24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



reason ouwht to teacli, that it ia no benefit to a tree when being permanently 

 set, to shorten the tap-root, or to use any means to prevent it from going as 

 deep into the earth as nature requires, and it will go no deeper. 



^lucU has been said as to whether the fall or spring is the best time for 

 tran8|.ilanting. it is believed there is but little preference, provided they are, 

 in eitlier case, exposed to a severe winter, the eflFects of which, with that of 

 being moved, may prove fatal, when they would otherwise recover. This may 

 be obviated by taking up in fall and protecting them in winter. It is easily 

 done by digging a trench where water will not stand in it, pack the roots in 

 with earth, loosely, then cover the whole with earth, or if large with ever- 

 green boughs. Though hardy sorts may not require this, it is the safest way 

 for such as are not hardy. We frequently see tender sorts, such as Baldwins, 

 and others, taken from tlie nursery in spring, fail, showing signs of having 

 been injured by winter, while those remaining recover. 



Trees deprived of a great part of their roots by carelessness or otherwise in 

 digging them up — and it is more likely to he the case with large than with 

 small ones — suffer after resetting from inability to draw moisture from the 

 soil. There being more top than can be sustained by the few remaining roots, 

 a part of that should be cut away also, always leaving a balance in favor of 

 the top, and not, as some have stated, cut a still greater proportion from the 

 head than has been taken from the roots, for we can hardly expect new ones 

 to form, while the greatest deficiency is at the head. All broken and mangled 

 roots should be cut off" smoothly with a sharp knife. 



In some cases, as of large trees with few roots, means should be used to 

 prevent, as much as possible, the sap or circulating fluid from being lost by 

 evaporation or exhalation from stem or branches, until new roots are formed 

 and can draw from the soil the necessary sustenance. Frequently trees in 

 that condition might be saved by a little attention, that must otherwise die. 

 An easy and cheap method of doing it is to wind the trunk and branches, 

 especially such parts as are exposed to the rays of the sun, with a i-ope, made 

 of straw, hay or grass. The beneficial effects of this I have, within u few 

 years, witnessed in several instances. One was a large apple tree that had 

 been recently transplanted. When the dry weather came on in summer, the 

 leaves turned yellow and dropped off, and the tree appeared to be nearly dead. 

 The straw rope was immediately applied, and at evening, after hot dry days, 

 water was thrown into the top, which ran down, wetting straw and bark. 

 The result was that in a few days new leaves began to form, the tree recov- 

 ered rapidly, and has since yielded many barrels of " Jewett's fine Ked." So 

 much for one straw rope and a few buckets of water. 



There cannot be a reasonable doubt that keeping the bark moidt, instead of 

 allowing it to become parched by sun and winds, had a tendency to luisten 

 recovery or save the life of the tree. Grape vines and other small plants 

 would often be greatly benefited after they are transplanted, if partially 

 shaded by a handful of green grass or any thing else that will accomplish the 

 object. The sooner a sickly tree is restored to health the better, lor it may 

 soon become permanently stunted and scrubby. 



Allowing plants and weeds of all kinds to grow up around young trees to 

 shade and appropriate to their use substances that the trees need, is a com- 

 mon fault. It is well to cultivate tlie ground — the longer the better — and if 

 planted, it should be with some low, hoed crop, such as potatoes or roots of 

 any kind. Corn and all sorts of grain are l)ad,and nothing should be allowed 

 to grow within several feet of the trees. I have known pear trees purchased 

 and set in a garden and corn planted within one loot of tliem, and before fall 

 the trees could not be seen for corn, barn grass and other weeds that grew up 

 around them ; and, as though that were not enougli to ensure their destruc- 

 tion, tlie next year western flat corn was planted and grew, as was found by 

 actual measurement, six feet above the tops of the trees and very near them. 

 The trees " didn't do well." Surely some people " don't have good luck with 



