APRIL, 
105 
HINTS ON GARDENING. 
Do not be in a hurry to pull up or even cut back such of your trees 
and shrubs as may appear killed by the frost. During the spring of 
1838, numbers of good evergreens were needlessly destroyed by being 
pulled up as apparently dead, whereas others of the same kind which 
were left to take their chance ultimately recovered; and I have now 
very fine plants which, to all appearance, were dead in 1838 and are 
so now, but which I am in hopes will break again vigorously after 
midsummer, if not before. The vitality of some plants is truly 
wonderful, the Thuja and Cypress tribes more especially, as well as 
many others. My plan is to allow everything to stand as they are, 
where there is any chance of a recovery, until it is seen whether they 
will break again or not; and I don’t even prune them before they 
commence growing, for supposing the shoots are dead half way down, 
as we may conclude the roots are uninjured, they will make a vigorous 
start when they commence growing. Roses, where there is any doubt 
about their state, should be left unpruned for two or three weeks yet; 
Magnolias and other plants, which have been protected, should have 
this protection continued for some time, for if removed, the dry winds 
of March may do the trees more injury in their present state than the 
frost. It is a mistake to suppose the true Pines will not make a new 
leader when the primary one dies. I have now growing a Pinus 
insignis and P. ayacahuite, which were killed back by the frost (I think 
in the spring of 1853 or 1854), all except the lower tier of branches, 
which were uninjured. The strongest branch in each tree was selected 
and tied up to the dead stem as nearly vertical as we could get it, and 
as the whole flow of sap was thrown into these branches, they soon 
changed their character, and after two years no difference could be 
detected between them and a natural leader, except by examining the 
stump ; both are now trees from 12 to 15 feet high, and, though 
browned, have I think escaped this winter without serious injury. 
We are likely to have an early vegetation this spring, for the sap of 
plants is more easily excited by warmth after very severe weather than 
when the temperature has been uniformly low, but not so intensely 
cold as during the past winter. Those who have deciduous trees to 
plant should therefore set about it at once, as those who have trees to 
fell should cut them immediately for the same reason. * 
So far as our observations extend, the escape from injury to plants 
during the past season is in direct ratio to the dryness of the soil and 
elevation, the exceptions being where the plants were exposed to the east 
wind. In moist, although sheltered valleys, plants have suffered more 
th.an when fully exposed on dry elevated ground, facts which planters 
should bear in mind. The graceful Pampas Grass seems killed every¬ 
where, as does the Chusan Palm; we regret this, as two more deco¬ 
rative out-door plants did not exist, but I fear the last winter has 
given a blow to their future culture. 
We hear of great things from Japan in the tree and plant way, and 
are asked to give an opinion as to their hardiness: at all times a 
difficult question with respect to new plants, but more so from an 
