438 The best Season for Transplanting Trees. 



Ed. Now give the same attention to^ those you set out in 

 the fall. You will find they will rarely start so early, and 

 generally not so vigorously, as the spring-planted ones. They 

 come along slow, but sure — no faster than the roots are made 

 which have got the start of the shoots — and in July and Au- 

 gust will make almost as much wood as an old established tree. 

 If, again, you look into the subject thoroughly you will find 

 the roots are at work long before the surface of the soil is loos- 

 ened from its frosty hold. Just as we see an old tree, after 

 one or two hot days in April or May, break at once into leaf. 

 If, however, the frost was not out, the tree would remain 

 stationary : this shows that there is root action long before we 

 see it indicated by the breaking of the buds. 



Sub. Very reasonable and true. It must weaken the ener- 

 gies of any tree making much wood to attempt to supply the 

 food which a week of June or July weather would extract. 



Ed. Precisely so, and a little observation will convince 

 any one of this. 



Sub. Something has been said in favor of the autumn, that 

 trees make roots after they are set out at that season. Is 

 this so ? 



Ed. This question is not one of doubt, but of fact. Capt. 

 Lovett, in an article in our Magazine some years ago, (Vol. 

 X, p. 161,) has shown that trees transplanted early in the 

 autumn always put out new roots before winter, and when 

 protected by a covering of manure or leaves, to keep out the 

 frost, the root-making process goes on until mid-winter, and 

 we are inclined to believe all winter. This we know, that 

 roses, currants, or any similar shrubs which root easily, if put 

 into a frame in November, and protected so as to keep out all 

 frost, may be taken up with good roots in April : showing 

 that the formation of roots goes on when the plant is in what 

 we generally term a dormant state. 



Sub. My observation, though somewhat limited, has, how- 

 ever, convinced me that the reasons you give in favor of 

 autumn transplanting are founded on sound principles, and 

 when understood cannot fail to be generally followed. At 

 another time I have some further questions to ask about 

 pruning and summer treatment. 



