THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



1871 



may further say, was chiefly instrumental in calling 

 forth its first meeting and organization. 



The balance of the evening was devoted to "A 

 talk on Eonrgreeiis, hy Robert Douglass, Wankegan, 

 lUiiwis. He said that it was generally believed that 

 evergreens did not transplant well, but that was a 

 great mistake, they transplant as well as decidu- 

 ous trees, if done at the proper time. Early in the 

 spring is the best time, as soon as the frost is out of 

 the ground, before the trees start. Some wait until 

 the buds are about bursting, but that is too late, 

 they will not make as much growth and mature 

 their terminal buds so well, because they stop grow- 

 ing soon in the season, about July, therefore if you 

 plant soon the tree is ready to start growing at the 

 proper time, and it will make better growth and 

 become better established. 



The principal thing in transplanting is to put 

 them firm in the ground, you cannot pack the soil 

 too tight, particularly if the soil is light. I should 

 think in soil like Kansas it may be tramped down 

 tight, so as not to bruise the roots ; I have seen 

 more trees lost by loose planting than from al- 

 most any other cause. The roots must not be let get 

 dry ; grout or puddle the roots as soon as received, 

 and then plant immediately, before they dry ; plant 

 some deeper than when in the nursery, elevate the 

 center of the hole a little to set the tree on, then 

 spread the roots out and fill in compactly among- all 

 tlie fine roots, and particularly under the tree, so it 

 will not sink. The whole substance of successful 

 evergreen transplanting may be embraced in a few 

 words, plant eaiii/ in the spring, never allow the 

 roots to become dry, and pack the grmmd tight, so 

 they cannot shake about or move by the winds. 

 He also gave the method of raising evergreens by 

 seed ; but that, he said was a very delicate operation 

 without some practical experience. In his first ex- 

 perience he lost every one ; but by degrees he im- 

 proved, and now he does not find much ditficulty. 

 The young plants must be shaded by lath, cloth, or 

 brush, the first year at least. He sows in the spring 

 until May, in beds four feet wide, broadcast, and 

 rakes in and shades. 



He also advised liurserymen and others who 

 plant largely, to bed out the plants from three to 

 six inches, to set them with a dibble six inches 

 apart in the row, and the rows from twelve to 

 eighteen inches apart, shade them the first season, 

 and work with a hoe. The earth sliould be drawn 

 up to the plants at the last hoeing of the first season 

 to prevent heaving out in winter. In two years 

 from planting they will be nice stocky trees, averag- 

 ing aboiU one foot in height, and may then be plant- 

 ed in nursery rowsthreeor four feet apart, or in shel- 

 ter belts and hedges. Three years old, six to nine 

 inches may be planted immediately into three or 

 four feet rows. 



For hedges and screens not intended to grow 

 higher than eight feet, plant American Arbor Vitse. 



For hedges and screens plant Norway Spruce. 



For wind-breaks, sheltering-orchards, &c., plant 

 Scotch Pine, or Norway Spruce. 



For timber, plant European Larch, Scotch Pine, 

 White Pine and Norway Spruce. 



For ornamental planting, use Norwaj' Spruce 

 more freely than any other Evergreen. 



He dwelt particularly on the European or Tyro- 

 lese Larch, (Larix. Euro pea,) of De Candolle, as un- 

 doubtedly the most valuable timber tree for extens- 

 ive planting, comliining the ilurability of the Red 

 Cedar with rapidity ot growth, extreme hardiness, 

 freedom from disease and adaptability tir almost 

 every variety of soil. 



It has proved more profitable in Great Britain 

 than any other timber, and is now planted more 

 extensively than all others combined. A. J. Drown- 

 ing said ; " For picturesque beauty the Larch is 

 almost unrivaled. The extremely rapid growth of 

 this tree when planted on thin, barren and dry 

 soils, is another great merit. The Larch is the 

 great timber tiee of Europe ; its wood is remarka- 

 bly heavy, strong and durable, exceeding in all 

 these qualities the best English Oak. To these it is 

 said to add the peculiarity of being almost uninflam- 

 mable, and resisting the influence of heat for a long 

 time. The Larch is unquestionably the most endur- 

 ing timber that we have. To prove the value of 

 the Larch as a timber tree, several experiments 

 have been made in the river Thames. Posts of 

 equal thickness and strength, some of Larch and 

 others of Oak, were driven down facing the river 

 wall, where they were alternately covered with 

 water by effect of the tide, and then left dry by its 

 fall. This species of alternation is the most trying 

 of all circumstances for the endurance of timber, 

 and accordingly the Oaken posts decayed and were 

 twice renewed, while those of the Larch remained 

 altogether unchanged." 



So far as the Larch has been tried in this country 

 it has been healthy and grown more rapidly than 

 in Europe. Wo are unable to do full justice to Mr. 

 Douglass' remarks, they were the most interesting 

 and valuable upon that subject ever contributed to 

 our Society, and at the conclusion a vote of thanks 

 was given by the Society to Mr. Douglas, for his 

 able instructions on Evergreens. 



Then a vote of thanks was given by the Society 

 to the citizens of Manhattan, for the kindness and 

 hospitality shown the members of our Society, dur- 

 ing our stay amongst them. 



The meeting then adjourned, to meet at Lawrence 

 on the third Tuesday of December, 1871, when a 

 free hall and the hospitality of the citizens would 

 be tendered to the Society. 



The meeting was well attended by able horticul- 



