EXPERIMENTAL GARDEN. 557 



time such stirring is performed. Between the softening of the surface by rains 

 and its hardening again by sun and dry air there is a period when it is in the 

 most favorable condition for culture. Here it is difficult to lay down a definite 

 rule, as the practice that would be suitable for one soil and climate Avould be 

 unsuited to another differently circumstanced. The principle being understood, 

 the practice may readily be deduced. In order to facilitate cultivation all crops 

 should be grown as far as practicable on the drill system. 



There is room for improvement in this respect, especially in garden culture. 

 Garden crops should invariably be grown in drills sufficiently wide apart to 

 admit of deep hoeing and forking. And it may further be remarked that 

 there is a wide distinction between what is frequently termed a well-kept gar- 

 den and one that is well cultivated. The former may be kept perfectly clear 

 of weeds by the use of hoe and rake, every spot smooth and polished, and 

 although vegetation may wilt and present a starved and stunted aspect, yet 

 many people would pronounce such gardening as perfect. This, however, is 

 not cultivation. Hoeing, as understood by a thorough culturist, means more 

 than merely killing weeds. He aims at having the soil deeply and thoroughly 

 broken up, and left loose, rough, and untramped. His criterion of beauty 

 here is not influenced by the element of smoothness. 



SPRING AND FALL PLANTING OF TREES. 



The relative advantages of spring and fall planting have given rise to many 

 opinions, and it is not strange that a wide difference in opinion should be held 

 on the question, since so much of success or failure depends upon the season, 

 locality, and other attendant circumstances. The influencing agents of vegeta- 

 tion are subject to such a vast variety of modifications, which can neither be 

 foreseen nor prevented, that no isolated observation, however truthfully noted, 

 will suffice as a guide in establishing definite rules; and it may be remarked 

 that the many seemingly conflicting opinions upon certain points of practice 

 could, in most instances, be reconciled if all the attending facts and circum- 

 stances Avere clearly jjroduced, but these items are difficult to obtain. 



Perhaps the strongest argument in favor of fall planting is the particularly 

 favorable peculiarities in the relative conditions of the soil and the atmosphere 

 at that season. Independent of this, it is theoretically true that autumn is the 

 best time for removing trees. A plant that has occupied its position for several 

 years cannot be removed without curtailing and injuring its roots more or less, 

 but there are certain portions of the year when the roots are of minimum im- 

 portance to the plant. It is very evident that they are most essential when 

 the tree is in full foliage and vigorous growth, and during this period any re- 

 duction of roots would be speedily perceptible ; on the other hand, when the 

 seasonal growth is completed, and the plant defoliated, the offices of the roots 

 are less important. From the above we learn that the best time to transplant is 

 between the fall of the leaves in autumn and the bursting of the buds into 

 growth in spring, or during what is termed the dormant season. 



The " particularly favorable conditions of the soil and air" may now be 

 noted. During the month of October the soil averages ten degrees warmer than 

 the atmosphere. This forms a species of natural hot-bed into which we place 

 a newly removed tree, the formation of young roots is encouraged, and before 

 many weeks elapse the plant is well established, and enabled to withstand the 

 -'icissitudes of winter and make an early and vigorous start in the following 

 spring. The low atmospheric temperature prevents any growth in the branches, 

 which is so far favorable under the circumstances. 



In spring we find these physical conditions reversed; the soil is then cold, 

 and accumulates heat slowly while the air rapidly increases in warmth ; the 

 buds are excited to growth, new leaves are formed in advance of the roots, each 



