194 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[September, 
If the protection of nurses can be had, so much the better ; the nurses should 
have the start of the tender sorts by a couple of years. Slight protection should 
also be given till the trees reach the height of four or five feet, or till the leading 
shoots get away from the extreme cold immediately above the surface of the 
ground. This protection is only necessary during the months of April, May, and 
June, or till the young growths harden, when a moderate amount of cold appears 
to do them no harm. Planters will, according to position, find suitable covering 
material. In an ordinary pinetum, and in most other situations, spruce-fir branches 
stuck in the ground, standing around the plants, and hanging over them, will be 
found to answer the purpose well, since their foliage drops as the season advances, 
and gradually exposes the plants, so that about the close of June they may be 
altogether removed for the season. Many years ago, I remember visiting an 
extensive provincial nursery, where large quantities of silver firs were grown 
beneath the shade of large fruit trees. The silver firs were remarkable for their 
fine leading shoots and general health. In a neighbouring open break in the 
same nursery there were many silver firs of the same age to be seen with 
scarcely a leading shoot—stunted and unhealthy, and all but unsaleable. The 
difference arose from the protection of the fruit trees. This is no exception to 
a general rule, for as is well known to nurserymen and foresters, the silver fir is 
liable to be damaged by late spring and summer frosts till it reaches the height 
of two, three, or four feet; after which, like many other conifers, it proves to be 
quite hardy, as many fine old trees scattered all over the country amply prove. 
I believe the same result may justly be anticipated from some, if not many of the 
spring-tender conifers, which have of late years been so widely spread over the 
country, some succeeding in less, others only in more favoured localities. No 
doubt there are numerous parts where it would only be labour lost to attempt 
their cultivation ; but where they are likely to succeed, any trouble taken in 
nursing them is far more then compensated by the possession of well-grown 
examples of such interesting and beautiful trees. 
In the south, east, and western counties of England, and within a few miles 
of the seaboard, they will generally be found to succeed—particularly if assisted 
to tide over the first few years of their growth. In Ireland, except in inland 
districts in the north, most of them luxuriate. In Scotland, in the southern and 
western counties, and near the seaboard, many of them promise well. 
Any one now visiting the pinetum at Castle Kennedy would have an opportunity 
of seeing the effects of the late spring and earl} 7, summer frosts on whole avenues, 
as well as on numerous specimens, planted throughout the pinetum, of what are 
generally considered spring-tender conifers, the plants varying from four to 
upwards of thirty-five feet in height. The young growths on the lower branches 
have generally been injured to the height of from two to upwards of three feet ; 
while those on the upper branches have, with few exceptions, escaped uninjured. 
The following species have suffered in this way :— Picea Pindrow , P. WeMictnct , 
P. cilicica , P. cephalonica , Abies Morinda , A. Brunoniana , Jc. 
