6 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
saying that more disappointments have been caused by planting in low 
confined situations than from any other cause whatever. 
Having, during the last eighteen years, planted several thousands of 
Conifers here, some account of them may he interesting to many of your 
readers. 
Being on the red sandstone formation, we have a good soil, which is a 
matter of great importance in tree culture. The park and grounds are 
very beautifully undulated, so that there is a great variety of situations. 
The park is well wooded. In part of it there is a greater number of old 
Oaks of greater girth of hole than perhaps can be found in the same area 
in any park in England; there are also some magnificent Beech trees in 
the same locality. There is a nice variety of soil; that on the hilly 
parts is of a sandy or gravelly character, and in the valleys and low places it 
is of a strong clayey nature. A portion of the pleasure grounds between the 
mansion and the lower lake, being on the eastern side of the park, is much 
exposed to the western gales; these are the greatest enemies we have to 
contend against, and they sometimes sweep with terrific fury over the 
grounds. In the most exposed places we have planted such kinds as stand 
the winds best. Abies Douglasii suffers much on the side open to the wind. 
The great beauty of this tree—and the same remark applies to all other 
Conifers—is when it is well furnished from top to bottom all around, and. 
its fine, long, sweeping, feathery branches hang down in a graceful and 
pleasing manner to the ground. If sheltered from the strong west winds, 
the situation for Conifers can scarcely he too open or exposed, most of them 
being natives of mountainous regions. Here there has been no attempt at 
making a pinetum. We have planted all over the grounds and park most 
of the sorts that stand the winds and severe frost of winter best. There 
are no very large specimens, hut there is a great number of very fine young 
flourishing ones. All the kinds grow well here, hut the more tender sorts 
will not stand our winter. 
Before describing the specimens I will offer a few remarks on the choice 
of subjects for planting. I have planted them of all sizes, from 6 inches 
to G feet, and with great success. I have planted hundreds that were 
grown in pots, and thousands that were grown in the open ground. I do 
not recommend the planting of large specimens unless immediate effect he 
a great desideratum, as, no matter how carefully they may he transplanted, 
very great attention is required afterwards to ensure their well-doing. 
Young, robust, healthy subjects are far preferable to large ones, when well- 
furnislied, handsome specimens are desired. If the ground be properly pre¬ 
pared, young plants soon make handsome specimens. 
With regard to the question whether plants grown in the open ground 
or those grown in pots are the better, I think it matters little, if the plants 
have been properly managed—that is, if those grown in the open ground have 
been annually transplanted, and those in pots have been shifted regularly 
into larger-sized pots before the roots could become matted. Where large, 
fine, handsome, healthy specimens are the main object, I would always 
advise the use of young plants, whether from the open ground or from pots, 
for when large trees are transplanted they require to be well secured against 
the wind, and need great attention in other respects to ensure their well¬ 
doing. I have seen plants that were grown in pots so pot-bound, and the 
roots so much cork-screwed, that it was almost an impossibility for them ever 
to make good specimens. I have seen others grown in a stiff* clay and that 
were not transplanted for some years ; they were fine plants at top, but when 
