TRAXSPLAXTATIOX FOR THE FAR.M, ETC. 175 



its ininiuiuiu. Tn August, ■with most evergreens, there is a rest in tlieir growth. 

 Evergreens, like other trees, require some cutting Ixick if tlieir roots arc injured 

 or curtailed, but inasmuch as evajioration is very much less in these than in the 

 broad -leaved trees, the necessity does not become so apparent. In the case of 

 our less hardy evergreens one precaution should be taken for a tinic : Both in 

 summer and winter they should have a screen so set as to protect from the 

 direct rays of the sun and to break the force of the wind. The severity of our 

 winters and the extreme heat of our midsummer sun render this measure of 

 safety advisable. 



WINTER TRANSPLANTATION. 



The matter of winter transplanting demands a little of our attention. Only 

 the other day I saw a little of it practiced. Several pines, of perhaps twelve 

 feet in height, were removed from the edge of a swamp where, as yet, there had 

 been no frost, and placed in a light, sandy soil in front of a new house. The 

 holes were dug out of frozen earth and packed back again as well as possible, 

 but poorly done at that. The proprietor had evidently heard that evergreens 

 of considerable size could be removed in winter, and expects to have a fine dis- 

 play of large trees next season. He is sadly mistaken ; every one will die. 

 This is not a model way of winter transplanting. 



The object of removing trees in winter is to carry with the tree a large ball of 

 earth so that a good proportion of the feeding roots may be carried along with- 

 out mutilation, that they may in the coming spring be ready to support the tree 

 during its time of trial. The taking of a tree from a soil where it scarcely ever 

 freezes and placing it where it will have to endure the hardships of the very 

 severest weather, is sure death to it, and the change could not be made at a 

 worse season. Very large trees are often moved in winter, provided they have 

 been well root-pruned the previous season, and made to grow quite thriftily by 

 judicious shortening of the top. 



WHERE TO GET TREES. 



A question of considerable importance comes up in connection with the trans- 

 planting of trees, to-wit: Where shall we get our trees to put out? A great 

 proportion of our trees for orchard and ornament come from abroad. I believe 

 this should not be so. Michigan should raise her own trees, because it is a set- 

 tled fact that there is great danger in the removal of plants from one climate 

 to another, and any small change must in some degree be injurious. Trees 

 grown in our own State are best fitted to grow continuously in our climate. In 

 their growth from infancy to puberty they become modified to withstand the 

 sudden changes of our seasons, and will live longer and do better than foreign 

 stock. 



I am a strong believer in a thorough division of labor, and sometimes advo- 

 cate specialties in agriculture and horticulture, but for all that I wish a majority 

 of our farmers would do something in the nursery business. It is the knowl- 

 edge received in this primary department of orcharding that is needed to insure 

 greater success in fruit growing. And especially would I recommend to every 

 man who wishes to plant ornamental evergreens upon his place to purchase 

 very small trees and grow them as near as convenient to the place where they 

 are to be planted. A large percentage of the loss from removal would be 

 saved. A great pleasure may be derived from the growing and shaping of their 

 forms, and there is in this method a great saving of money where any quantity 

 of trees is to be used. 



