Transplanting of Evergreen Shrubs. 69 



monly entertained, that, should evergreen shrubs be removed 

 during the months of November, December, January, and 

 February, the effect will be nearly the same. Notwithstanding 

 this, I am still, however, persuaded that there is a certain time 

 better than any other for performing every operation, especially 

 of gardening, the data for the fixing of which are found in the 

 immutable laws of vegetable economy. The various scientific 

 operations of the skilful horticulturist are guided by these 

 axioms ; and a knowledge of them, he is aware, is indispensable 

 to the success of his performances. Hence, such an acquaint- 

 ance with the physiology of plants points out to him the seasons 

 of grafting and budding, the removal of shrubs, and every other 

 operation which he has to perform; and enables him, also, to 

 calculate with certainty on his success. 



Having said thus much by the way of preliminary remark, I 

 come now to what more immediately forms the subject of this 

 paper; viz. the proper season at which evergreen shrubs should 

 be transplanted, so as to sustain the least injury from their 

 removal. 



The period, then, of the greatest action in the economy of 

 these shrubs is surely not the desirable time ; neither can that 

 be the most fitting season when they are in a comparatively 

 torpid state. In the former instance, the plants will suffer from 

 the natural season of excitement, which the more or less un- 

 avoidable mutilation of the roots will render them unfit to sus- 

 tain ; whereas, in the latter case, the fibrous roots will perish 

 from the extended period during which the plants will be com- 

 pelled to remain in a torpid condition. Well, then, a time 

 between the two extremes (say during the month of April) may 

 be suggested ; but this would be a fatal suggestion, as at this 

 season all vegetable life is, as it were, charged, like a voltaic 

 battery, waiting the influence of a genial sun to discharge its 

 accumulated provisions into leaves, flowers, and fruit. The 

 branches must sympathise with the roots, which, at the three 

 periods cited, ought not to be disquieted. It will be perceptible, 

 from the preceding observations, that there is yet another season 

 at which the proceedings of the skilful and cautious may be ren- 

 dered successful ; and the guide for discovering this period is a 

 very simple one. The time I propose shall be alike free from 

 the extremes of either present or immediate prospective excite- 

 ment, and shall yet not be the season of maximum transpira- 

 tion. It is a well-known and understood fact, as well as a 

 matter of common practice, that the successful propagation of a 

 great number of evergreen shrubs is prosperously effected at the 

 time the young shoots have attained a firmness of texture, easily 

 distinguished by the practical operator. We may instance the 

 laurel, camellia, &c., which will have arrived at this condition about 



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