APPENDIX. 419 



around the various roots, and thus both furnishes a supply of moisture, 

 and brings the pulverized mould in proper contact for growth. Trees 

 well watered when planted in this way, will rarely require it after- 

 wards ; and should they do so, the better way is to remove two or 

 three inches of the top soil, and give the lower stratum a copious sup- 

 ply ; when the water having been absorbed, the surface should again 

 be replaced. There is no practice more mischievous to newly moved 

 trees, than that of pouring water, during hot weather, upon the surface 

 of the ground above the roots. Acted upon by the sun and wind, this 

 surface becomes baked, and but little water reaches the roots ; or just 

 sufficient, perhaps, to afford a momentary stimulus, to be followed by 

 increased sensibility to the parching drought. 



With respect to the proper seasons for transplanting, we may remark 

 that, except in extreme northern latitude, autumn planting is generally 

 preferred for large, hardy, deciduous trees. It may commence as soon 

 as the leaves fall, and may be continued until winter. In planting large 

 trees in spring, we should commence as early as possible, to give them 

 the benefit of the April rains ; if it should be deferred to a later period, 

 the trees will be likely to suffer greatly by the hot summer sun before 

 they are well established. 



The transplanting of evergreens is generally considered so much more 

 difficult than that of deciduous trees, and so many persons who have 

 tolerable success in the latter, fail in the former, that we may perhaps 

 be expected to point out the reason of these frequent failures. 



Most of our horticultural maxims are derived from English authors 

 and among them, that of always planting evergreens either in August 

 or late in autumn. At both these seasons, it is nearly impossible to 

 succeed in the temperate portions of the United States, from the dif- 

 ferent character of our climate at these seasons. The genial moisture 

 of the English ciimate renders transplanting comparatively easy at all 

 seasons, but especially in winter, while in this country, our Augusta 

 arc dry and hot, and our winters generally dry and cold. If planted in 

 the latter part of summer, evergreens become parched in their foliage, 

 and soon perish. If planted in autumn or early winter, the severe cold 

 that ensues, to which the newly disturbed plant is peculiarly alive, 

 paralyses vital action, and the tree is so much enfeebled that, when 



