436 The best Season for Transplanting Trees. 



object is to show that if fall planting is no better than spring, 

 or even not as good, it is necessary that a good deal of it must 

 be done then where large quantities are to be set out. I de- 

 cidedly prefer the autumn for transplanting all hardy decidu- 

 ous trees of any size. 



Sub. Go on. 



Ed. Autumn planting is better than spring for the follow- 

 ing reasons : — 



1st. The time is longer than in spring. 



2d. The ground is in better condition. 



3d. The trees are then in the most dormant state. 



4th. The roots, where cut, heal better, and are prepared to 

 send out fresh ones even before the frost is out of the ground. 



5th. The winter and spring rains settle the earth around the 

 roots. 



6th. The trees are well established before warm weather 

 overtakes them. 



Sub. These appear satisfactory reasons and based on sound 

 principles ; but I should be glad to have you state whether 

 you would transplant in the autumn without reference to soil 

 or locality. 



Ed. Not by any means. There are soils and situations 

 where autumn planting might be injurious ; but then these 

 are not likely to occur : for that soil which will not admit of 

 transplanting in the autumn is entirely unfit to grow a tree, 

 at least with expectation of producing fine fruit ; and there- 

 fore there is little necessity of making any such exception in 

 our rules. We are presuming that the object of every planter 

 of fruit trees is to get good fruit. It cannot be done in a soil 

 or situation too wet and cold to set the trees out safely in the 

 fall. It is somewhat different with forest trees ; as it is often 

 an object to plant up some low, cold piece of ground, needed 

 for shade or shelter. In that case, the spring would be the 

 preferable season. 



Sub. I appreciate the truth of your remarks, and agree 

 with you that no tree ought to be planted in a soil which 

 cannot carry it safely through the winter. But is there no 

 danger of winter killing the shoots or trunk, even in favorable 

 soils ? such is the general complaint of spring planters. 



