284 APPLICATION OF PEINCIPLES. 



planting, is apparent from Mr. Thompson's tables 

 above referred to ; how little the matter is attended 

 to by nurserymen, gardeners, and labourers, all great 

 planters know to their cost. Mr. Macnab, who 

 thoroughly understands all this, prefers a moist 

 rainy day ; although, as he says, he has " at times 

 been as wet in planting evergreens, as when exposed 

 for hours on the windy side of Ben Nevis in a wet 

 day, without greatcoat and with a broken umbrella." 

 It may be very true that good plantations have been 

 made in March and April ; it may be equally true 

 that no such care as I have described is necessary for 

 all plants ; but no wise man would, on that account, 

 neglect the precautions which the nature of plants 

 shows to be necessary to insure success with all things. 

 Yery wet and late springs may prevent the loss of 

 any considerable proportion of the trees planted in 

 March and April, especially if succeeded by a dull, 

 warm, wet summer ; and a Willow may be planted 

 with success at midsummer : but we cannot tell be- 

 forehand what sort of spring is coming, and all 

 plants have not the tenacity of life possessed by a 

 Willow. 



If the months of November and December are the 

 most favourable for transplanting deciduous trees, 

 and March and April the worst, how much more im- 

 portant must be those periods to evergreens. An 

 evergreen differs from a deciduous plant in this ma- 

 terial circumstance, that it has no season of rest ; its 

 leaves remain alive and active during the winter, and 

 consequently it is in a state of perpetual growth. I do 



