124 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



CONDPCTKD BY JOSEPH FROST. 

 TEEE PLASTING AGADT. 



Mr. Editor: — We are pleased to see that the sub- 

 ject of tree planting is receiving more attention than 

 formerly. To this end the editors of agricultural 

 journals throughout the country have largely contrib- 

 uted, and for it they deserve far more credit than 

 they will receive. 



It is to be hoped, however, that they will cou- 

 tinu3 to agitate the subject until a farm house, una- 

 dorned with trees and shrubbery, will be as great a 

 rarity as one with them is at present. 



We do not refer so much to those farms near large 

 cities, as those in the more rural districts, where trees 

 can be obtained with the least labor and expense. 

 What excuse can be given for this neglect we cannot 

 conceive; still it is the fact 



Want of time, or skill, need not be urged, for the 

 work can be done so early in the spring as not to 

 interfere with the "spring work" on the farm, and all 

 the knowledge required may be gathered from a few 

 short ma.xims, which common sense would teach any 

 one, viz; The hole must be deep and large, the earth 

 pulverized thoroughly, the tree placed not too deep, 

 the earth not packed down too hard, the top trimmed 

 closely, and as many small fibres of roots, with the 

 earth around them, saved as possible. If you are 

 transplanting evergi-eens, be careful in addition to 

 keep the roots as moist as possible. 



By observing these ma.xims, any one of the many 

 thousand of the " farmer boys " that read the Farmer 

 could line the road side and the front yard with the 

 choicest trees of the forest; and we hope that if the 

 old folks should thmk best to wait till another spring, 

 the aforesaid boya will take some spare day, yoke up 

 the steers, hunt up the pick, axe, and spade, and do 

 it. You will never regret the work, whether you 

 live there a hundred years, or sell the farm in five; 

 for you will receive double compound interest for 

 yonr investment in either alternative. 



Trees of four, five, or six inches in diameter may 

 be removed safely in the following manner: AVhile 

 it is yet cold in the spring, dig a deep trench around 

 the tree, and let it remain till the ground is frozen 

 hard ; the tree ean then be removed safely. We have 

 seen the above tried on large apple and maple trees 

 with entire success. 



While we urge the necessity of planting trees, we 

 would urge those who have time and means at their 



disposal to plant evergreens, and not deciduous i 

 only, as is almost universally the case where any at 

 tion at all is given to the subject. Privaie gentle 

 are not as yet expected to be at much expense 

 forming parks; but surely the authorites of our 

 ies, who have been and are now engaged in 

 praise-worthy undertaking, ought not to pass by 

 ter parks in their zeal for summer parks. As 1 

 as deciduous trees are only found in public parks 

 is the case in most of the few which grace our ci 

 so long we must expect to see, for almost half 

 year, an array of gnarled trunks and leafless lii 

 bowing and bending stiSly to the winter blast. 



Some attention, however, has been given to 

 subject. On Fifth Avenue, in the city of New Y 

 may be seen evergreens which present a beau 

 appearance when all else is drear and lifeless, 

 city fathers have placed a few around the founta 

 the Park; and near Madison Square there isa m 

 ture winter park, one glance at which ought to 

 vert the strongest opponent to the planting of ( 

 greens, for here alone Old Winter seems deprive 

 power to destroy, only increasing the beauty ol 

 scene by relieving its monotony, whether his rude b 

 toss more swiftly the dense masses of living ven 

 or has thrown over them his snowy mantle. 



While the planting of evergreens is here urged 

 on the score of taste, can it not be urged as sue 

 fully on that of economy? Read that escf 

 article in the February number, and see if the ■« 

 does not give a sound common sense view of the 

 ject, and take care that you may lose less frui 

 exposure to cold and wind. Plant evergreens, and 

 orchards will not only present a more attra 

 appearance to the eye, but will in autumn give 

 satisfactory pleasure to the inner man. 



Baston, Pa. 



M 



CANADIAN CHIEF OEAFE. 



Mr. Editor : — I see in the February numbi 

 the Oajjada Farmer that " W. H. P.," of Port 

 wishes to know more of the Canadian Chief g 

 He thinks I have told rather a fine story; I 

 think if he will wait till next autumn, I shall be 

 to prove that we have the best open-air grape g 

 on the continent. The vine is in the garden o 

 Rev. John Brennan, of this city. It has a soul 

 aspect, and is planted in a sandy soil, about ten 

 from a brick wall, and trained on a lean-to irelli; 



I believe it is a hybrid, obtained by Mr. Bre 

 by innoculation of foreign with native sorts, but 

 a secret that he wishes to keep, at least for a 



ii 



