332 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
Southern states transplanting may be done at most times of the 
year, but late fall and early spring are usually advised. 
In transplanting conifers, it is very important that the roots 
be not exposed to the sun. They should be moistened and 
covered with burlaps or other material. The holes should be 
ready to receive them. If the trees are large, or if it has been 
necessary to trim in the roots, the top should be cut when the 
tree is set. 
Large evergreens (those 10 ft. and more high) are usually 
best transplanted late in winter, at a time when a large ball of 
earth may be moved with them. A trench is dug around the 
tree, it being deepened a little day by day so that the frost can 
work into the earth and hold it in shape. When the ball is 
thoroughly frozen, it is hoisted on to astone-boat or truck (Fig. 
148) and moved to its new position. 
Perhaps the handsomest of all the native conifers of the north- 
eastern United States is the ordinary hemlock, or hemlock spruce 
(the one so much used for lumber); but it is usually difficult to 
move. Transplanted trees from nurseries are usually safest. 
If the trees are taken from the wild, they should be selected 
from open and sunny places. 
For neat and compact effects near porches and along walks, 
the dwarf retinosporas are very useful. 
Most of the pines and spruces are too coarse for planting very 
close to the residence. They are better at some distance removed, 
where they serve as a background to other planting. If they 
are wanted for individual specimens,they should be given plenty 
of room, so that the limbs will not be crowded and the tree be- 
come misshapen. Whatever else is done to the spruces and 
firs, the lower limbs should not be trimmed up, at least not until 
the tree has become so old that the lowest branches die. Some 
species hold their branches much longer than others. The 
oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) is one of the best in this 
respect. The occasional slight heading-in, that has been men- 
