TRANSPLANTING. 23^ 



the soil and commence its growth for the season. But in those 

 portions of our Dominion where the ground freezes early, and 

 remains frozen all winter to as great or even greater depth than 

 the roots of the newly planted tree extend, it is impossible that 

 any such healing process should take place in the roots, and if 

 the soil in which it is planted be of a very retentive character, 

 water is apt to collect about the roots in the imperfectly settled 

 earth, and in a greater or less degree prove injurious to the tree. 

 Owing to these causes spring-planting has been found to be more 

 generally successful in those parts of Canada, where the ground 

 is not weU protected with snow, than faU. Yet there are reasons 

 which sometimes counterbalance aU these difficulties, and make it 

 on the whole preferable to transplant the trees in the falL There 

 may be more leisure in the fall, or it may be more convenient to 

 obtain the trees then, or the distance from the nurseries may be 

 so great, that by the time trees can be procured in the spring the 

 season is too far advanced. From whatever cause the planter 

 may decide to set his trees in the fall, if he will only take care 

 that they do not suffer from water standing about the roots, and 

 that in some way he protects the roots fix)m severe freezing, they 

 will usually pass the winter safely and grow well. This is very 

 easily accomplished by raising a considerable mound of earth 

 aroimd the tree after it is planted, which serves to keep the tree 

 fix>m being rocked about by the wind, sheds off the rain and 

 melting snow, and in some measure keeps out the frost. In the 

 spring, before the dry weather sets in, this mound should be 

 levelled off and the ground mulched as in spring planting. 



Preparing the soil for the reception of trees does not 

 receive that attention which its importance demands. If the 

 ground has been well prepared, the growth of the trees will fully 

 compensate for the labor. An excellent method of preparation 

 is to summer-fallow the ground, giving it frequent ploughings 

 and stirrings, so that it may be thoroughly pulverized. If it 

 need manure, it should be put on in a weU-rotted condition, as 

 for a crop of grain, and thoroughly mixed and incorporated with. 



