THE CVNAHIAN HORTICULTURIST. 35 



common with other trees, have their period of growth and their period 

 of torpidity in each year, although no living tree can be said to be ia 

 a state of absolute torpidity at any time; they exhale moisture to some 

 extent from their buds and small branches, and Evergreens from their 

 leaflets also, even in the depth of AVinter. In order to supply this waste 

 they must absorb by the roots, so tliat a circulation, however sluggish, 

 is maintained even at this period of the year. To transplant in the 

 Fall or Winter would be to cut oft'.a great many of the roots that ran 

 to the greatest depth into the soil out of the reach of frost, so that the 

 tree would be prevented from obtaining the moisture requisite to 

 maintain life. Therefore I woidd not reconmiend Fall or Winter as the 

 -eason most suitable for transplanting Evergreens. The comparative 

 leisure of the season might induce planters to perform the work in the 

 Fall in milder climates than ours. I have found the first Winter to 

 be a trying time in some years for EvergBeens that were transplanted 

 the previous Spring. In May and June the plant is putting forth its 

 utmost efforts to produce the annual growth of wood; absorption, ex- 

 halation, and circulation are in their states of greatest activity, and the 

 plant receives a rude shock when these are suddenly interrupted. By 

 transplanting in the early Spring the earth will have time to settle 

 about tlie roots; young filjrous roots will liave commenced to grow, and 

 the plant will not attempt to produce the same amount of annual 

 growth that it would if not removed until June. The sap of Ever- 

 greens is resinous, and if the plant be long exposed out of the ground 

 1 he watery portion of the sap evaporates, allowing the resin to harden, 

 and no amount of water afterwards applied to the roots will soften it, 

 as it is insoluble in water at ordinary ^temperature, the circulation 

 consequently can never be restored, and the plant of necessity must die. 

 Now this state of affairs is more likely to be brought about in Summer 

 than in the Spring, when we have cooler weather and a greater number 

 of cloudy days. I would recommend early Sjjring as the best time t© 

 transplant Evergreens. It is not contended that Evergreens cannot be 

 transplanted with success at other seasons, but all other things con- 

 sidered, I believe the transplanting of them in early Spring reduces the 

 chances of fadure to a minimum. If they are taken up with a large 

 ball of earth adhering to the roots, large trees even may be safely trans- 

 i^louted at any season; this however is too slow and expensive a process 



