EVERGREEN TREES. 33 



Consequently there is an immediate draft upon the resources of the 

 tree, after phintino;. It is essential, therefore, that there should 

 be iunnediate root action, to supply this demand. It is then self- 

 evident that the fall is not a favorable time for this work. 

 Undoubtedly tliore are many instances where trees, with more or 

 less eai'th, have been removed late in the fall, and have lived. 

 But in our cold climate there is little or no root action from 

 November until May, and hence the tax upon the tree late planted 

 and exposed to the dr^'ing winds of winter and early spring is xevy 

 great, and frequentl}' fatal. There is a very general agreement 

 among planters that earl}' spring is also an objectionable time. 

 The ground in March and April is usually wet and cold and the 

 root action must necessarily be very sluggish and insutlicient to 

 sui)i)ly the increasing demand from evaporation. 



But in the month of Ma}' the ground has become warmer and 

 all the organs of the tree are excited into activity. It has been 

 found by uniform experience that a most suitable time for removal 

 is just as the buds begin to swell and indications of returning life 

 appear. There is sap enough stored in the tree to sustain it until 

 the speedy action of the roots will continue the supply. Conse- 

 quently the great bulk of this work is confined in our latitude to 

 the month of May. It is unfortunate that this large work is con- 

 fined within the narrow limit of this busy mouth. There is also 

 a more serious objection that the inevitable check consequent upon 

 removal occurs just at the time when the tree is coming into its 

 active growth. It is, therefore, to be expected that this growth 

 will be enfeebled and the appearance of the tree affected, for the 

 first year. If a hot, dry spell occurs in June, the evaporation 

 from the young growth is excessive and losses frequently occur. 

 Still we must repeat that Ma}' is the month for removals. Is it 

 the only month? For many j'ears past I have advocated the 

 mouth of August as a most suital)le time. As an extensive 

 experience has confirmed this opinion and as considerable adverse 

 criticism has l)een advanced, I desire to state the case with some 

 fulness, in the hope that, so far from misleading the public, I may 

 help, by extending the time for doing this useful work, to contri- 

 bute a real advantage in the adornment of our homes and of the 

 landscape. 



In the year 1871, I owned a nursery plantation of about forty 

 thousand Spruces, Arlior Vita?s, Pines, and Hemlocks, of varying 

 3 



