470 



TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS. 



taken, (swamp muck,) with a like admix- 

 ture for filling in. The trees were then 

 taken up, care being had to preserve the 

 roots entire, as far as practicable, and free 

 from bruises. They were set in a body, 

 with the roots on the ground, as fast as 

 taken up, and removed for planting the fol- 

 lowing morning, which was completed in 

 the course of the day. The weather was 

 thought favorable, it being cloudy, though 

 attended with a dry wind. In this manner, 

 and under such circumstances, two-thirds 

 of my hedge was planted, great care being 

 taken in the setting of the trees. The 

 hedge appeared very fine ; and already I 

 began to experience an anticipated triumph 

 over some of my friends whose observation 

 or experience led them to believe that ever- 

 greens could not be removed successfully 

 from their native forests. My triumph, 

 however, was of short duration. Before 

 further planting, the suggestion by Mr. 

 Loudon, above referred to, came under my 

 observation. I saw at once my labor lost ; 

 that my beautiful hedge was doomed to 

 speedy death. But the suggestion also 

 came as a revelation. I understood the 

 failure in ninety-nine cases in a hundred, 

 of those who had attempted to adorn their 

 grounds with these beautiful denizens of 

 the wilderness, and who predicted no bet- 

 ter result to attend my efforts. 



Before proceeding to complete the work, 

 after some reflection I adopted a mode 

 alike, in one respect, to that recommended 

 by Mr. Bartlett. A well tempered spade 

 was ground to a fine edge, both to facilitate 

 the process of severing the roots and sur- 

 rounding substances, and for the purpose 

 also of making a clean cut, and avoiding 

 any bruise or fracture of the roots severed ; 

 in digging, taking care also to incline the 

 handle of the spade towards the tree, so 

 that the chipped side of the cut should be 



on the portion excised. With a firm pres- 

 sure of the foot, the spade was readily 

 driven home; and after making the circuit 

 of the tree, it was lifted out with the ball 

 of earth attached, which, from the adhesive 

 nature of the peaty soil, held by the undis- 

 turbed roots at the base of the tree, was 

 sufficiently firm for removal the distance 

 required. In this manner were the trees 

 procured for the completion of the hedge. 

 The results proved the correctness of the 

 principle, and the mode, the adaptation of 

 means to a given end. 



Of the portion first planted, not one-third 

 survived the ensuing summer ; and these 

 in a condition to become the prey, probably, 

 of the winter and summer following. Of 

 the last planting, consisting of nearly 200 

 trees, every one came through the season 

 well, although the summer of 184-5 was a 

 trying one for newly planted trees. The 

 fall of 1845, the portion first planted was 

 taken up and replanted in the manner sub- 

 sequently adopted ; and the hedge is now 

 all in a healthy condition. 



The same season I transplanted about 75 

 fir trees. As these were obtained from the 

 vicinity of Oriskany, Oneida county, some 

 40 or 50 miles distant from Syracuse, two 

 or three days were required to transplant 

 them from their old to their new homes. 

 Trees, too, of a larger size were required, 

 as they were designed to be planted singly, 

 or as standards, which would also require a 

 corresponding ball of earth attached. From 

 the increased weight, together with distance 

 of transportation and extra handling, this 

 ball was liable to be shaken ofi"; to prevent 

 which, a sufficiently " cold freezing night, ''^ 

 at a proper season for transplanting, fall or 

 spring, might hardly be expected, nor often 

 occur. At least, I did not wait for one ; 

 but, provided with a quantity of old mat- 

 ting, sacking, canvass, &fc., with a ball of 



