TRANSPLANTING FRUITS AND ORNAMENTALS. 115 



in the near vicinity and the roots kept moist should be 

 planted at once. But experience has shown that it is 

 safest to take them up and transplant when the buds begin 

 to swell. At this time the rootlets will start quickly to 

 sustain the rapid evaporation from the foliage. Plant 

 when the soil works well and compact it firmly on the 

 roots spread in natural position. The spruces and firs 

 have many fibrous roots to which earth adheres in trans- 

 planting. Hence they need no cutting back of the top 

 except in the way of shaping. But the pines show few 

 fibrous roots not left in the soil when digging. ^ Yet 

 Nature has provided for safe planting, as the branches are 

 provided with latent buds from which growth starts from 

 cut-back branches. If pines are more than one foot in 

 height they are more certain to grow if the tops are cut 

 back quite severely. 



Evergreens boxed and shipped in from a distant point 

 when opened usually show dried mud encased over the 

 roots. Before planting it is best to dip the roots in thin 

 mud to soften that which is dried and plant with the roots 

 wet. If planted in only fairly moist soil with the dry mud 

 over the roots, and dry days follow, the death of the trees 

 from drying is quite certain. 



It sometimes happens at the North that evergreens and 

 fruit trees are received in a frozen condition. In such 

 cases it is best to place the boxes or bundles in a cellar 

 without opening. If the roots are tightly packed in moss 

 or other packing, it often happens that such exposure is 

 harmless if the frost is drawn out slowly in the cellar. 



The handling, planting, and care of other ornamental 

 plants and trees and small fruits will be given in connec- 

 tion with descriptive notes on varieties and species. 



