Transplanting of Trees 321 



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 failures. 



Most of our horticultural maxims are derived from Eng- 

 lish authors and among them, that of always planting ever- 

 greens 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 different character 

 of our climate at these seasons. The genial moisture of the 

 English climate 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, ever- 

 greens become parched in their foliage, and soon perish. If 

 planted in autumn or early winter, the severe cold that en- 

 sues, to which the newly disturbed plant is peculiarly alive, 

 paralyses vital action, and the tree is so much enfeebled that, 

 when spring arrives, it survives but a short period. The 

 only period, therefore, that remains for the successful re- 

 moval of evergreens here, is the spring.* When planted as 

 early as practicable in the spring, so as to have the full bene- 

 fit 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 



* It is surpassing strange that at this point, where Mr. Downing most 

 clearly broke with English practice and most definitely indicated the 

 grounds for the horticultural independence of America, his conclusions 

 should not be sustained by later generations. The most experienced 

 American planters of this day transplant evergreens freely in August, 

 many of them preferring that month; and this procedure is successful 

 even on the dry hot wind-swept central plains. -- F. A. W. 



