foliage must not be wet any more than can be avoided. Wet 

 leaves become spattered with mud which soon dries, pre- 

 venting the leaves from performing their functions and 

 causing them to turn yellow. It is a common rule in nursery 

 practice in handling conifers, never to wet the leaves if it 

 can be avoided. 



When ready to plant, a few trees are taken at a time and 

 the roots kept moist in a pail with water in the bottom and 

 planted without delay. Young evergreens are usually set clear 

 "up to the chin" in transplanting; by this is meant to set 

 them in up to where the side branches begin. Large ever- 

 greens may need staking at first until well established. Do 

 not take too many trees at a time; they must never be left 

 even for a moment on top of the ground exposed to drying 

 winds. If possible, do the work on a cloudy day. Do not 

 dig more than two or three holes ahead of planting as the 

 earth must be moist. Remember always the two main prin- 

 ciples already mentioned: (i) The sap of conifers is 

 resinous; (2) Conifers are -always in leaf. Hence the tree 

 must be put where it can begin work again with as little 

 delay as possible. In this respect it differs from deciduous 

 trees which are dormant during part of the year. 



TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS WITH BALLS OF EARTH. 

 The great advantage gained in transplanting evergreens 

 when the earth is retained on the roots has led nurserymen 

 to supply the demand for evergreens handled in this manner. 

 Some do the work at the nursery by planting evergreens into 

 boxes, tubs or baskets while others retain the ball of earth 

 in place by sewing it up in burlap. The latter method is 

 more adapted for such trees as spruces which have an abun- 

 dance of fibrous roots than for pines which have a more 

 meager root system. Of course such trees are expensive 

 and hence adapted for lawn specimens only. However, in 

 transplanting large specimens, for immediate effect, it is 

 especially desirable to retain the earth on the roots. 



