238 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Mat 



and before you are aware, the whole tree has leaped 

 into groen clad life. 



Time passes, and other trees have also been cov- 

 ering their limbs with a green mantle. But soon 

 the summer is gone, and before any other harbinger 

 of the winter, the sensitive elm begins to leave 

 the sober green for bright yellow, and our streets 

 and lanes are decked for a gala day. The leaves 

 drop — but has the beauty passed with them? Is it 

 even diminished ? We are no longer charmed with 

 the rich luxuriance of vegetation and its color,but 

 again we have the beautiful outline against the 

 sky. Believe me, sir, I do not wish to detract 

 from the claims of other ornamental trees, for few 

 know them better or appreciate them more than I, 

 but if we are to plant for the best effects in this 

 half winter clitnate, the trees must have a winter as 

 well as summer beauty. 



Let all compare for themselves the naked charms 

 of all the ornamentixl trees ; look upon them in 

 their parts, appreciate their wholes, and I doubt 

 not most will agi-ee with me, that the American 

 Elm is the most perfect of all deciduous trees, and 

 as an emblem of beauty, of that happy combina 

 tion of parts necessary for the perfect whole, is un 

 rivalled. 



As to its easy, quick and sure growth, nothinc 

 need be said. One thing more and I have done 

 How long are trees planted in public streets expec- 

 ted to live? Is it not for many, many years? and 

 do you suppose any of our city fathers or of their 

 Irish foresters, ever ask themselves how long-lived 

 the tree they are about to set ought to be, by nature ? 

 I assure you, sir, that twenty years will see many 

 of the species of trees, now most often planted, ie- 

 yond their prime, and when they have died, and been 

 removed, lohat kind of trees do you suppose will grow 

 in their exhausted beds? Very rcspecfuUy, 



Roxbury, March 10, 1854. r. m c. 



Boston Journal. 



AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



The fifth session of this National Association, 

 will be held at Horticultural Hall, in the city of 

 Boston, Massachusetts, commencing on Wednes- 

 day, the thirteenth day of September next, at ten 

 o'clock, A. M. 



It is intended to make this assemblage one of 

 the most interesting that has ever been held in this 

 country, on the subject of Pomology. All Ilorti 

 cultural, Agricultural, and other kindred Associa 

 tions, of North America, are therefore requested to 

 send such number of delegates to this Convention, 

 as they may deem expedient. 



Pomologists, nurserymen, and all others inter- 

 ested in the cultivation of good fruit, are also in- 

 vited to attend the coming session. 



Among the objects of this Society, are the fol- 

 lowing : — 



To ascertain, from practical experience, the rel- 

 ative value of varieties in different parts of our 

 widely extended country. To hear the Reports of 

 the various State Fruit Committees, and from a 

 comparison of results, to learn what fruits are 

 adapted to general cultivation ; what varieties are 

 suitable for particular localities ; what new varie- 

 ties give promise of being worthy of dissemination; 

 and especially, what varieties are generally inferi- 

 or or worthless, in all parts of the Union. 



In order to facilitate these objects, and to collect 

 and diffuse a knowledge of researches and discov- 



eries in the science of Pomology, members and del- 

 egates are requested to contribute specimens of the 

 fruits of their respective districts ; also pipers de- 

 scriptive of their art of cultivation ; of diseases and 

 insects injurious to vegetation ; of remedies for the 

 same, and whatever may add to the interest and 

 utility of the Association. 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has 

 generously offered to provide accommodations for 

 the Society, and also to publish its proceedings 

 free of expense. 



All packages of fruit intended for exhibition, 

 may therefore be addressed as follows : — "For the 

 American Pomological Society, Horticultural Hall, 

 School Street, Boston Mass. ;" where a Committee 

 will be in attendance to take charge of the same. 



All societies to be represented, will please for- 

 ward certificates of their several delegations, to 

 the President of the American Pomological Socie- 

 ty, at Boston. 



Marshall P. Wilder, President. 



H. W. S. Cleveland, Secretary. 



Boston, April 1st, 1854. 



ROOTS OF PLANTS— TRANSPLANTING. 



The roots serve to hold the plant in its place in 

 the earth, and at the same time perform the im- 

 portant functions of respiration, and of absorp- 

 tion of moisture and of the various matters which 

 go to make up the substance of the plant. It is 

 the only part of the plant which takes up the 

 earthy matter, that is, the peculiar part of the 

 plant. The power of the roofs in absorbing wa- 

 ter may be tested by taking a small plant from 

 the earth and immersing its roots in a vessel of 

 water ; let it be a tumbler ; and having another 

 similar vessel with an equal quantity of water 

 standing near. The difference in the diminution 

 of the body of water in the two vessels will be 

 very great, and will show the quantity absorbed 

 by the plant. It will take up many times its own 

 weight of water in a very short time. An experi- 

 ment with four plants of spearmint in this way, 

 being kept with their roots in water 56 days, 

 proved that they took up about seven pints, the 

 weight of which was about 54,000 grains, while 

 their own weight was only 403 grains — being 

 nearly twice and a half their own weight each 

 day. 



The absorption of the water by the roots must 

 be in proportion to the exhalation by the leaves 

 and the digestion and assimilation in the tissues in 

 the plant, or it will suffer in health. This is the 

 case in seasons of drought or in dry situations. 

 The absorption is mostly performed by the new 

 and growing root fibres or spongiolos, which are 

 spongy at the extremity. These young fibres are 

 therefore of vital importance to the plant ; and 

 by breaking these, in removing a tree for trans- 

 planting, the power of absorbing nourishment is 

 diminished, often to such a degree that the tree 

 languishes, and sometimes perishes. 



One of the most wonderful things in the vege- 



