24 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



theory to the question of what season is the best for plant- 

 ing evergreens, namely : that which is best for other trees ; 

 and such cases to the contrary as may appear to exist, will 

 always be found exceptions to the rule, in consequence of 

 some peculiar circumstances attending them ; not unfre- 

 quently, I believe, from the operation having been per- 

 formed upon a very small number of plants, to the removal 

 of which a degree of care was given wholly incompatible 

 with general and extensive practice." 



The editor of the American edition of Lindley's work, the 

 late A. J. Downing, thus comments upon the foregoing : 

 "These remarks must be received with great modification, 

 especially in the Northern and Eastern States. The moist 

 or rainy winters of England are the exact opposite of our 

 cold and dry ones, during which, for two months at least, 

 the soil is severely frozen, and vegetation is nearly or quite 

 dormant. Our whole experience goes to prove that the 

 practice of transplanting evergreens in autumn is, for this 

 country, extremely injudicious, as the damage which the 

 trees sustain in their removal greatly increases their sus- 

 ceptibility to injury by the cold of winter. The early 

 spring is the most favorable period for the purpose, since 

 the abundant and long continued rains which occur from 

 the vernal equinox to the middle of April, enable the 

 plant to recover itself and emit new roots with rapidity. 

 \Ve have been very successful in May, but then so much 

 depends upon the occurrence of rainy weather that the 

 risk is greatly increased. Next to the selection of the 

 proper time, the preservation of the roots in a moist con- 

 dition is the most essential point in removing all ever- 

 green trees." 



As far as these remarks apply to the superiority of 

 spring over autumn planting, they have our decided ap- 

 proval ; but we cannot coincide with the writer's views in 

 advocating an e(trly spring removal. Practice has fully 

 proven to us the utility of performing the operation about 



