312 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Having dug the pit for the reception of the tree, drive four stohs into the ground to 

 the head, one at each corner of the hole ; to tliese four corner posts nail strong 

 hoards of common fir planking one inch thick and six broad, or of paling rail, leaving 

 narrow openings between the joints ; in this underground framework the tree will 

 expand and spread its roots, and when the time arrives for transplanting, a trench 

 is dug round the wooden casing ; the four corner posts or stohs are sawn over at the 

 bottom ; a flat shovel or spade is used to skim under the root-ball, for the purpose of 

 cutting the downward rootlets ; a rope is passed from either side under the casing, 

 and fastened- to the tree stem above, so as to keep the whole firm, and in this way, 

 and with little expense and trouble, the plant may be transferred to its new posi- 

 tion. _ This mode of transplanting has this advantage, that the delay and cost of 

 previous preparation are avoided, time and labour are saved during the operation 

 itself, and a certainty of success is, in ordinary circumstances, insured. It may be 

 prosecuted in ornamental grounds, where, at the time of laying out, it is quite 

 obvious that in a few years many of the specimens planted will require to be 

 removed or sacrificed, to leave room for the others. 



We may notice, in passing, the ingenious but old-fashioned mode of freezing 

 the earth around the roots for the purpose of obtaining a good retentive root-ball, 

 but wo do not recommend it. It necessitates the partial exposure of the rootlets to 

 the weather at its most inclement season, till sufficiently hard frost sets in, and 

 the season for the removal is limited to a period of severe frost ; and although, from 

 the process of freezing the mass of earth round the roots, these organs may sustain no 

 injury, still the whole met hod -is obviously clumsy, and the foregoing objections are 

 sufficiently strong to condemn the process at the present day. 



Many practical results are within our knowledge to justify the seasons and 

 circumstances for transplantation advocated in this paper. We may observe, as 

 instancing between the comparative advantages of autumn and spring, or early 

 summer planting, the following example, amongst many others, in favour of the 

 latter season for evergreens : — 



_ At C , soil rich loam of considerable depth, on a rather damp, clayey sub- 

 soil; elevation above sea-level, 90 feet; in the month of November, 1856, a thick 

 belting of evergreens, chiefly Portugal Laurels, Bays, Hollies, Yews, etc., was 

 formed. The plants Avere about 2| to 3| feet high, and were carefully ''pitted" in 

 the usual way. A moderately severe winter ensued, and the losses by next April 

 were from 40 to JO per cent. This arose not so much from the severity of the 

 frost, as from the influence of the chilling east winds of spring in February, 

 March, and April, succeeding a considerable period of wet weather, acting upon the 

 plants before they had become established in their new site. The blanks thus 

 created were made up in the spring of 1858, from the same nursery stock and in 

 the same manner as before, but at the beginning of May instead of in the autumn; 

 and the consequence waa, that not only was there no case of failure, but these last 

 removed plants are now much taller and stronger fpecimens than the suiTivors of 

 the previous years planting. 



To notice the advantageous results of Midsummer transplanting, we need only 

 refer to the trees removed during the summer of 1863, at Goldenacres Nurseries, to 

 test and exhibit the power and advantages of M'Giashan's Patent Transplanting 

 Apparatus, and which are all very healthy and thriving. These trees are chiefly 

 Conifers and ornamental Oaks, such as Quercus panonica, salicifolia, pterifolia, etc., 

 and ranged from about 4 feet to 11 feet in height when removed. The operations 

 of transplanting them were carried out during June, July, and August, 1863, and 

 not only had none of the plants lifted sustained any injury, but even in the follow- 

 ing spring, and ever since, they have gone on producing vigorous shoots of young 

 wood ; several Thorns removed having, in 18G4, made growths of about 3^^- feet in 

 length ! 



^ Before concluding this paper we have to notice the comparative advantages in 

 point of cost, progress, etc., of transplanting trees from 3 to 6 feet high, instead of 

 the larger specimens usually removed for purposes of immediate efi'ect. When per- 

 manent results are desired, and value as well as amenity has to be added to the 

 estate by the growth of healthy timber, there can be no doubt that the advantage 

 is in favour of the smaller specimens, It may, no doubt, be desirable to clothe 

 with rich foliage the barren landscape, or afford protection to weather-beaten flocks 

 and herds, by calliDg into immediate existence the sheltering belt ; and where the 



