uanb 27, leee. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICtJLTTJRE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



336 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



TRANSPLANTING LARGE SHRUBS AND TREES. 



'EW years ago, when the re- 

 moval of large trees was more 

 fashionable than it is now, 

 there was some contention 

 amongst the machine makers 

 as to whose apparatus was 

 best adapted for tlie work, and a very costly contrivance 

 was exliibited before the late Prince Consort at Cliiswick. 

 This was stated to be perfect in its way, but we have heard 

 very little of it since ; its merits would seem to be purely 

 mechanical, and its worth as a horticultural implement is 

 questionable. Pi'evious to that the machine of Mr. Barron, 

 with some modification by other makers, was that mostly 

 employed. The work that Mr. Barron had done \vith it 

 was foimd to be satisfactory, and trees transplanted by its 

 agency are met with m various parts of England. Pre- 

 vious to Mr. Barron's invention a machine invented by 

 Sir Henry Steuart, of Allanton, was reported by that 

 gentleman and others to have done good service, and con- 

 trivances of a Ulce character were now and then met with 

 about forty years ago. 



The rage for transplanting large trees having in a great 

 measure subsided, the use of transplanting-machines is, I 

 believe, less common now than it was twenty years ago, 

 although the number of valuable shrubs and trees planted 

 has midtii^lied exceedingly since then. It is now only iu 

 special cases that large trees are transplanted, such as 

 when changes taking place render their removal necessary, 

 and often the success of the operation is not satisfactory : 

 for it is not unfi'equently fomid that after the lapse of half 

 a dozen years a better result would have been accomplished 

 by planting small trees carefully, and encouraging their 

 growth. Occasionally, it is tnie, the removal of a large 

 shrub or tree will be attended with success, but the con- 

 trary is more frequently the case, and the plant operated 

 on dies back for a year or two, and then commences to 

 grow again, slowly if it is an old specimen and removed to 

 a site not so good as its former one, but if to a better the im- 

 provement is rarely visible before the expiration of four or 

 five years, perhaps more. Besides, it is only certain kinds 

 of trees that will safely endure the ordeal of transplanta- 

 tion when old ; and though it may be all very well to talk 

 of waiving a place or feature perfect at once by planting 

 large Iro.es, it is better to wait and look at the condition of 

 these large plants twelve months after planting before 

 giving any decision as to their looking well : and, perhaps, a 

 couple of years after that mil elicit the admission, or rather 

 confession, tliat it would have been better to have planted 

 young trees. Tliis is no solitai-y case, but one of frequent 

 occurrence, and one more likely to happen in some parts of 

 the kingdom than in others, for the very good reason that 

 No, 261.— Vol. X., Nbw Sbbies, 



certain districts being less favoured than others with rain 

 at a time when newly-planted trees require it, the result 

 is less satisfactory. There is so much diflerence in the 

 capabilities of trees in respect to transplanting, as well as 

 in climatic influences, that no definite rule can be laid 

 down, unless it be that small plants are more likely to 

 succeed than those which are large ; and where the ground 

 is suitable, there is every likelihood of the small subjects 

 out-growing tlie larger ones in a few years, besides being 

 from the first more healthy and vigorous — a matter often 

 of as much importance as size in respect to appearance. 

 The best results are often obtained when both plans are 

 partially carried out at the same place, a large old specimen 

 being transplanted along with others that are young and 

 healthy, and it would m most cases be advisable, espe- 

 cially where shrubs are concerned, to plant some small 

 specimens near the large ; for if the latter do not succeed, 

 the others may, and the object, therefore, will still be 

 attained. 



Inconvenient as the removal of large ti'ees is, there are 

 some which ai'e more likely to die than succeed, however 

 carefully the operation may be performed, while others are 

 much more certain to grow. As a general rule deciduous 

 trees or .shi'ubs transplant better than evergreens, and 

 amongst those that do well are such as have their roots 

 nearest the surface. Deep-striking tap-rooted trees are 

 not easy to transplant safely, and one of the worst that I 

 know is the Evergreen Oak ; this, even when in a small state, 

 bears the operation badly, and to remove it when it had 

 formed a large tree would, I expect, be very difficult in- 

 deed. Hollies that have stood a long time in one place 

 are also not at aU easy of transplantation, though they are 

 not worse than Portugal Laurels and some other things ; 

 and it is somewhat strange that certain plants having a 

 strong resemblance to each other, and belonging to the 

 same genera, should dift'er very much iu their adapting 

 themselves to the change that transplanting gives them. 

 The common and Irish Yew transplant very well, while 

 TaxocUum sempervirens is about one of the worst to 

 deal with ; C'upressus Lawsoniana transplants well, wliile 

 G. Lambertiana is very uncertain. These cases I only 

 allude to as the result of trials with small or moderate- 

 sized plants, but I expect the difficulty will be increased 

 when the specimens arc larger. In general the family of 

 Thuja transplant well, better than any Conifers with which 

 I am acquainted, but others, of course, may equal them. 



It need liardly be said that greater success attends the 

 planting of large trees or shrubs when they have been 

 transplanted two or tlirce years before, or that some benefit 

 is derived from preparing the plant to be removed by cut- 

 ting its roots all round the year before ; but tliis cannot 

 always be done, as the determination to remove tliem may 

 not, perliaps, have been formed imtil the moment it is to 

 be carried into execution. In the latter case, the only 

 consideration is to do the work as well as it can be done, 

 and tnist to the weather and other fortuitous circumstances 

 for a good result. Plenty of labour and mechanical con- 

 trivance can erect a building of large size in a short time, 

 but the same means, however well dii-ected, cannot ensure 

 No. »3.— Vol. XXXV., Oui BaaJBa, 



