240 TREATMENT OF PLANTS INTENDED FOR WINTER AND SPRING 
where the plants should be inserted in nursery lines alternate with each other, and plenty 
of space should intervene between them in the rows and lines, so as to encourage their 
development into compact bushy specimens. When the planting is finished, if any 
pruning or removal of stray branches will improve their appearance by rendering them 
more symmetrical, this should immediately be performed. 
When the selection is made from the nursery, a few of the most vigorous looking 
plants that possess a greater tendency than others to grow upwards, should he selected ; 
and for the sake of having a variety formed into standards of different heights. This will 
be easily accomplished with such genera as Rhododendron, Kalmia, Azalea, Prunus, 
Cerasus, Ribes, Seringa ; and such leguminous genera as Genista, Cytisus, and Adeno- 
carpus, especially make nice standards by grafting on some vigorous member of the 
family to which they belong, and which I have seen exemplified in a very interesting 
manner in the Arboretum at Bicton. The genera just enumerated are well adapted for 
forcing ; and although the neatest standards are formed by grafting, very good ones may 
be obtained by choosing vigorous young plants, and ultimately concentrating all the 
vigour into one stem, by subsequently removing all other branches, and heading back 
the one retained when 3 or 4 feet high, and attention paid to the removal of stem-laterals 
as often as they make their appearance after the formation of the head, which will generally 
be accomplished in two seasons after the first heading-back of the chosen stem. 
When the planting is finished, the ground should be superficially forked over, to 
render all straight and even, and afterwards receive a good mulching of exhausted tan or 
short litter of any kind to ward off the effects of severe frost ; a similar mulching being 
continued the succeeding spring and summer also, if a very dry one, when copious 
waterings should be given occasionally to obviate the effects of drought. 
Whatever pruning is requisite should be altogether accomplished in summer during 
the growth of the young wood, which must be repeatedly regulated by disbudding and 
stopping ; or in the case of standards by training erect the stems, removing their side- 
shoots, stopping when high enough, and supporting for a season or two with stakes. Any 
tendency to flower must as repeatedly be checked by removal of the germs of inflorescence 
so soon as they are perceptible, as this operation, in conjunction with the timely disbudding 
of superfluous growth, and the stopping of the more rampant shoots, will greatly 
invigorate the remaining wood, which, in consequence of being thereby exposed to the 
greater influence of sun and air, will attain an earlier and more perfect maturity before 
the approach of winter. This is always a desideratum in cultivation ; but in the case of 
plants intended for forcing, the maturity of the wood either naturally, or by artificial 
means, is an indispensable step to success. 
The plantation will now have completed one year’s cultivation under circumstances 
consonant with its well-doing and the object in view; and doubtless the best plants will 
be in fit condition for potting, &c., to be forced the year ensuing : but, pre-supposing the 
major part to have been young plants, when selected, they will certainly be greatly 
benefited and in better forcing condition if encouraged in their present position for 
another year, in the same manner as adopted the first season ; namely — by timely atten- 
tion to disbudding, stopping of every sign of inflorescence, and mulching, watering, &c., in 
very dry weather. 
An additional operation or two, however, must this season be performed ; each plant 
should have its strongest horizontal roots severed, by making a concentric incision at a 
judicious distance from the main “ ball ” of roots, with a sharp spade inserted perpendi- 
cularly to its full depth, several times during the season, previous to the taking up the 
plants in the autumn for forcing. This operation will of course induce a greater number 
of fibrous rootlets to protrude, and consequently the energies of the plants will scarcely 
receive a check by lifting. Where such plants as Rhododendron, Kalmia, &c., have 
attained a large size — too large probably to be potted conveniently, it is a good plan to 
allow them to remain where they are, until wanted at once for forcing ; and abundance 
of fibrous roots may easily be obtained by opening a suitable trench around, and laying 
bare the surface of the roots of each plant, then filling up the trench and covering the 
