12 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



of the guesswork which now exists, when one is called upon to execute 

 work in an unfamiliar territory. 



Evergreen Plants (Coniferous and Broad-leaved). The 

 planting seasons for evergreens follow somewhat closely those for 

 deciduous plants. It is probable that as our knowledge of broad- 

 leaved evergreens increases, their planting season can be shown to do 

 this also. There are now about fifty known species of broad-leaved 

 evergreens which are hardy in our northern climate if handled properly. 

 It is important to know what are the requirements surrounding suc- 

 cessful transplanting of evergreens. Probably the most important 

 seasonal requirement for transplanting of evergreens is that the soil 

 moisture shall be plentiful just prior to the time of transplanting in 

 the location from which they are taken. In other words, in spite of 

 all the old notions to the contrary, fall planting of evergreens should 

 not start till the fall rains have adequately moistened the soil. Fall 

 planting of evergreens can be successfully done as late as any other 

 planting, provided the ground is moist when it freezes. It is better to 

 wait for the fall rains than to plant too early and subject the plants to 

 a hot, dry spell immediately afterward. In the spring, while it is 

 possible to delay the planting of evergreens past the safe date for 

 deciduous stock, due to the fact that they are practically always 

 moved with a ball of earth, yet the best season is the earliest possible 

 one. In both spring and fall planting, early planting has the advan- 

 tage of allowing the plant to start root growth before the advent of the 

 very hot weather of summer and the drying winds of winter, which sap 

 the moisture content of the plant from the pores of the persistent leaves. 

 Such sorts as biota, thuja, and taxus, which seem to establish themselves 

 readily, can probably be successfully planted later in the season than 

 others like pice a, abies, tsuga, pinus — except nigra (austriaca), montana 

 (Mughus), and Strobus — and chamcecyparis. Evergreens of the first 

 type will be subjected to much loss if not transplanted in a fully dor- 

 mant condition immediately prior to the beginning of growth in the 

 spring or if transplanted at a time in the fall when root growth sufficient 

 to fix the plant in its new soil surroundings cannot be developed be- 

 cause of the lateness of the season. 



Perennials. Planting seasons for herbaceous perennials are 

 divided into spring and autumn in the North. One of the first factors 



