DECEMBER. 



547 



quite the same. In either case they must be looked after, 

 and receive due attention. Ornamental trees, of most kinds, 

 will bear neglect tolerably well ; but fruit trees, especially pears 

 upon the quince, must have good management, if large crops 

 of excellent fruit, and fine healthy trees, are an object. 



Frequent complaints are made of the loss of trees, after 

 growing well for a year or two after transplanting ; and if we 

 could always have the particulars of location, soil, exposure, 

 &c., we might form some good idea of the cause, and thus 

 endeavor to prevent it again. But in most instances, we know 

 nothing more than that the trees are dead. The winter of 

 1854-55 was quite severe upon trees in some parts of the 

 country, particularly in western New York, where large 

 quantities of dwarf pears were entirely destroyed. The 

 cause of their death has been considerably discussed in the 

 horticultural and agricultural periodicals, and it has been 

 stated, that where the trees were protected by a cover- 

 ing of snow to sotne depth, there was no loss ; it was only 

 in the exposed localities that they suffered. Now this fact 

 speaks volumes in favor of proper protection to trees in win- 

 ter ; indeed, it would scarcely be possible to expect a new 

 plantation of trees to succeed without it. And yet we see, 

 in many cases, no regard paid to this. An open, exposed 

 plain is set out with trees ; the rains of autumn saturate the 

 ground and sodden the roots ; in this state, severe frost soon 

 sets in ; and, before the moisture can get away, unless a very 

 dry place, or well drained, the soil freezes to the depth of the 

 roots, and so remains till spring opens. Can any one suppose 

 trees so treated will root rapidly, and be ready for a good 

 spring growth ? Certainly not. Protection in this instance 

 is of great importance. The whole soil, to the Avidth of the 

 new roots, should be covered with manure, which will an- 

 swer the double purpose of enrichment and protection ; it 

 should be placed in a conical heap immediately around the 

 tree, and to the extent of its roots ; and when, as is often the 

 case, there is no manure at hand, the earth should be thrown 

 up around it in a conical form — first giving the surface a light 

 dressing with guano. This is the treatment which every 



