272 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
another crop of fruit. Trees that are carefully pruned every year—that 
have all superfluous shoots, and all superfluous spurs removed, will in most 
seasons produce crops of fine fruit. If any person who has not hitherto 
attended to this matter would take, say half a dozen Apple or Pear trees 
of the same variety, and prune and thin the branches and spurs of three of 
the trees, and leave those of the other three unpruned, he would soon he 
convinced of the advantage of proper attention in pruning fruit trees. 
Stourton. M. Saul. 
HINTS ON TRANSPLANTING SHRUBS. 
f N transplanting shrubs as well as very small trees, a common error is 
to place them too deep in the earth. This has arisen from the cir- 
cumstance that by receiving more moisture, they often succeed better 
the first summer, at the expense, however, of their subsequent healthy 
growth. It is much better to plant shallow, imparting the necessary 
moisture by means of a deep mellow soil beneath, and by mulching above. 
The material for the latter may he short litter, manure, old tan or leaf 
mould. A surface consisting of these materials, raised to the height of a few 
inches, will occasion no injury whatever for a year or two, and will admir¬ 
ably equalise the moisture of the soil. Manure used in this way operates 
beneficially, not only in preserving moisture, hut also in increasing 
fertility, the properties of the manure being carried down in solution by 
rains, especially if applied in autumn or winter. 
The contrast between the hard and baked surface too often witnessed 
when the ground is left hare, and the moist and softened earth beneath a 
coat of manure or litter, can be only fully understood by means of actual 
observation. Its advantages were strikingly exemplified during the past 
hot summer; young trees and shrubs that were protected from drought by 
a coating of litter and manure, have not suffered in the least; while those 
not protected are perishing—staking may be in some instances necessary to 
prevent wind-swaying, or a one-sided growth, where there are imperfect or 
unequal roots; but usually if the shrub is furnished with good roots, and if 
care is taken while the earth is shovelled in, to spread them all out like the 
rays of an umbrella, they will serve to brace it evenly and prevent a one¬ 
sided growth; fixing by water, as it is termed, is often sufficient alone to 
preclude the necessity of staking. 
Planting is most conveniently done by three persons, one spreading out 
the roots with his hands, and a second placing in the soil, while the third 
settles it by pouring water from the rose of a water pot. Although soft at 
first, the soil in a few hours dries, and hardens sufficiently to hold the newly 
set roots firmly. In transplanting Roses and some other small shrubs 
sufficient pruning of the top is rarely given; climbing Roses and those 
