134 Propagating and Transplanting of Evergreens. 



Akt. VI. On the Propagating and Transplanting of Evergreens. By 

 John Tuhnhill, Gardener to Charles Cowan, Esq., Valleyfield 

 Bank, near Pennj'cuick. 



On reading over Mr. Rutger's remarks upon the transplant- 

 ing of evergreens (Vol. XII. p. 567.), I observe that he does 

 not give the size of the plants which he has been so successful 

 in transplanting, or the best method of propagating them. In 

 the few remai'ks which I am about to make, I intend to give 

 what appears to me the simplest and best method of propa- 

 gating and planting evergreens ; and it is one which I have prac- 

 tised for these ten years past. I take as many cuttings as I 

 want from branches that are lying on the ground, which I 

 prefer, because they are generally formed with small fibres, like 

 maggots ; and, when I cannot find any in this state, I select a 

 plant or plants of the kind which I intend to propagate ; and, 

 taking a barrow load of good mould, I lay it all round the 

 plant, keeping the soil shaded and damp. In the course of 

 four months, the lower branches begin to form small fibres ; 

 and, when these are sufficiently advanced, which is generally 

 about July 15., I prepare my cuttings, and plant them in rows; 

 1 ft. between the rows, and 3 in. apart in the row. By the July 

 following, that is, twelve months after being planted, the cut- 

 tings will be found to have formed shoots from 9 in. to 12 in. 

 long, and to have very handsome little balls. Such plants I 

 prefer for transplanting to plants six times their age ; as I can 

 transplant them with safety at any season of the year, provided 

 the weather be fine. I could carry such plants fifty miles, and 

 not injure their balls. A plant of the common laurel, I'aised, 

 in 1828, from a cutting treated in this manner, is now 7 ft. in 

 height, with a head 49 ft. in circumference. 



No doubt it may sometimes, for a particular purpose, be 

 proper to transplant large plants; and, if very carefully done, 

 in a sheltered spot, and the plants be well watered and sup- 

 ported afterwards, they may succeed : but a plantation of any 

 considerable extent will acquire a body and figure sooner by 

 being formed with small plants than with large ones. Large 

 tall plants require to have a staff placed near them, on which 

 they may lean, and wait patiently till small ones have grown 

 over their heads. 



W^hen I remove any evergreen shrubs or trees, I always 

 carry a little bast matting along with me, for my labourers to tie 

 on the south side of the shrub or tree, as a mark to enable me 

 to plant it in the same position with regard to north or south 

 that it was in before ; as I know from experience that it will not 

 thrive unless this is attended to, especially if it belongs to the 

 pine or fir tribe. 



Valleyfield, Nov. 21. 1836. 



