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ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF PLANTS IN GROUPS. 
within those periods when the fluids are in motion, as in April, May, and July. 
A perfect freedom of the bark, both of stock and bud, is essential, and the buds of 
young luxuriant wood of the same year, inserted within young and active shoots, 
are always to be preferred, especially for roses ; yet it is not denied that in the case 
of fruit trees, which are rarely budded till July, juicy shoots of the previous spring 
succeed perfectly. 
The vital principle of the bud is the prime essential ; the exact adaptation of 
parts is the next grand desideratum ; and finally, the mode or order in which the 
newly-formed matter fixes itself to the alburnum, all prove that those granulations 
which precede the formation of cellular and fibrous structures are only developments 
of matter already pre-existing. Formerly, it was considered important to bring 
the upper edge of the shield into exact contact with that of the cross-cut in the stock. 
Now, however, it is proved that the bud and its bark may be thrust deeply within 
the slit, and be retained more secure when so situated, because granular matter 
oozes from every part of the bark, and radiates over the moist alburnum ; while 
the cellular central system of the bud unites itself to that of the stock, through the 
channels of the horizontal convergent processes. 
Those who argue for the operation of the descending sap, assert that wounds of 
the bark heal at the upper part ; but let the observant inquirer take notice of the 
way in which any abrasion of bark — as in the case of an amputated bough — is 
healed, and he will perceive that the fresh substance which covers the wound 
conies gradually rolling on from every part of the bark, till it meet and close at 
the centre. 
ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF PLANTS IN GROUPS. 
A more comprehensive subject could hardly be selected than that which forms 
the heading of this article. Plantations of trees and shrubs, scattered clusters on 
lawns, beds and patches of flowers, the disposition of plants in houses, and their 
arrangement when removed to the open air for the summer, are all included in the 
above title. That we shall be able to enter freely into each of these topics, we do 
not anticipate. All we can here hope to effect, is to offer a few general remarks 
on the most important features. 
In planting any sort of objects in masses, a very great degree of judgment, 
wrought into sound taste, is requisite. Any one may collect plants together in 
heaps, and so dispose them as to approach as nearly to the desired appearance as 
if their seeds had been scattered promiscuously by birds ; but the true principles 
of ornamental planting demand a long and patient study ere the least proficiency 
can be attained. 
Extensive plantations are divisible into those formed on a level tract of ground, 
