TRANSACTIONS OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 319 



The following question was laid upon the Secretary's desk and read : 

 What time of the year is best for transplanting evergreens? 



In answer to the question, Mr. Bryant said spring ; Mr. Woodard 

 said April, but in autumn for Larch ; Mr. Hill said just after the buds are 

 swollen, and keep the ground moist after planting ; Mr. Minkler said — 

 Mulch the ground after planting so it will not dry. 



Mr. O'Neil. — The reason why I prefer to plant just as the buds are 

 opening is that the sap is then active, and the roots being at work will 

 develop the buds into shoots ; but it often occurs that when evergreens 

 are removed early in the spring, especially if a dry time ensues, that a 

 part of the buds dry up — incased in gum — and never open, so that the 

 trees, if they live, are not symmetrically developed. 



Mr. Bryant. — The earliest growing species of evergreens start about 

 the first of May, and by the middle of May we have to stop the growth of 

 the leading shoots if we wish to thicken the heads. 



Mr. Galusha. — I have best success in planting just as buds are 

 breaking; and in planting for myself I begin with those species and 

 varieties which start first, and try to get through before any have made a 

 growth of more than two or three inches ; for if the young growth is 

 longer it will droop over, and if the weather is hot and dry, forget to lift 

 itself up again, and thus the trees become disfigured. 



Planting may be done at any time in safety to the tree ; but if not 

 done before shoots become much grown it is better to wait till they 

 become woody, so as not to droop. 



Of course the roots must be kept constantly damp while out of ground; 

 and after planting the soil, for the first year, must be kept from drying, 

 either by mulching or frequent cultivation. I have often moved large 

 evergreens in midsummer without the loss of a tree ; but such have balls 

 of earth attached. 



(Remarks by Messrs. Clayson and Ricker the Secretary failed to 

 catch so as to report them correctly.) 



The President. — I have planted evergreens with success every 

 month in the year ; but, as has been said, the best time is when the shells 

 of the terminal buds break so you can see a little of the green, for the 

 roots then are ready to begin to grow. Mr. Minkler struck the key-note, 

 Keep the ground moist ! 



Mr. Austin. — We must insist that evergreens be transplanted before 

 growth commences, for not one farmer in ten will make a tree live which 

 has grown from six to ten inches. If the ground is in good condition, 



