ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 
55 
height will be almost the only ones that will ever thoroughly recover their natural vigour, 
and that the more open and unencumbered the position from which they are taken, the 
better chance will they have of making a speedy and healthy advancement. Not that we 
would affirm that any great danger exists with respect to trees larger than the size we 
have indicated. We would merely mention that they usually manifest a feebleness and an 
unhealthiness which render their use, except under very peculiar circumstances, far from 
desirable. 
For large Birch trees that are to be removed, Horse-chestnuts in some localities, Oaks, 
and, perhaps, Beech and Hornbeam, some amount of branch-pruning will be requisite, or 
they will become exhausted, and gradually lose their best branches or perish. As a rule, 
however, the practice of shortening the branches of large transplanted trees, to any great 
extent, is highly objectionable ; since it keeps a tree disfigured during almost the whole 
time in which young ones are growing up to the same height, and often spoils its 
appearance permanently, thus entirely defeating the intention for which it is used. 
It may, probably, be worth while here to state that, where very large trees are inserted 
in plantations in an exposed locality, they will succeed much better if irregularly surrounded 
by trees about two-thirds their own height, as these serve to break the violence of winds, 
and to screen the roots from the more powerful of the sun’s rays. A remarkable instance 
of the correctness of this view has recently occurred within our observation. 
Already, though somewhat incidentally, it has been remarked that the selection of dull 
moist weather for planting is of great moment. In the performance of the process, care 
must likewise be taken to spread out the roots regularly, cutting off the points of those 
which have been bruised, and shaking the lighter earth over the whole, at the same time 
moving the plant up and down, so that the soil is gently and closely deposited around the 
roots. Half the ordinary working gardeners do not give the least attention to these 
matters ; but they are, nevertheless, most essential to the well-doing of the plants. Where 
the roots are large, or have a ball of earth attached to them, the soil should be pressed 
closely around and under them by a pointed stick. If planted at a proper season, and in 
appropriate weather, watering will be wholly unnecessary, even for evergreens. But 
for large specimens of the latter, a few cans of water may be beneficial to settle the earth 
about the roots. 
Everything, however, in the shape of puddling must be always, and in reference to all 
sorts of plants, completely abjured. Many old experienced gardeners, it is true, still 
adhere to this custom. But it is exceedingly injurious, and has long since been disused by 
the more inquiring. It is almost tantamount to planting a tree in a pot or tub, and is 
even worse than this in some respects. 
Where plants employed are so large, or so exposed, that they will not succeed without 
staking, the chief thing to be observed in effecting this is to put in the stake or stakes 
before the roots have been covered with soil. The common practice of driving down stakes 
by the side of a plant after its roots are all covered up, is very injudicious ; for there is 
every likelihood of the stake injuring or even severing some of the best and most important 
roots, whereas it may easily be put in so as to avoid them while they are all bare. 
Ip all these observations, it will be seen that we have had in view only that planting 
which is intended to beautify and adorn the more immediate neighbourhood of a house or 
mansion. Where planting is effected for the sake of the timber alone, the preparation and 
care which we have suggested will, we believe, seldom be given. But the more nearly any 
system of planting is brought to these recommendations, we are persuaded it will be more 
successful, and, in the end, more remunerative. From the present time till the end of 
March, such work as this may safely be performed, and therefore our advice may possibly 
be serviceable to some. Still, we must repeat, that autumn is, in all respects, the 
preferable time. 
Since this article passed from the writer’s hands, the question as to when is the best 
time for planting has been again before the gardening world, in an aspect which demands 
a few additional observations. An earlier period than November, and even the month of 
August, has been recommended as the fittest time for the operation, because the earth is then 
