WCP4252

[1]¹

Parkstone, Dorset.

Nov[embe]^r 11th. 1898

My dear Marshall

I am indeed glad to hear that you have now a head-master who appreciates the opportunities for ornamental and instructive planting that the Charterhouse grounds afford; and I am much interested in the plan and hope it [words illeg.] carried out in the most effective manner. As there is no time to lose I send you at once bits of good trees and shrubs, all of which are good & the best are marked with an X.

But the most vitally important thing is the preparation of the ground, and this should be done at once and in an extra good manner, since nothing is so profitable as the rapid growth & [2] beauty of the trees.

The back part of the shrubberies where the trees are to be planted should be all trenched 5 or 6 feet deep, the surface soil being kept at the top but the rest all turned over and thoroughly loosened to that depth. The cost will not be so much as you think, and it will pay over and over again in the rapid growth and health of the trees. After a belt 20 or 25 feet wide has been thus prepared, a front belt of another 20 feet should be trenched at least 3 feet deep for the smaller trees and shrubs, and a few hundred loads of loam and leaf-mould [one word illegible] in.

Then, in planting, above all things avoid crowding, giving such [3] tree or shrub according to its size ample room to develop its branches without coming into contact with other trees — Roughly speaking at least the height of tree or shrub between each two.

Temporarily, common hardy flowers can be sown to fill up the spaces left bare at all events towards the front.

When you decide what space to plant this year I should think the Milford Nurseries would contract to plant them, getting what they have not themselves from other nurseries. Or Veitch could no doubt supply all, and would do it thoroughly well. Dickson [4] of Chester is another first-rate nursery for choice trees & shrubs. It would be well to have permanent metallic or ivorine labels with name and native country of every tree and shrub, forming a kind of botanical garden.

Will’s³hunting excursion in the Rockies for 6[?] weeks was fairly successful. Now, finding no work in Denver, he has gone back alone, on his cycle, to trap and shoot small mammals for the B[ritish]. Museum — skins & skeletons. He will live in an old log hut 6 miles from the nearest ranch & hopes to stop till after Xmas.

Can you not cycle over some Saturday & see the photo[graph]s. &c. he has sent. Violet⁴ has sent a German letter to the Cat! She is having a nice time.

[Words illeg.] each year for 4. [to] 5 years, but a general plan should be decided [word illeg.] and the planting done thoroughly.⁵

Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]