) in November and 
December, if the weather be mild ; on the other hand, if the situation be low and 
the soil retentive of moisture, they should be planted in May. In both cases it is 
indispensible that all large trees and shrubs be removed with good balls, and that 
the roots be uninjured. Hollies should always be removed from the end of May to 
the end of June. 
In planting- evergreens, I perfectly agree with Mr. M'Nab *, that whether it be 
done in a dull day, a wet day, or a dry day, it is very necessary to keep in view the 
expediency of keeping- the plants for as short a time out of the ground as possible — 
if only a few minutes, so much the better; and in all cases, when it can be done, 
when great numbers are to be planted, we should, if possible, have some men 
stationed to take up the plants, others to carry them, and a third set to put them in 
the ground. 
" In all seasons, situations, and soils the plants should be well soaked with 
water as soon as the earth is put about the roots. Where the water is not at hand, 
so that it may be easily carried or wheeled by men, a horse with a water-barrel on 
wheels should be used. As soon as the plant has been put into its place the earth 
should be filled in, leaving- a sufficient hollow round the stem, and as far as the 
roots extend, to hold water, which should then be poured in in sufficient quantity 
to soak the ground down to the lowest part of the roots; in short, the whole should 
be made like a kind of puddle." 
* Hints on planting Hardy Evergreens. 
