Shade Tree Suggestions. 



dry ones, the loss of many of the trees is inevitable. Though 

 the life processes in our trees are dormant during this time, 

 yet the loss of water by evaporation is not wholly checked. 

 Newly transplanted trees are almost devoid of the root hairs 

 through which absorption of water takes place. Absence of 

 these, and possibly, also, of a source upon which to draw, 

 makes it impossible that the tree should survive even a mod- 

 erate loss. 'The tree may be unable to make good this loss, as 

 already stated, for want of absorbing organs, or because the 

 soil water is absent or frozen. 



The actual time for planting must vary materially in dif- 

 ferent parts of the State, owing to the great differences in alti- 

 tude. Any time from the first of April to the middle of May, 

 that permits of the soil being properly worked, may be con- 

 sidered suitable as to time, providing the buds have not wholly 

 opened. If the young leaves have appeared, the first windy, 

 sunny day will most probably extract water from them to such 

 an extent that they will shrivel and blacken as if by fire. 



CUTTING BACK. 



When a tree is transplanted, the common practice of "cut- 

 ting it back" is a good one, if by that phrase we mean a judi- 

 cious reduction of leaf surface. Plants of all kinds carry an 

 expanse of leaf surface proportioned to and conditioned upon 

 the capacity for water absorption by the root system. Leaves 

 are expensive, and their number and size are conditioned upon 

 the income of the plant. Transplanting often reduces enor- 

 mously, for a time, the income through the roots. Good judg- 

 ment suggests that the expenses must be proportionately cur- 

 tailed. This may be done by judicious trimming, keeping in 

 mind two objects to be attained, viz., beauty of form and health 

 of tissue. 



TOPPING. 



This practice cannot be too strongly condemned, at least 

 in so far as it pertains to the practice in this state. It has been 



