202 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



essays upon this subject, in which the authors attempted, with all the science 

 at command, to show why evergreens should not be moved as early as other 

 trees and shrubs ; still, with all this contrary teaching, I have practiced early 

 planting all my life, and with uniform excellent results. I will admit, for the 

 sake of argument, that evergreens can be transplanted after growth com- 

 mences in spring with more certainty of success than with some kinds of de- 

 ciduous trees ; but it does not follow that early planting would not be still safer 

 and better. By early transplanting, I mean as soon as the frost is out of the 

 ground, and cold, freezing weather is over in spring. By moving evergreens at 

 this time we get the benefit of the early spring rains, which carry the soil in 

 among the roots and till up all interstices which may be left in planting, and 

 when the weather becomes warm enough to excite growth the roots are in close 

 contact with the soil, where the first new fibres can find sustenance with- 

 out pushing out to any great length. Then, again, evaporation from the 

 leaves, which causes shriveling of the shoots, is not so likely to follow in cool, 

 moist weather as in dry and warm, which usually conies late in spring. I move 

 more or less evergreens every spring, of various ages and sizes, and it is a rare 

 occurrence to have one die if the operation is performed early. The frost is as 

 yet scarcely out of the ground, still I am making preparations to-day for set- 

 ting out an arbor-vita3 hedge, with plants six to eight years old, and if one in 

 a hundred fails to grow I shall be very much disappointed. I also make a 

 practice of moving pines, spruce and other kinds of hardy evergreens as early 

 as possible, and never experienced the least difficulty in making them all grow. 

 More trees of all kinds are lost through planting too late in the season than 

 from all other causes combined, and I fear that we have borrowed this idea of 

 late transplanting of evergreens from nursery agents, who, for the purpose of 

 prolonging the season of sales or to ease the minds of their customers on account 

 of losses in consecpience of their late delivery of goods, urge that late trans- 

 planting of evergreens is preferable to early. — Cor. Rural Neio Yorker. 



EVERGREEN PLANTATIONS. 



A few hours ago while walking across the grounds against a strong cutting 

 March wind, I stopped behind a Norway spruce to get a few easy breaths before 

 proceeding, and while enjoying the protection I appreciated the forethought 

 which suggested the setting of that evergreen. Since then I have seen several 

 pedestrians stand and enjoy the same screen, and have no doubt that each one 

 thanked inwardly the man who planted that tree. 



This has set me to thinking seriously about evergreens for screens. The tree 

 mentioned has been planted sixteen years, stands twenty-four feet high and 

 spreads twelve feet at its base. The trouble of planting was very little, the 

 growth has been rapid and its beauty is unsurpassed. None but appreciate the 

 beauty of evergreens at this season of the year when deciduous trees are a mass 

 of leafless stems; but judging from appearances but few appreciate their utility 

 as a screen of protection from cold blasts. 



Air in motion takes heat away from bodies rapidly, and our houses seem the 

 coldest during a hard blow, even though the thermometer may not indicate a 



