4 Fall and Spring Planting'. 



accomplished in a small bed for rose cuttings ; neither is it necessary, 

 since Nature provides these conditions for us at a certain season, and 

 as it is of limited duration, we must act promptly if we would avail 

 ourselves of her assistance. 



This season occurs during the month of October, between the par- 

 allels of 37° and 41° north latitude. (North of the latter the season 

 will be somewhat earlier, and south of the former proportionably 

 later.) At this period, the soil, at twelve inches below the surface, 

 will average ten degrees warmer than the atmosphere, forming a nat- 

 ural hotbed specially adapted to the growth of roots, while the grad- 

 ually decreasing atmospheric temperature of the waning year prevents 

 any incitement to growth by external buds. 



Looking at the relative conditions of the soil and the air during the 

 spring months, we shall find that they are nearly reversed : the soil 

 is now cold ; it slowly accumulates heat, while the atmosphere rapidly 

 gains in rise of temperature : a tree planted at this time is excited 

 into leaf, the increase of root growth is retarded, every expansion of 

 foliage increases the surfoce of evaporation, and speedily exhausts the 

 moisture of the plant, and as soon as the demand for moisture be- 

 comes greater than the supply, the plant dies ; it is dried up in the 

 most efi'ectual manner. Hence the absolute necessity of heading back 

 spring-planted trees, so as to lessen the amomit of foliage and conse- 

 quent evaporating surface. If evaporation could be entirel}^ prevented, 

 there would be but little necessity for pruning at transplanting ; and 

 the operation is always more successfully accomplished in a moist 

 than it is in an arid climate. 



The principles being understood, the practical details and expedients 

 of culture necessary in carrying them out will readily be suggested. 

 In the case of fall planting, the principal object is, to retain as long 

 as possible the heat in the soil. Water can be kept from cooling it 

 by mounding the earth from the stem of the plant, and mulching with 

 some loose non-conducting material. In spring planting, the. great 

 desideratum is, to induce heat into the cold soil by eyposu^-e to the 

 sun ; pressing it firmly, and avoiding mulching until tlic summer's 

 suns render it necessary, as a preventive of injury from droughts. 



