THE SEASON FOR TRANSPLANTING. 



tunity to observe the effect of heading-in young apple trees, and so smoothed matters 

 over as well as possible with my pruning knife, and awaited the result. Many of those 

 trees made shoots Jour fed long the following season, and now they are of about the same 

 size as those which escaped the operation. 



I have since cut back every other one of forty trees, at the time of transplanting. My 

 opinion is, that the growth is rather promoted than retarded by this process, but that the 

 tree is disfigured, and requires far more subsequent attention to keep it in order. A 

 curve, like that produced by budding, is made at the place where the twig is cut off, and 

 often several shoots are thrown out in the place of the one removed, so that it is difficult 

 to keep an open top, so desirable in an apple tree. I much prefer thinning the tops of 

 apple trees, to shortening their leading shoots. 



In thus suggesting my views, Mr. Editor, I wish distinctly to disclaim any attempt at 

 originalit3\ The various theories above stated, are by no means overlooked in your valu- 

 able treatise upon Fruits and Fruit Trees. Several considerations must always modify 

 the views of writers on this subject. My own experience has been only in a section of the 

 country where the apple is a liealthy tree, and little liable to disease or decay, from the 

 wounds of the pruning knife, and where high manuring is necessary to obtain a sufficient 

 growth. With a soil and climate of a different character, the same theories might lead to 

 different conclusions. Even the reasons of convenience for spring pruning, which have 

 been given, although almost imperative upon us, would have no force where the season is 

 longer, and land more abundant and fertile. If my views seem heretical, I shall be happy 

 to have them corrected. The true idea is, for each of your correspondents to speak out as 

 he thinks. Upon this, as upon most other subjects, "error of opinion may safely be to- 

 lerated, where reason is left free to combat it." 



In conclusion, perhaps a hint may not come amiss, from one who has at least followed 

 a good example, that your correspondents affix their own names to their communications. 

 Such friends of the cause as Jeffries, and " A Constant Reader," ought not to " hide 

 their light under a bushel," by the use of fictitious signatures; and as to the beautiful 

 " Wild Flower," (surely beautiful in spirit,') M'hat right has she to date from " In the 

 Bushes," and to keep her " local habitation and her name," a mystery. At all events, 

 she gives a new interest to the Horticulturist, and your readers may flatter themselves 

 that if she is, indeed, " born to blush unseen," she does not entirely " waste her sweet- 

 ness on the desert air." With much respect, Henry F. French. 



Exeter, N. H., April 10, 1851. 



ON THE SEASON FOR TRANSPLANTING. 



BY JOHN TOAVNLEY, PORT-HOPE, WISCONSIN. 



Mucn difference of opinion prevails respecting the most suitable time for transplanting. 

 Some prefer early in the spring, others late in the fall; and both parties are generally en- 

 abled to refer to successful results in support of their opinions. So much, indeed, depends 

 on the weather immediately after planting, and on the care observed in performing the 

 operation, that we not unfrequently hear of success having been attained, even at midsum- 

 mer. It is probable, however, that if a series of comparative experiments were made, 

 during several successive years, that one period would be found to afford more satisfactory 

 results than any other. 



