APPENDIX. 483 



Most of our horticultural maxims are derived from English authors 

 and among them, that of always planting evergreens either in August 

 or late in autumn. At both these seasons, it is nearly impossible to 

 succeed in the temperate portions of the United States, from the dif- 

 ferent character of our climate at these seasons. The genial moisture 

 of the English ciimate renders transplanting comparatively easy at all 

 seasons, but especially in winter, while in this country, our Augusts 

 are dry and hot, and our winters generally dry and cold. If planted in 

 the latter part of summer, evergreens become parched in their foliage, 

 and soon perish. If planted in autumn or early winter, the severe cold 

 that ensues, to which the newly disturbed plant is peculiarly alive, 

 paralyses vital action, and the tree is so much enfeebled tliat, when 

 spring arrives, it survives but a short period. The only period, there- 

 fore, that remains for the successful removal of evergreens here, is the 

 spring. When planted as early as practicable in the spring, so as to 

 have the full benefit of the abundant rains so beneficial to vegetation 

 at that season, they will almost immediately protrude new shoots, and 

 regain their former vigor. 



Evergreens are, in their roots, much more delicate and impatient of 

 dryness than deciduous trees ; and this should be borne in mind while 

 transplanting them. For this reason, experienced planters always 

 choose a wet or misty day for their removal ; and, in dry weather, we 

 would always recommend the roots to be kept watered and covered 

 from the air by mats during transportation. When proper regard is 

 paid to this point, and to judicious selection of the season, evergreens 

 will not be found more ditncult of removal than other trees. 



Another mode of transplanting large evergreens, which is very suc- 

 cessfully practised among us, is that of removing them with frozen 

 balls of earth in mid-winter. When skilfully performed, it is perhaps 

 the most complete of all modes, and is so different from the common 

 method, that the objection we have just made to winter planting does 

 not apply to this case. The trees to be removed are selected, the situa- 

 tions chosen, and the holes dug, while the ground is yet open in autumn. 

 When the ground is somewhat frozen, the operator proceeds to dig a 

 trench around the tree at some distance, gradually undermining it, and 

 .eaving all the principal mass of roots embodied in the ball of earth 



