THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 
272 
circumstanced becomes converted into a quagmire, the roots of the 
shrubs perish, and, as a natural consequence, the plants sicken and 
die. In planting single specimens on the lawn, too, similar results 
will have to be guarded against, where the whole area of the ground 
has not been trenched. Whether a large or small site is prepared, 
there are few situations where a drain from the bottom will not be 
necessary. I remember an instance — one among many similar ones 
— where a number of Conifers were planted singly on a lawn, the 
soil of which was very tenacious. Holes were properly prepared bv 
deep trenching and the addition of new soil, and the trees planted 
at the end of September. For a time all seemed well enough ; but 
by the following spring many were dead, and others, especially the 
Junipers, of which there were several, had lost many branches 
from sheer rottenness. On examining the soil it was found to be 
little better than mud, especially at and near the bottom of the 
holes. The autumn and winter had been very wet, and as there 
was no outlet for the water, which of course collected in the loose 
soil, the trees had stood for three or four months with their roots in 
it, with what effect may easily be inferred. And, to make the 
matter worse, the plants had not been placed high enough at the 
collar in the first instance, and the soil having settled down below 
the natural level, that important part of every plant was nearly 
always surrounded by a pool of water. Great care should be taken 
to prevent this, and as it is difficult to calculate to a nicety when a 
tree is planted in newly moved soil, it should when possible be 
allowed to subside before the tree is placed in it. Every specimen 
on a lawn should stand a few inches at least above the natural level. 
It is important to secure this, both on account of the well-being of 
the plant and its appearance also. A tree standing on a gentle 
elevation, which seems to spring naturally from the surrounding 
lawn, has an infinitely superior appearance to one placed in a hollow, 
other circumstances being equal. Of course, the success of a trans- 
planted shrub or tree will depend in no small degree upon the con- 
dition in which it is removed. A shrub may be planted with perfect 
success at a period by no means favourable to the operation if it is 
carefully taken up ; while a similar one will fail at the best of all 
seasons from damage to its roots by unskilful or careless hands. A 
plant, it should be borne in mind, derives the chief amount of the 
fluids which support it by the agency of its succulent root-tips, and 
in proportion as these are destroyed, so are the resources of the 
plant cut off till new ones are formed. If I were not convinced by 
the practice I have often seen that this advice is needed, I would not 
venture on so commonplace an observation. Presuming the pre- 
paration of the soil for planting to be in every respect perfect, and 
the season fitting, subsequent labours will be greatly influenced by 
circumstances attending the plants to be removed — whether they 
have merely to be taken from one part of the grounds to another, 
or at most but a short distance; or received from a nursery many 
miles away, and after a journey, possibly, of two or three days’ 
duration. It will be readily understood that the conditions of the 
respective plants must differ materially, and will consequently 
