372 



Remarks on Transplanting Trees.^ 



Vol. X. 



before been exhibited in this country, would 

 be but faint praise; indeed they must be 

 seen and felt, before they can be understood. 

 They were shorn by old and experienced 

 English shepherds, who declare they never 

 sheared or saw their equals in England, by 

 a long shot. By the most careful examina- 

 tion and admeasurement before shearing, 

 they were found to exhibit the following 

 enormous proportions : 



No. 1. Three feet across the back; five 

 feet from nose to rump ; seven feet four and 

 a half inches in circumference — live weight 

 320 lbs. 



No, 2. Two feet and two inches across 

 the back; five feet two inches from nose 

 to rump; seven feet in circumference. 



The fleece of No. 1, weighed 13 lbs. of 

 carefully washed wool, white, and of silky 

 texture. No. 2, cut a fleece of well washed 

 wool, weighing 17 lbs., measuring nearly 

 one foot in length of staple, of superior 

 quality, and which, if it had been left un- 

 washed, would have exhibited a fleece weigh- 

 ing more than 22 lbs. After shearing, No. 1 

 was found to measure five feet six inches in 

 circumference behind the shoulders, but it 

 would be vain to attempt to convey an idea 

 of the enormous depth and width of carcass, 

 or the manner in which the fat is laid on 

 upon the^reast, sides, rump and back. Suf- 

 fice to say, in the estimation of judges pre- 

 sent, the carcass would cut from six to seven 

 inches thick of fat on the rib, if the sheep 

 were slaughtered at the present time. 



The lambs, a cross with these bucks on 

 the largest of the Reybold ewes, exhibit a 

 remarkable consanguinity of form and cha 

 racter to their sires, and will, no doubt, riva 

 them in the hands of their careful and judi- 

 cious owner, who will leave nothing undone 

 that can be made subservient to his purpose, 

 namely; the creation of a flock of sheep that 

 shall equal those of any other quarter of the 

 globe, for wool and carcass combined. We 

 were happy to find that inquiries and orders 

 for bucks are being made of the enterprising 

 owner of this magnificent flock for distant 

 plantations; may success attend him in his 

 patriotic undertaking. 



Mr. Clayton Reybold succeeds his father 

 in the ownership of the Reybold flock ; his 

 address is, Delaware City, Delaware. 



I. W. Thomson, M. D. 

 Isaac Reeves, 

 James Pedder. 



Delaware, June 4th, 1846. 



We understand that J. A. Woodside is engaged to 

 paint portraits of the " New Oxfordshire Bucks" before 

 shearing, of which we hope to obtain an engraving 

 for publication in our pages.— Eo, 



Remarks on Transplanting Trees. 



No work is more carelessly or heedlessly 

 performed, by individuals in general, than 

 planting trees. Few persons seem to be 

 aware that a tree is a living object. To 

 expect success, therefore, in transplanting 

 them, some care must be taken in perform- 

 ing the operation. The following brief rules 

 may be some guide to those who have not 

 had much experience in setting out trees: 



1st. Never plant a tree unless the ground 

 has been previously well pulverized and 

 broken fine. To plant trees in holes, as too 

 many persons do, is almost fatal to their fu- 

 ture growth. 



2nd. Deep planting is one of the great- 

 est errors m this country, and more particu- 

 larly in those soils in this vicinity; and the 

 probability is, that more trees die from this 

 cause than any other; if they thrive for a 

 year or two, they soon languish and die, ap- 

 parently without any cause. In cold, clayey 

 soils, this is frequently the case. Avoid by 

 all means this error in this vicinity. The 

 surface roots should never be more than two 

 inches below the soil. 



3rd. When the tree is all ready for setting 

 out, commence planting by taking out the 

 earth to the depth of a foot or more, and of 

 a width to admit the roots easily without 

 bending or breaking. If the soil is naturally 

 very poor, some good rich compost is neces- 

 sary to fill in among the roots with the earth. 



4th. Before planting prune off' all bruised 

 or decayed portions of the roots, shorten such 

 as are too long ; if the roots are thick and 

 matted, they should be thinned out. Avoid 

 cutting or injuring any of the small fibres, 

 for those are indispensably necessary in the 

 first stage of its growth. 



5th. The most important rule to be ob- 

 served in setting out trees, and one that 

 should never be overlooked, is to fill the 

 earth firmly around and among the roots, so 

 that no hollows or crevices may remain. 

 To perform this operation successfully, the 

 earth and compost should be moderately 

 dry; the soil should be thrown in sparingly, 

 and not in too large quantities at once, so as 

 to give the planter sufficient time to arrange 

 the soil among the fibrous roots. Avoid jerk- 

 ing the tree up and down — give it a few taps 

 at the bottom with your hand ; a pail or two 

 of water may be given to each tree, by a 

 water-pot, which as soon as it is settled 

 among the roots, should be earthed over to 

 avoid evaporation. If the trees are crooked, 

 they should be carefully staked, and they 

 will soon grow straight. 



6th. Do not neglect the trees when they 

 are set out. Keep the ground contiiraally 



