42 PLANTING. 



tomed to, in order to make up for the means of support 

 now so unfavourably altered. 



Larch-trees of large size are difficult successfully to 

 transplant, especially those of rapid growth. In mak- 

 ing selection where choice can be made, preference 

 should be given to those of comparatively slow growth, 

 provided only they be otherwise sound and healthy. 



In transplanting larch, it should be done either in 

 October or a few days before the bud begins to break, 

 arid the soil should be dry, pure, light, and open ; they 

 should also be lifted with balls of earth, as without 

 such provision failure is all but certain. In dry 

 summer weather, and especially in autumn, they 

 should be regularly and duly watered for at least 

 three seasons subsequent to transplanting. 



In one of the principal Edinburgh nurseries, a few 

 years ago, the writer had his attention directed to a 

 portion of it planted with Oedrus deodara. The plants 

 were from 4 to 8 feet high, and transplanted early in 

 spring. About one -half of them presented a very 

 favourable appearance, the others quite the reverse. 

 The ground was all much alike, the plants all of the 

 same stock, and the work of planting done at the 

 same time. The cause of failure in the one case 

 was explained by the earth -ball being broken and 

 the earth shaken from the roots of the plants, which 

 was done intentionally, with the view of encouraging 

 root-growth. Those which succeeded, and without 

 any deaths occurring, were lifted carefully, and planted 

 with the earth adhering. No better or stronger proof 

 than this could possibly be adduced to show the im- 

 portance of preserving the earth-balls about the roots 

 of plants while in the act of removing them. 



In 1857 the writer transplanted large conifer 



