1871. ] 
THE WELLINGTONIA AS AFFECTED BY SOILS. 
227 
in every garden library; indeed, we believe that u Hardy Flowers ” will prove 
one of the most useful books Mr. Robinson has produced.—M. 
THE WELLINGTONIA AS AFFECTED BY SOILS. 
APIDITY of growth, and the possession of a graceful form, are not the only 
commendable characters belonging to this tree, as it thrives well on almost 
any kind of soil when properly drained, which is much more than can be 
said of the majority of our recently-introduced Conifers. The only case 
of rejection I have seen is where it is planted on the lias formation. Although 
slightly unconnected with my subject, I cannot help noticing that more failures 
are due to bad planting than to a deficiency of vigour. I can remember, as many 
others can, when the practice of transplanting Conifers from pots, without in the 
least spreading out the roots—which were not unfrequently strong, and coiled 
round the ball like a corkscrew, a position ever afterwards retained—was a com¬ 
mon one. The preparation of the soil, too, received very little consideration ; a 
hole not much larger than that required for the reception of an ordinary-sized 
gate-post was ail that was thought necessary. 
Under such conditions, it need create no surprise that the results proved 
unsatisfactory ; and I feel satisfied that thousands of Conifers have perished through 
mismanagement in this way. Even had the roots been disposed to ramify, no pro¬ 
vision had been made for extension, and so they continued to creep about near home, 
but never took a firm hold of the ground. Resting as the trees did, upon a pivot, a 
slight breeze of wind very frequently tumbled them over, or laid them on one side. 
In such cases supports will be found of no permanent value, as either by removal 
or decay the same occurrence will happen again and again. I have long made it 
a rule when planting trees, however small, never to make a hole less than 6 ft. in 
diameter, and from 18 in. to 2 ft. deep. These dimensions may be thought 
excessive, but long experience has convinced me that this extra care saves time 
and gives greater security to the life of the plant. 
But to return to the more legitimate object of my communication. We planted 
our first Wellingtonia during the spring of 1856. The spot chosen was fully 
exposed, on the magnesian limestone, where the depth of soil did not, upon an 
average, exceed 17 in. The rock was, for some distance down, what is 
usually called “ rotten,” and no doubt the roots have found shelter in the crevices 
of the lower strata. The late dry summers have to some extent checked the 
annual growths, but not so much as might have been expected, where there is so 
little soil. The extreme height is now slightly in advance of 34 ft., the circum¬ 
ference of the stem at one foot from the ground is 6 ft. 6 in., and the diameter 
of the branches 17 ft. Gin. The tree is densely covered with foliage. 
A few days later, a second Wellingtonia was planted on the new red sand¬ 
stone, a friable sandy loam, quite a yard deep. This plant is now 33 ft. high, 
the circumference of the stem at one foot from the ground is 5 ft. 4 in., and the 
