TEANSPNANTING KALMIAS AKD EHODODENDKONS. 



of information so important to practical cultivators — viz., the physical conditions and 

 local circumstances under which plants are found in their native habitats, as an auxil- 

 iary to their artificial treatment. 



All plants that form fibrous roots similar to the Kalmia, never run deep in the soil ; 

 they ramify and spread a net-work of fibres on the surface among the decaying leaves 

 and vegetable matter annually deposited. Hence, we may infer that there is no 

 necessity for forming deep preparations of any particular soil for their culture; and 

 further, that if transplanted in the ordinary mode adopted with ornamental trees, a 

 weak growth and premature death might be anticipated, since the roots would be placed 

 out of the reach of those atmospheric gases so necessary to their development. 



Within the last few years I have removed many hundreds of these plants of all 

 sizes, from six inches to sixteen feet in height, and from three to thirty years of age, 

 and transplanted them in shrubberies without discrimination as to exposure or locality, 

 and have not had a failure of more than five per cent., and these principally where 

 the roots of neighboring trees deprived the plants of sustenance during dry weather. 

 No regard was paid to the nature of the soil, but in all cases it was deeply loosened 

 up with the spade in order to suspend a supply of moisture that would be available in 

 extreme drouth ; the ground being left loose and level on the surface, is then in a 

 proper condition for the reception of the plants. 



In the selection of the plants I prefer those growing in open exposures in the woods, 

 rather than those under the deep shade of trees, the former being of a more bushy 

 and desirable habit and growth, and furnished with a better supply of roots. A circle 

 of sufficient diameter to inclose a suitable quantity of roots is cut round the plant, 

 which is then easily brought up by skimming underneath with a spade. Very little 

 attention is given to secure a ball of earth, since it is quite useless, because the roots 

 do not penetrate many inches from the surface in ordinary cases. 



We come now to planting, which I particularly wish to notice. I am convinced 

 that to improper planting, rather than to any other cause, may be attributed the many 

 failures in attempting to cultivate these plants. My method is not to plant them in 

 the soil at all, but simply set them down on the surface. A sprinkling of soil is scat- 

 tered over the roots, principally about their extremeties, to be washed in by rains. 

 They should always be planted in masses or clumps, as being much more effective 

 than single specimens; they can also receive more attention during summer in the 

 mulching or covering the whole surface of roots with short lawn grass, leaves, <fec. 

 During the first season after removal, they may occasionally require artificial water- 

 ings ; but if the soil is deepened properly previous to planting, and attention paid to 

 keeping the roots covered, they will not require much further care.* In the fall, a cov- 

 ering of leaves five or six inches in depth should be thrown over the roots, to decom- 

 pose and form a rooting medium for the young fibres, similar to what is provided for 

 them in their native woods. It is this annual surface deposit that affords nutriment 



* In the spring of 1852, while engaged in removing Kalmias, I lifted a very large and fine specimen which could 

 not be placed on the wagon at the lirnc. Thinking to gel it at an early day, I left it on the surface, merely throw 

 a few hanilfuls of leaves over its roots. On commencing opcralions the next October, I came across this plant 

 healthy, although it had been exposed all summer. This shows them to be very tenacious of life. 



