558 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



leaf acts as a pump extracting sap from the branches and trunk of the tree> 

 which as yet has no active roots to supply the demand; and if evaporation is 

 severe and continued, the plant must either succumb or receive such a check 

 as will require the whole season to recover. Hence it may frequently be ob- 

 served that spring-planted trees will show a profusion of leaves, apparently 

 vigorous and healthy, but suddenly wither and decay under the mfluence of 

 clear, dry, and warm weather. 



These so far show great advantages in favor of fall planting, but there are 

 other considerations to be canvassed before deciding the question. It is very 

 clear that unless planting is performed within a certain period the advantage of 

 immediate root-growth will not be secured ; if delayed beyond the first week ia 

 November, success will be less certain. The best period is undoubtedly as soon 

 as the leaves change color, stripping off the foliage before removal. 



The character of the soil and location will also materially influence success. 

 In undrained clayey soils the trees may not get suflScient root-hold to enable 

 them to resist the thro wing-out tendency of altei-nate freezing and thawing, or the 

 young spongioles may be destroyed by constant saturation. Again, in very 

 bleak and exposed localities, the drying winds of spring may exhaust the 

 juices faster than the young roots can supply the demands of evaporation. Of 

 course, the very evident precaution of securing the plant from swaying should 

 be attended to, otherwise many of the young rootlets will be twisted off 

 Staking may have to be necessary where the trees are tall, but it is much 

 preferable to stay them with a slight mound of soil over the roots, which can 

 be removed when of no further use. It will, also, be of great benefit if the 

 frost can be kept from penetrating to the roots. A covering of loose material will 

 be a protection — a wise precaution even on well-established trees. 



In northern latitudes, where the winters commence early and continue long 

 and severe, fall planting will not so generally be successful, as in more tem- 

 perate regions, except in particularly favorable localities. Early spring plant- 

 ing, taking the precaution to prune the branches, so as to restore the balance 

 destroyed by the root mutilation inseparable from removals, and mulching over 

 the roots, so as to retain moisture during summer, will be the most likely 

 auxiliaries towards success. 



Evergreens can, in all cases, be most successfully transplanted just as growth 

 commences. When the young shoots exhibit symptoms of pushing, they can 

 be removed without risk of failure with ordinary care. They may also be re- 

 moved in August and September, so that they can have a good season to fur- 

 nish new roots before winter. Early spring removal of such trees is not so 

 advisable, as they have a large evaporating surface, which, when subjected to 

 drying spring winds, require a constant action of root to maintain life. 



LIQUID MANURE TO PLANTS IN POT CULTURE. 



The importance of liquid manure in general cultivation is acknowledged, but 

 the exper.se of its application on an extensive scale, such as to farm crops, 

 furnishes a strong reason against its use. 



It is also acknowledged that the liquid state is the best in which stimulating 

 and fertilizing ingredients can be presented to the roots, as they can only 

 absorb nourisliment through the medium of water, and all matters that enter 

 into the interior of plants must be in a soluble condition, or so minutely divided 

 as to be carried along with water before they can enter into the vessels of the 

 plant. 



In the pot culture of plants, where the amount of soil is limited, the use of 

 liquid manures is of vast service when judiciously applied, but much harm 

 may be occasioned by its indiscriminate use. Many persons consider it neces- 

 aary to resort to the use of guano and other solutions on sickly plants, and are 

 surprised to find that tfie application only hastens the dissolution of the patient. 



