100 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ MAT, 
ing the, moisture of the plant before new roots are formed to supply the 
deficiency; and although we have sometimes very trying winds in April, yet 
upon the whole the root-action seems to be brought about more quickly in 
spring and early summer. In the case of large trees, I find it much better to 
ply the engine over the leaves than to deluge the roots, which retards instead 
of accelerating root-action. Still there may be instances where a good soaking 
of water at the root will be beneficial. 
When there is much planting to be done, I find it a good plan to have all the 
trees in from the nursery the previous year—providing there is ground to ac¬ 
commodate them—as one can then proceed with the work at the most convenient 
time ; otherwise, it may sometimes happen that large quantities of trees will 
arrive from the nurseries in the most unfavourable weather for planting. Ground 
that has been trenched during winter, if at all heavy, does not work well in wet 
weather; and all ground for fresh plantations should be well broken up some 
time previous to planting. This, I think, is best done in ' autumn, when the 
ground is usually drier than in the winter or spring. If deciduous trees are to 
be planted, it should, if possible, be done in October and November, and if the 
weather is favourable, during December, preparation being then made for the 
Evergreens in late spring, finishing with the Hollies in May. I am aware that 
September is a safe month for planting Evergreens, but few of us can break up 
our pleasure-grounds at that season; and in the case of larger plantations, it is not 
often that the labour can just then be spared, on account of the harvest. I may 
add that we have been planting trees for the last fortnight, from 12 ft. to 
15 ft. high, and have still a considerable quantity to plant during this month 
and the early part of May.— John Claek, Studley Royal. 
ON POTTING STRAWBEREIES FOR FORCING. 
I n ANY years back I had the privilege of being foreman to Mr. G. McEwen, 
at Arundel. Now I am sure your readers will agree with me when I say 
that Mr. McEwen was a great authority on all matters horticultural, but 
more particularly in Strawberry-culture. I well remember that, in his 
visits to the young hands at the potting-bench, he used to impress on our minds 
the desirability of ramming the soil into the pots, and that he was never tired of 
putting in the dung. But time works wonders, and even while at Arundel, I 
felt half inclined to think we used too much dung, and grew the plants too gross 
and big. Then, again, we must bear in mind the differences of climate. Arundel 
is far in the south, with a fine climate, and the plants generally ripened off well. 
I must now for one moment invite attention to McEwen’s treatise on the 
Strawberry, in which he mentions that plants put into heat in November and the 
early part of December, are precarious, so that the cultivator must always be pre¬ 
pared to lose half of them by their going blind; and in making this statement 
Mr. McEwen only spoke the truth, as I can bear testimony. 
Last season, when potting my forcing Strawberries, I put into execution the 
