No. 5. 



Transplanting Trees — Filling Ice-Houses. 



103 



Transplduting Trees* 



The plantintr of trees, either fruit or forest 

 ones, though too much neg-lected by fanners, 

 is at times practiced by most of them, and 

 should be so conducted as to not only preserve 

 the tree and prevent the entire loss of the 

 labor, but also to afford it the best means of a 

 rapid and healthy growtli. Trees may be 

 transplanted at any time while the sap does 

 not flow, a period amon^ deciduous trees 

 marked by the fall of the leaf; or from Octo- 

 ber to April, but the time generally chosen 

 is the spring. Convenience, however, should 

 be consulted in this matter; as from the full 

 employment of time in the spring months, the 

 operation is very hastily and imperfectly per- 

 formed, frequently to the injury or loss of the 

 tree. 



In transplanting trees as much of the dirt 

 should be retained on the roots as possible. — 

 This will prevent the drying up of the small 

 fibrous roots, which are indispensable for the 

 nourishment of the tree, and will in part pre 

 vent that shock which all plants experience 

 more or less, when removed into a soil unlike 

 that in which they have grown. The long 

 roots, of course, must be cut off, and in fruit 

 trees, those that penetrate directly downwards 

 may be spared without danger ; but in forest 

 trees the downward shoots should be retained 

 as far as they can be. It is the custom with 

 many in setting out trees, to dig a small hole, 

 but far deeper than that in which the tree 

 has formerly stood. Into this deep hole the 

 roots are forced by bending, twisting and 

 treading, the dead earth is shoveled in upon 

 them, and the trees are left to their fate. In- 

 stead of its being a wonder that many perish 

 under such treatment, the wonder is that they 

 survive. 



When trees are to be transplanted, the hole 

 for the reception of the roots should be broad 

 but not deep, as no tree when it is removed 

 should be set in the earth more than a few 

 inches deeper than it stood before. The ve- 

 getable mould and rich earth of the surface 

 should be retained for placing on the roots of 

 the tree, and if there is not a sufficient supply 

 of the proper kind, it should be brought for the 

 purpose. The tree should be removed and 

 placed in the spot dug for it with as little dis- 

 turbance of the rootlets as may be, and with- 

 out any bending or bruising of the larger ones, j 

 If these are too long, they may be cut off, but ' 

 all should be allowed to remain that the pit! 

 will receive. After being placed, the besti 

 earth should be thrown on the roots and shaken '. 

 or gently pressed down till the whole are! 

 covered, and the hole filled. 



It is neces>~ary that the tree transplanted 

 should be kept firm in the earth until the roots 

 have time to fix themselves, or it will be lia-, 



ble to be loosened and blown over by the 

 winds. To secure it in this respect, some 

 have recommended that a stake or stakes 

 should be driven into the ground, the top in- 

 clining towards the tree, to which the body is 

 to be tied. Otliers, and the practice is gen- 

 erally followed among European planters, 

 place three strong sticks in a triangle form 

 across the roots of the tree, the angles being 

 secured with a stout wood hook driven into 

 the ground, and thus all shaking or injury from 

 winds is averted. McKnight maintained tliafe 

 in transplanting trees, the greatest care should 

 be taken to give them not only the same kind 

 of soil, but the same e.xposure, and that the 

 side of the tree exposed to the sun before 

 planting, should be so placed as to receive its 

 most direct rays afterwards. 



Evergreens require a difTerent treatment 

 and a different time of transplanting from 

 those that shed their leaves in the fall. The 

 best season for transplanting such is in the 

 fore part of June, or latter part of May, but 

 without some preliminary measures many so 

 removed will perish. It has been recom- 

 mended, and the method when tried has proved 

 very successful, that some two years before 

 removal, or one year at least, that with a sharp 

 spade, all the surface, and most of the other 

 roots, be cut off at thedistanceof twoorthree 

 feet from the tree, and that it then be allowed 

 to stand undisturbed till wanted for removal. 

 The result will be, that the earth near the 

 tree will be filled with abundance of fine 

 vigorous roots, and if, when taken up, proper 

 precautions are used in lifting it from the bed, 

 it may be removed without the least danger, 

 or scarcely retardation of its growth. — 

 Farmers' Visiter. 



From the Gardeners' Magazine. 



On preparing Ice and filling an Ice-house, 

 so as the Ice may keep for two or three 

 years. By Mr. Jamfs Yovkq, gardener to 

 Henry Smith, Esq. of Wilford-house, Not- 

 tinghamshire. 



Sir, — None of your correspondents having 

 laid before us the proper method of preserving 

 ice, so as to keep in an exposed situation 

 through the hot months of summer, for one, 

 two, or more years, as may be required, I now 

 venture to do so. Most gardeners who are 

 in the habit of laying up ice annually for 

 summer use, complain of its melting away 

 too rapidly. This, I presume, is owing to the 

 method they practice to preserve it. To rem- 

 edy this evil, the method which I have prac- 

 tised for a considerable number of years, 

 with gratifying success, is as follows : 



In the month of December or January, 

 when the water-pools are frozen to a sufRcient 

 tliickness, say one or two inches, proceed to 



