TRANSPLANTING LARGE EVERGREEN TREES A>D SHRUBS. 43 



kind in preference to winter. The force of the sun during- 

 summer, although now on the decline, has warmed the earth to a 

 considerable degree and depth, so that the mutilated roots are 

 comparatively situated on a gentle bottom lieat, which rapidly 

 promotes cicatrization, and frequently aids the emission of young 

 spongelets during the current autumn. 



That the season which I have here ventured to urge f<n" tlie 

 performance of the work under consideration is undeniably 

 theoretically the right period appears beyond all question ; and 

 being no mean experimentalist in rural embellishment, with 

 plants of considerable magnitude, I can attest also that it is 

 practically the season to be preferred beyond all othei's. I had 

 occasion to superintend the removal of upwards of two tliousand 

 trees and slirubs, all evergreen, and varying in size from six to 

 forty feet high, during one autumn. The trees were prepaied as 

 formerly described the previous spring, and as the undertaking 

 Mas rather gigantic, the work was begun in August and finished 

 with the year. The result was of course watched with some 

 interest, and the following summer, when an examination took 

 place, I found that those trees which were transplanted early in 

 the season indicated little change from their removal, but the 

 contrary was the case with tiiose which had undergone similar 

 transplantation during Decembei*. In fact the gradual diminution 

 of the motion of the .sap, accompanied with declining atmospiieric 

 action, which tended, in conjunction with the usual autumnal 

 precipitations, to cool and saturate the earth, clearly and pro- 

 gressively exhibited our comparative success. 



The exact period to commence these operations must be deter- 

 mined by tiie nature of the season, and the state of maturity the 

 current year's growth has attained : in some seasons an earlier 

 beginning may be made than others ; some kinds of plants also 

 ripen their wood much earlier than otliers. These, therefore, 

 should I'eceive the earliest attention. 



In liot and dry autumns tlie foliage of some of the larger 

 specimens of certain species and varieties, especially such as have 

 large and succulent leaves, will flag and droop. To guard 

 against any injury arising from this, it will be advisable to well 

 water the roots at planting, not with cold water from the well, 

 but from the pond, where it has been exposed to the sun. With 

 specimens of great rarity and value, it would amply repay the 

 additional trouble to occasionally syringe the foliage in the even- 

 ing for a short period after planting. This, however, will not 

 be required should the weather be either cloudy or moist. 



The next and concluding point I would insist upon is that of 

 securing the plants against being moved by the wind for tlie first 

 season after ti'ansplanting. Evergreens, presenting as they do at 



