NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



53 



the crown of the stem where it rises from the roots 

 to a level Avith the natural level of the ground, or, if 

 any thing, a little above it. If we examine a tree 

 growing in its natural state, we shall alwaj's find 

 that the tree bulges out of the ground, and that the 

 diverging roots are generally visible ; while the tree 

 which we plant is set so low that it looks more like 

 a stake driven into the gi-ound than a tree. It is a 

 common practice, after digging the holes as deep as 

 the tree is intended to be placed, to loosen the cai'th 

 still deeper down, sometimes throwing it out, and 

 putting in mould, sods, or manure. The effect of this 

 is, that the tree settles down with the earth, as it 

 hardens, and gets below its natural level, to its great 

 and lasting injury. 



In taking up the tree to be transplanted, we are 

 apt to be short-sighted and careless, and M'e cut away 

 and break the roots without mercy. The proper 

 method of proceeding is, to take off the earth care- 

 fully above the roots, then proceed well outside, and 

 trench round the tree till the operator gets below 

 the tier of roots ; then, by passing the spade under 

 and towards the centre of the tree, he can loosen it 

 in its bed, and draw it out. Before setting it out, let 

 him examine the roots carefully, and cut off smoothly 

 every end of a root that has been broken, and it is 

 then ready for planting. To do this in the best man- 

 ner, it should be placed as near as possible in a similar 

 position to the old one, the roots should be carefully 

 straightened out, and the earth filled in among them 

 by the hand. It should not be trodden down until 

 this has been done, and the earth all in, and then 

 only pressed upon with the foot. No water is 

 necessary; on the contrary, in nine cases out of ton, 

 it is hurtful. If a tree has been out of the ground 

 for a long time, and the roots have become dry, it is 

 advisable to make a puddle of mud, and dip the roots 

 in it before setting the tree. 



Mulching trees, after transplanting, is a most simple 

 and ready mode of protecting them from heat and 

 drought. , I have never known it to fail in keeping 

 a tree healthy and vigorous against the severest 

 drought. Grass, w^eeds, stable litter, or even stones 

 around the trees, is a sufficient mulching. This, in 

 our climate, is an essential never to be disregarded, 

 either in fall or spring planting. 



Pruning is another important essential to be ob- 

 served in transplanting deciduous trees. Every tree, 

 when transplanted, loses some portion of its roots; 

 and it follows, of course, that it loses a part of its 

 ability to support its branches, and to furnish the re- 

 quisite supply of food for a vigorous growth the ensu- 

 ing season. It becomes necessary, therefore, to sacri- 

 fice a part of the tree above the ground, somewhat in 

 proportion to that which has been lost beneath. Now, 

 there arc several modes of doing this. I have tried 

 them all, and am convinced that the best, simplest, 

 and the only one that does not detract from the 

 beauty of the tree is, to cut off from every branch, 

 except the topmost leading shoot, the whole of the 

 previous year's growth down to a vigorous bud on the 

 stem. A few more words about transplanting, and I 

 will finish my desultory remarks. A damp day is 

 better than a bright day ; a still day is preferable to a 

 windy one, for transplanting trees ; and never expose 

 for a moment, if possible, the roots of any tree, par- 

 ticularly an evergreen tree, to the wind. I have never 

 seen this sufficiently attended to. Where a tree is to 

 lie, if only for a few moments, exposed to wind or 

 sun, a mat should be at hand to protect it. More 

 trees are lost from a desiccation of the roots by a 

 drying wind than from any other cause. 



Lynn, Jan. 1849. R. S. F. 



Insects are found in slate, and flies and ants in 

 amber. 



Fw the New England Farmer. 



"THE WIND BLOWETH WHERE IT 

 LISTETH." 



Mr. Editor: There have been writers on the 

 philosophy of the winds, and windy philosophers 

 have written on many subjects; but I have seen no 

 satisfactory reasons given by any one why the wind 

 should vary in its temperature so much as it fre- 

 quently does when coming from a northern direction. 

 The expansion of the air in one place has been con- 

 sidered the cause of the rushing in of a more con- 

 densed air fi-om another place to produce an equilib- 

 rium. It is a common occurrence, after severe cold 

 weather in winter, for the air to moderate, and a 

 thaw to commence, while the wind is at the north ; 

 but it is more frequently the case when the wind is 

 fi'om the south. What should take place to rarefy the 

 air at the north in the winter, and cause the wind to 

 rush in from the south, has been somewhat a puzzle 

 in my mind. 



Philosophy readily accounts for the cold chill at 

 the commencement of a south wind after cold winds 

 from an opposite direction : it is evident that the cold 

 air which has gone from the north to the south on 

 the change of the wind to that direction, must return 

 again, and continue to moderate gradually as the air 

 moves from a warmer climate. But how to account 

 for a rarefaction in the air and thaw, while the wind 

 is from the north, after severe cold in the winter, no 

 philosopher as yet has given me satisfaction. Wheth- 

 er it is caused by subterranean heat, or electricity, or 

 whatever circumstance, the subject will admit of 

 an interesting discussion for farmers in the leisure 

 hours of winter, and they can enlighten one another 

 through the columns of the New England Farmer. 



If farmers are not all philosophers, they ought to 

 become so. Men of no profession are benefited more 

 by a knowledge of natural philosophy than farmers 

 are. The more knowledge of causes and effects a 

 man has, the better he is qualified to cultivate the 

 earth, and reap the reward of his knowledge in an 

 augmented harvest. The earth is so constituted that 

 the circulation of the au" is an operation necessary to 

 the existence of all breathing animals and growing 

 vegetables. A stagnated air would soon show its 

 deadly effects on all animated nature. In this world 

 of changes the winds are subject to irregularities, and, 

 lilce the passions of men unrestrained, sometimes 

 hurry into a tempest, and lay prostrate all in their 

 way, causing devastation to dwellings, forests, fields, 

 and even to animal life. 



Moderate winds are exhilarating to the spirits ; 

 especially the zephj'rs will almost produce an ecstasy 

 upon a sensitive, healthy set of nerves. The winds 

 are as beneficial to growing vegetation as they are to 

 animal life ; without which the growing vegetables 

 would be destitute of that exercise which is neces- 

 sary to all animal and vegetable existence ; witho\it 

 them the forest trees would become puny and weak, 

 like the man who grows up without exercise. The 

 great Author of nature, in his wisdom, has made the 

 winds, notwithstanding all their irregularities, one 

 of the great essentials in his design of bestowing 

 temporal blessings upon his creatures. 



Wishing you prosperity in your endeavors to com- 

 municate knowledge, and do good, 



SILAS BROWN. 



Wilmington, Jan. 23, 1849. 



APPLES IN MAINE. 



Colonel John Moulton, of Porter, Me., on the hilly 

 lands nearly forty miles north-west of Portland, is one 

 of the most extensive fruit-growers in that state, and 

 he is making numerous experiments on the various 



