TRANSACTIONS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 203 



cloudy weather, if possible. I dig a trench upon one side, and tip them 

 over toward and into it — in this way getting a good supply of roots. 



Mr. Minkler — The secret of success is no exposure of the roots to 

 sun or dry air, even for ten minutes. 



Mr. Powell — It is not safe to wait in spring till the trees have made 

 long shoots. I lost some trees in this way, one dry season. The roots 

 commence growth before the top does, and it is safest to move the trees 

 before the root growth has begun. 



Mr. Hatheway — Experienced horticulturists can remove evergreens 

 with success at almost any time ; but for the farmers and those not skilled 

 or experienced in these matters the safest time is as early in spring as 

 the ground is in proper condition. 



D. C. Scofield objected to planting in a soil not friable, but would 

 plant as early as the soil would work well. Planters cannot be too care- 

 ful about exposing the roots; the bark of the roots is quite porous, and 

 the sap which circulates next to the bark, being resinous, if it is allowed 

 to thicken, cannot be recovered. Sometimes, ten minutes' exposure to a 

 warm sun kills the tree. 



Mr. Barler — In Alton, where I have lived, we can work the soil 

 in February, and evergreens transplanted then succeed well. 



Mr. Powell said he never exposed the roots of evergreens to drying 

 when handling. He had had excellent success in planting and watering 

 well, in autumn, about three weeks before the ground froze. 



Mr. Galusha said he had transplanted very many large evergreens 

 successfully. He always shortens in the shoots by taking out the center 

 one of each cluster on the outside of the tree, cutting close down to the 

 junction, and in this way preserving the symmetry of the tree, and at the 

 same time partially restoring the balance between top and root, disturbed 

 in digging. He does not think it important, in moving evergreens, to 

 remove a ball of earth, but the roots i7iust be kept damp, and damp earth 

 packed closely "^.v^A firmly around and among the roots in planting. 



Mr. Slade — For myself, with the trees at hand, I would plant at or 

 about the time of the opening of the buds; but if we recommend no 

 earlier planting, people will neglect to plant, as this season is one of the 

 busiest times with the farmers. Trees should be mulched heavily. I 

 have occasionally lost a tree or two by planting after they had made con- 

 siderable growth. I would preach the doctrine of early planting or heavy 

 mulching, or both. 



