In ornamental planting one of the principal things to bear in mind is to allow sufficient space for each of the permanent standards to develop its true and natural character. Instead, therefore, of planting indiscriminately and in a sort of haphazard way, have a fixed idea, and only plant on a regular and well-matured plan. Should the individual standards be considered stiff or unsightly for the first few years, a good plan is to fill up the spaces between them with small-growing trees and shrubs, these being removed subsequently as necessity demands, but always before damage to the permanent specimens has been brought about by too close contact. The habit of the tree or shrub, and the size to which it will ultimately attain are points that should never be lost sight of in ornamental planting. Far too often the mistake is made of planting specimen trees too near roads and buildings, or, quite as bad, too close to each other. This is a most unfortunate mistake, as it sooner or later necessitates the sacrifice of specimens when their full beauty is probably developed, or when they can least be spared. In the case of both hard-wooded and coniferous, the latter in particular, the trees are planted when young and small, and ample room is supposed to be given to them; but, as they grow up and near perfect development, the spread of branches soon points out that a great mistake has been made in the space of ground allotted, and that the ultimate size to which the particular specimen would attain had never, at the time of planting, been duly considered. There is little left then to be done but either to put up with crowded and ill-formed specimens, or to attempt their removal to more suitable quarters. The latter, in the case of trees that have been left undisturbed for many years, and when tap and side roots have been sent down to a great depth for safe anchorage, is quite out of the question, the only remaining way out of the evil being to sacrifice the specimen by having it stubbed out and removed. In any case, in the event of one tree encroaching too closely on another, no time should be lost in deciding which is to be removed, for, if they crowd into and interfere with each other, the branches on that side will get thin and die off, and the tree will thus lose the uniformity of appearance on which its whole beauty depends. Should crowding of specimen trees be permitted for even a few years, partial disfiguration of the trees will have been brought about, and it will take years of careful management to restore them to their original beauty. In order to plant with any degree of certainty as to future results, it is absolutely necessary to become first of all well acquainted with the nature and habit of every tree planted, as also the properties and peculiarities of the various soils, and aspect and position of the ground to be planted.