At the end of the season the remainder of the soil, or that which was first thrown out, is put back, and from this depth the vine will not receive any apparent check to its growth, and its roots will be kept below the destructive influence of frost or drought.

If the hole is filled up at the time of planting, the vine will be nearly or quite destroyed, or "smothered," as gardeners say. The partial filling up of the excavation that will occur from the breaking in of the sides during the summer, and especially from heavy rains, will be productive of no injury unless it occurs early in the season, when it must be removed. If the soil that is thrown out for the lower depth is unsuitable to come in contact with the roots, it should be spread over the surface of the ground, and good surface soil substituted.

In placing the roots, care should of course be observed to give them the right direction, so that they may be equally distributed through the soil; and in working the soil in around the roots, the fingers must be employed, to do it well. The roots of vines or trees should be placed just where they are to remain, and the soil so firmly placed around them that no cavity among the roots will be formed by settling. All shaking or churning of the tree or vine up and down to get the soil among the roots, should be avoided. None but fresh, moist soil should go into the hole in filling up, and the degree of compactness must be regulated by the character of the soil, that which is sandy needing much compression, and that which is very clayey admitting but little. At the time of planting, a stake or stakes should be set so as to secure the tree from moving by the wind. Much motion of the top will draw the roots in the soil, and deprive them of their tender fibres.

Vines also should receive the stakes that are to sustain them at the time of planting, for there is danger of injuring, or even destroying, by damaging the roots in setting them afterwards.

In giving these very particular directions for planting, I have had in mind not the thoroughly trained gardener, but purchasers who, in a great majority of cases, are not only negligent and ignorant themselves, but commit the matter to those who are not only utterly unskilled, but have no feeling of interest in the result. These latter are not to be reached by an exhortation in magazine, but the purchasers-of trees and plants should be heedful readers of that which deserves their attention, for they have both an interest and a responsibility involved, with corresponding duties from which they can not absolve themselves.

The duty of furnishing our loved ones who are dependent upon us with wholesome and refreshing fruits, is not fulfilled by the mere purchase of trees, but demands all the care which is required to place them in perfection abundantly within their reach. The purchaser of every tree and vine by the act incurs an obligation to another party, which in ninety cases in every hundred he wholly ignores, practically at least. He has a lively appreciation, and justly too, of the obligation, both expressed and implied, of the nurseryman to him, and cherishes a large amount of that expectation, which a fairly estimated average of humanity, under the circumstances, would scarcely warrant. He is often disappointed, and clamors - justly.

He ten times more frequently fails through gross negligence or fault on his own part, and he clamors often even more loudly, and the reputation of the nurseryman is damaged without remedy. On the one hand it is called " robbery;" on the other it is robbery also, but so much more than robbery that language fails to characterize it.

The one withholds a rich, sensuous delight, refreshing to body and spirit, and enacts a great injustice. The other takes the bread which sustains the body, but, infinitely more, that .which sustains the heart and mind, and wanting which, every undertaking must be without that life-giving soul which alone ennobles it, and secures the conscientious employment of man's ability.

One important elemen.t of success in planting is so generally ignored, that I would call particular attention to it; that is, fall transplanting and "heeling in" for the winter. That this should be so little heeded by nurserymen is not easy of comprehension. Many of our most hardy pears - or those which become so after the second year - are exceedingly liable to damage or destruction by the second winter. The Bartlett may be mentioned for art instance. Our chief object now is, not to speak of guarding against occasional loss, but to point out the means of universal gain. All fruit-bearing trees and vines (and we might safely make the rule much more comprehensive) are greatly benefited by the process; Vines particularly so. For these, in addition to the other advantages, there are two that deserve particular consideration. First, the roots are in best condition to endure uninjured transportation to a great distance. Second, their vegetation may be kept back until ground that is wet and cold, or that which has been recently prepared, is in the best condition to receive them, so that growth shall go on immediately without interruption.

The full consideration of this subject demands an entire chapter for its elucidation; and after this is well understood, the question as to propriety and comparative advantages and disadvantages of fall and spring planting will be nearly disposed of; or, rather, will be so readily understood that the manner of obtaining the advantages of both will not be a disputed question.

[The reader will find several strong points made in the above, which are worthy of special attention. Too much stress can scarcely be laid upon the preparation of the soil, especially in planting orchards and vineyards which are expected to last for generations: no after surface treatment whatever can compensate for neglect in this one particular. Not less important is planting, as respects depth, disposition of the roots, and filling in. "We have heretofore expressed our conviction of the evil of deep planting, especially in reference to dwarf Pears: it has had more to do with the failure of dwarf Pears than any other one thing that can be named; deep planting, indeed, may be called the "great evil " in pomology. The settling of the soil is another matter bearing on this subject, to which attention is very properly called. A tree properly set, in a well-prepared soil, will not settle more than an inch, and this, too, without stamping or pounding the soil with the foot. The filling in immediately around the roots should consist of soil broken up finely with the spade or the hand, and should be prepared beforehand. The soil should be worked in around all the roots with the hand; no man. indeed, should attempt to plant a tree unless he is willing to put. his band to it.

Planting, again, should never be done when the soil is wet; it is in good condition, in this respect, when it will break up readily in the hand. It will be seen, too, that stakes, when necessary, are recommended to be put in at the time of planting, and this is important; for in putting them in afterward the roots are not only often injured, but the whole of them arc frequently drawn and displaced, to the great injury of the tree. Swaying to and fro, and "churning," to settle the soil about the roots, are practices that can not be too strongly condemned; it is our "private" opinion that a man who does these things ought to be "spanked." Whatever is done in the way of planting a tree ought to be done in the most thorough manner. A man who purchases a good tree thereby assumes .the moral 'responsibility of providing suitably for its future welfare. - Ed].

Planting #1

Choose a wet or cloudy day for planting, if possible. Draw a line where you are to put the row of plants, keeping it a few inches above the ground, so that you may plant under the line; this is much better than to let the line lie on the ground, for then it will be in the way of the transplanting trowel. Spread out the roots evenly and on every side; cover them as deeply as you can without covering the crown of the plants; press the soil down firmly around it with the hands. If the weather should prove dry, give them a good soaking with pure water (no mere sprinkling will do) as often as they require it, which will be as often as the foliage droops. Let no weeds grow among them, and stir the surface of the soil as often as possible; the oftener the better. We know that some cultivators assert that there is much injury done to the roots by frequent hoeing the plants, but we have never found the plants injured as much by hoeing or forking among them as they were by neglecting to do either.

[This last remark is a very proper one. The growth of weeds is a frequent cause of failure in Strawberry culture. If the hoeing is done when the weeds are small, (as it should be,) the roots will receive no damage; while the benefit to the plants will be almost incalculable. A weed over an inch high should never be seen in a strawberry bed. - Ed].

Planting #1

Under this head, I will take occasion to say, that the planting of roses as isolated specimens on a lawn, is in my opinion almost always a mistake, in fact an error in good taste. There are few, if any, that ever form under such treatment, an object sufficiently well foliaged to be pleasing, or even an object of interest when not in bloom.

In the suburbs of all our cities we see a certain number of gardens and lawns made hideous with starving rose bushes that have neither shape nor make at any time; that are leafless and scraggy half the year, and during the other half show a few unhealthy-leaves, with an occasional flower that are scarcely equal in form and beauty to those imitation roses that are sometimes cut out of a turnip or red radish, and used for the adornment of the Christmas tree.

Then the first step towards securing a nice show of roses is to select the most sunny and airy spot the garden affords; and generally the most favorable spot is somewhere on the lawn. It should, however, be borne in mind that the location thus selected should not be the most conspicuous spot as seen from the principal windows of the dwelling, where their appearance in winter from their being leafless, and the necessary covering and protection, would be decidedly objectionable; but where in summer, when all is bright and lovely, a walk to the rose beds would afford a pleasant recreation before breakfast. And here let me say that, if you would see roses in all their freshness and beauty, you should see their half expanded buds with the glistening dew on their surface. A pleasure felt, but not easily described.