T' 
HAEDT CONIFERJE. 
either for exposed situations or on very rocky poor soils about the home grounds. When we hear of 
some of the Couiferse being introduced from tropical cUmates, we are disposed to doubt that they wiU 
ever become useful in this country, but we must consider that, although there are many parts, even 
within the tropics, exposed to a bright sky and intense heat, there are other parts exposed to 
frosts and snows. In such climates, the 
range of vegetation natm-aUy adapted 
for each locality progresses as the range 
of temperature extends fi-om the sultry 
valleys to the snow-capped mountains. 
With the uncertainty that always exists 
about the proper management of plants 
introduced from countries but slightly 
explored, it is satisfactory to know that 
many Coniferas have been tested by the 
most severe winter on record in this 
country, (1837-38), and have proved 
hardy. 
As it is probable that many persons 
who have been nursing their Conifera; 
thi'ough this severe winter will be dis- 
posed to plant them out at the first ap- 
proach of fine weather, I am induced to 
caution them against so doing, and to give 
them a few hin ts that m ay be useful when 
the time arrives for carrying them into 
practice. At present, the best thing to 
be done is to select the situations in 
which they are to be planted, and to 
turn lip the soil into mounds eighteen 
inches or two feet high, the better to ameliorate and pulverize it by exposure to frost and other atmospheric 
influences. The situation to be selected should be rather exposed, where a good growth could be 
made sufiiciently early to become matured before the nipping frosts of autumn appear. No practice 
that we can adopt wiU change the nature of a plant, but we may be able to influence its susceptibility 
so far, by good management, as to enable it to withstand the many atmospheric changes to which it 
may be exposed. The soil being well pulverized and raised into finely sloping mounds, about the 
middle of May, when all danger of frost is over, is the best time for turning the plants out of their 
pots into the open ground ; where they are to remain to adorn the park sceneiy or pleasure-ground 
views. The object in planting them upon mounds is to produce a thorough drainage for the roots and 
a more agreeable appearance in the landscape. The soil being mulched or covered with the mowings 
from the pleasure-grounds, or vrith leaves or any other litter easUy procm'ed in summer, will prevent 
evaporation, and the moisture in the soil will be retained for the healthy vegetation of the roots. 
Dm-ing the summer, when the days are long, the sunlight powerful, and the temperature high, 
vegetation is excited to produce luxui'iant growth. As the days become shorter, the sunHght less 
powerful, and the temperature lower, a change is produced in the system of the plant, and it gradually 
subsides into a comparatively dormant state — the leaves being dependant upon the influence of heat 
and light for their excitability, for the proper elaboration of the sap, and for then- healthy perspira- 
tion ; and when these influences are on the decline, the plant is approaching the state of rest natural to 
vegetables in aU parts of the world. It then attains to a state of rest in which it is able to with- 
stand the severity of winter. Although roots are never entii'ely inactive, nevertheless then- action 
will in a great measure depend upon the active vitality of the leaves. It is principally by the action 
of the leaves that the roots are excited to imbibe nom-ishment from the soU ; but when the power 
of the leaves to perspire aqueous matter, and to absorb the nutritious gases supplied by the atmo- 
sphere, ceases, the roots gradually, and in less quantities, imbibe food from the soil to supply the 
waste produced in the system dm-ing the summer and autumn growth of the plant, and to collect a 
store of organizable matter to supply the demand of the leaves and branches the following spring. 
When the roots are smTOunded with a superabundance of water in badly drained soUs, they imbibe it 
in immoderate quantities, the vessels of the plant become gorged, the tissues lax, and the whole system 
disorganized ; then they are most susceptible of injury from frosts. It is for such reasons advisable to 
JX'NIPERTJS EXCELSA. 
