482 APPENDIX. 



ing. A little extra labor and cost expended in preparing the soil will, 

 for a long time, secure a surprising rapidity of growth. 



In the actual planting of the tree, the chief point lies in bringing 

 every small fibre in contact with the soil, so that no hollows or inter- 

 stices are left, which may produce mouldiness and decay of the roots. 

 To avoid this, the soil must be pulverized with the spade before filling 

 in, and one of the workmen, with his hands and a flat dibble of wood, 

 should fill up all cavities, and lay out the small roots before covering 

 them in their natural position. When watering is thought advisable 

 (and we practise it almost invariably), it should always be done while 

 the planting is going forward. Poured in the hole when the roots are 

 just covered with the soil, it serves to settle the loose earth compactly 

 around the various roots, and thus both furnishes a supply of moisture, 

 and brings the pulverized mould in proper contact for growtii. Trees 

 well watered when planted in this way, will rarely require it after- 

 wards ; and should they do so, the better way is to remove two or 

 three inches of the top soil, and give the lower stratum a copious sup- 

 ply; when tlie water having been absorbed, the surface should again 

 be replaced. There is no practice more mischievous to newly moved 

 trees, than that of pouring water, during hot weather, upon the surface 

 of the ground above the roots. Acted upon by the sun and wind, this 

 surface becomes baked, and but little water reaches the roots ; or just 

 sufBcient, perhaps, to afford a momentary stimulus, to be followed by 

 increased sensibility to the parching drought. 



With respect to the proper seasons for transplanting, we may remark 

 that, except in extreme northern latitude, autumn planting is generally 

 preferred for large, hardy, deciduous trees. It may commence as soon 

 as the leaves fall, and may be continued until winter. In planting large 

 trees in spring, we should commence as early as possible, to give them 

 the benefit of the April rains; if it should be deferred to a later period, 

 the trees will be likely to suffer greatly by the hot summer sun before 

 they are well established. 



The transplanting of evergreens is generally considered so much more 

 difficult than that of deciduous trees, and so many persons who have 

 tolerable success in the latter, fail in the former, that we may perhaps 

 be expected to point out the reason of these frequent failiires. 



