292 THE SEASON FOR TRANSPLANTING. 



The best season for transplanting most trees is, 

 no doubt, the autumn. The earth is then in good 

 condition — dry, friable, and still containing much 

 of its summer heat. This latter circumstance is 

 of much importance. It encourages the wounded 

 parts of the roots to heal over, and to throw out 

 numberless rootlets, which fix the tree in the ground, 

 and enable it to start quickly and healthfully into 

 growth with the first opening of spring. As we 

 approach mid-winter, this terrestrial heat diminishes; 

 therefore, the earlier the process can take place the 

 better. At the same time, it should not be before 

 the tree has shed its leaf; for then the evaporation 

 from the top would be more than the shortened 

 root could sustain ; it would not find a recompense 

 in the absorption at the root, and the top would 

 shrivel. This same rule is of application after the 

 buds have begun to swell in the spring, except that 

 then the vital functions are just commencing, and 

 the roots, being thus stimulated, are more liable to 

 furnivsh spongioles, and sustain the draft. 



Altogether, autumn planting is on these accounts 

 to be preferred ; yet it is somewhat dependent upon 

 the age and style of tree to be set. Those which 

 are young and succulent, or those varieties which 

 are tender, might be injured by immediate exposure 

 from the nursery to the vicissitudes of winter. Such 

 should be heeled in, in some sheltered situation, for 

 use in the spring. The aspect, too, may be such as 



