192 TRANSPLANTING. 



old, may be transplanted at any time, without risk of 

 any thing 1 , except perhaps their flowers, though it is 

 best done when the plant is at rest. 



The great advantage of transplanting trees in early 

 autumn is, that though the leaves are fallen, and the 

 visible growth stagnant, still it is observed that the 

 roots are not entirely asleep ; new fibres are exserted 

 from new planted trees, even in November : these 

 assist to establish the plant in its new place, defend it 

 in some measure from the storms of winter, and pre- 

 pare it to start with greater vigour on the return of 

 spring. Both fruit and forest trees, may, however, 

 be transplanted any time during the winter months 

 when the weather is mild and open ; but no planting 

 should be attempted while the air is frosty. 



From the description already given of the formation 

 of roots it will be quite obvious that the delicate ex- 

 tremities or fibres are most liable to suffer on being 

 removed from the soil. To save them entire requires 

 all possible care ; because the less damage they sus- 

 tain, the less will the plant feel its removal. But as 

 it is impossible to transplant a tree of any size so care- 

 fully but that some of the roots will be bruised or 

 broken, and the whole receive a check, it is the 

 planter's duty to give a little pruning both to root 

 and head. 



The branched head of a tree and its system of roots 



, are " correlative parts ; " they mutually depend on 



each other ; simultaneously progressing or stationary. 



The circumstance of being equally balanced, as to 



