TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS. 



Tut most favorable . period for transplanting deciduous 

 trees is .generally conceded to be the autumn, unless in very 

 unfavorable or exposed locations, — and these are exceptions 

 to the general rule. The best time, however, for transplant- 

 ing evergreens is less satisfactorily decided upon. The 

 spring — and rather late in the season — is usually considered 

 the most successful period ; indeed, so slight has been the 

 real experience with this class of trees in our own coimtry, 

 that it is believed by many to be the only time for perform- 

 ing this operation, the autumn being of all others the most 

 unfavorable season. We propose to examine this question,. 

 and see whether the current belief in reference to spring 

 transplanting is correct, or only the result of custom, without 

 thorough experience upon the subject. 



We confess our own very limited experience in transplant- 

 ing evergreens at any other season than the spring, but we 

 know gentlemen who have planted extensively in the au- 

 tumn, and with the best success. If, therefore, the work 

 can be done safely then, it is well that it should be known, 

 for it will extend the period of removing such trees, even if 

 the spring is as favorable for performing the work. 



The subject has been much discussed lately in the English 

 gardening periodicals, and the result of the evidence is that 

 the early part of autumn is undoubtedly the most favorable 

 season for transplanting evergreens in that country. In 

 France too, where the climate is cooler in winter and warm- 

 er in summer, M. Carriere, a distinguished writer upon the 

 Conifers, gives his opinion that the autumn is the best season, 

 and fortifies it by that best of evidence, his own practice, 

 with a view to arrive at satisfactory results. Dr. Lindley has, 

 in his " Theory of Horticidiiwe,'^ given the reasons why the 

 autumn is the proper season, and to strengthen his opinion 

 quotes from the Revue Horticole the substance of a dis- 



VOL. XXI. NO. X. 57 



