78 TRANSPLANTING. 



resulted in loss. In the first instance, the trees may h.ve 

 been in the best condition, the roots uninjured, the soil just 

 right, and every attending circumstance favorable. In the 

 other, every thing may have been done right, but some acci- 

 dental disaster proved ruinous. A neighbor, as an instance, 

 set out several peach trees in autumn in the best manner; 

 but his soil was low, and "became soaked with water in 

 winter, causing their death. Removal from high and 

 exposed, to low and frosty ground, or the reverse, may often 

 influence the result. Even a wet subsoil, where the sur- 

 face has been dry, has destroyed tender trees in winter, as 

 the apricot, without removal. 



Again, when the soil is a heavy clay, and holds water 

 like a tub, tender trees are in great danger from autumn 

 transplanting, unless provision is made for draining the 

 holes ; which may be- effected by running a deep furrow 

 from one hole to the other, along the line of trees, and 

 using brush, cornstalks, or straw, as a temporary under- 

 drain for the water to soak away. 



As a general rule, the proper season for the removal of trees 

 is at any period between the cessation of growth in autumn, 

 — usually a little later than mid-autumn in the northern 

 states, — and its recommencement in spring. The earlier in 

 spring the better; but if deferred till the buds are much 

 swollen, the roots should be coated immediately with mud, 

 and kept moist till again set out. Transplanting may 

 be performed in winter, whenever the ground is open, 

 and the air above freezing; but roots which are frozen 

 while out the ground, will perish unless they are buried be- 

 fore thawing. 



When it becomes necessary to keep trees through winter 

 without setting, as often occurs where they are received from 

 a distance, the roots may be placed sloping in a trench on 

 a dry spot of ground, and fine earth thoroughly sprinkled in 

 among them, filling up all interstices ; and if theyare of ten- 

 der kinds, one-half of the stems may be covered with earth. 

 Trees are often badly kept from neglect to fill up the cavi- 

 ties, which may be prevented by dashing in water, as in 

 transplanting.* If received late in autumn, after having 



* Trees packed for distant conveyance, should always have the roots coated with 

 mud; for if ,n spring:, it will tend to prevent their drying, as warm weather approach- 

 es; and if in autumn, it will assist the more gradual and safe abstraction of the frost il 



