APPENDIX. 



411 



It may be well to remark here, that before large trees are transplanted 

 into their final situations, the latter should be well prepared by trenching, 

 or digging the soil three feet deep ; intermingling throughout the whole a 

 hberal portion of well decomposed manure, or rich compost. To those 

 who are in the habit of planting trees of any size in unprepared ground, or 

 that merely prepared by digging one spit deep and turning in a little sur- 

 face manure, it is inconceivable how much more rapid is the growth, and 

 how astonishingly luxuriant the appearance of trees when removed into 

 ground properly prepared. It is not too much to affirm, that young trees 

 under favourable circumstances, — in soil so prepared, — will advance more 

 rapidly and attain a larger stature in eight years, than those planted in the 

 ordinary way, without deepening the soil, will in twenty ; and trees of 

 larger size in proportion, — a gain of growth surely worth the trifling ex- 

 pense incurred in the first instance. 



In the actual planting of the tree, the chief point lies in bringing every 

 small fibre in contact with the soil, so that no hollows or interstices are 

 left, which may produce mouldiness and decay of the roots. To avoid this 

 the soil must be firmly broken with the spade before filling in, and one of 

 the workmen, with his hands and a flat dibble of wood, should fill up all 

 cavities, and lay out the small roots before covering them in their natural 

 position. When watering is thought advisable, (and we practise it almost 

 invariably,) it should always be done while the planting is going forward. 

 Poured in the hole when the roots are just covered with soil, it serves to 

 settle the loose earth compactly 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 in this way when planted, will 

 rarely require it afterwards ; 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 supply ; when, the water having been absorbed, the surface should 

 again be replaced. There is no practice more mischievous to newly plant- 

 ed 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 sur- 

 face becomes baked, and but little water reaches the roots ; just sufficient 

 perhaps to afford a momentary stimulus, to be followed by increased sensi- 

 bility 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 pre- 



