THE ELOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 317 



seek guidance from such principles expecting too much from a mere 

 rule of thumb application of them, that complete failure is so often 

 experienced, or at least that the true value of such principles is so 

 seldom ascertained. These observations are not only applicable to 

 tbe theory of transplanting, but to every other operation of which 

 the principles can (and it would be difficult to name one of which 

 they could not) be conveyed in a written treatise. 



Thus most persons who know anything about planting at all will 

 have learnt that evergreens should be transplanted in autumn, or 

 under certain conditions in spring ; and that the deciduous trees and 

 shrubs should be removed at some period between the falling of the 

 leaf in autumn and the swelling of the bud in the following year. 

 These may be considered as the broad principles, which, if duly and 

 properly carried out in practice, all other circumstances being favour- 

 able, will be productive of much success. But as regards both ever- 

 greens and deciduous plants, these principles may be practically 

 violated, to a wide extent ; with the former, however, much more 

 than with the latter. It will be borne in mind that the observations 

 and illustrations now to be given have sole reference to plants that 

 can be replanted immediately after being taken up. At tbe end of 

 June in the present year, I determined on moving two large plants 

 of Forsythia viridissima, which were monopolizing too much space in 

 a bed of small flowering shrubs in my own garden. In the places 

 which I intended them to occupy, holes were dug and well watered. 

 The plants being put in, and sufficient soil thrown upon the roots 

 to cover them, another good watering was given, and the remaining 

 soil filled in. The plants were growing luxuriantly at the time ; 

 nevertheless, they gave no indications of being injured. In fact, 

 not a leaf drooped. Of course growth for the season was checked, 

 but that was rather an advantage than otherwise, for it induced 

 short sturdy shoots, which, in a Forsythia, constitute perfection. 

 Obtain these, and you have flowers in abundance. 



Now, the success of these plants depended in no small degree 

 on the peculiar character of their roots. They have an abundance 

 of succulent fibres, which, if the plant is at all carefully removed, 

 are ready to resume their functions immediately after transplanting ; 

 and those of the plants in question being supplied with plenty of 

 moisture, and kept out of the ground but a short time, no material 

 check was given. In transplanting under similar conditions, this is 

 an important point to attend to ; and, in fact, under any circum- 

 stances whatever, it should be kept in view. 



Of course there are many other deciduous shrubs than the 

 Forsythia, which, if necessary, might be transplanted in summer 

 with perfect safety. Plants with long woody roots having but few 

 fibres, and those principally at the extremities, it would be hazardous 

 to experiment upon ; but such as have an abundance of succulent 

 rootlets, principally within a foot or two of the base of the stem, 

 may with proper care be as successfully transplanted in summer as 

 at any other season. Recollect it is not recommended to transplant 

 any shrub or tree in summer in preference to autumn; but where 

 circumstances render it necessary or advantageous to do so, it may 



October. 



