40 PLANTING. 



CONIFEE^. 



Owing to the naturally constitutional difference 

 between conifers and hardwood trees generally, it 

 becomes necessary to treat them differently, each ac- 

 cording to the laws which regulate their life and 

 health. 



The writer has found greater difficulty in trans- 

 planting successfully pine-trees than hardwoods — this 

 difficulty arising chiefly from the treacherous nature 

 of the juices or sap of the pines. A slight accident 

 disarranges their sap - vessels, the resin of the tree 

 crystallises and obstructs the canals, and sooner or 

 later causes the life-spring to cease. 



One spring the writer transplanted a number of 

 pines and firs which had stood several years in a 

 shrubbery. They had numerous roots, but on lifting 

 them, owing to the loose nature of the soil, the earth 

 all dropped off, leaving them quite bare. Some of 

 them were pruned by shortening their side branches, 

 but none of their tops were assisted. This was done 

 by way of making an experiment to see if the effects 

 were equally favourable, as in the case of hardwoods. 

 In consequence of the severe drought of the succeed- 

 ing summer, they had all alike to be duly watered, 

 but for which they would probably all have perished. 

 About one-half of those pruned died in the course of 

 the first season, while only about a third of those that 

 were not pruned succumbed. The above trees were 

 planted upon a considerable incline, and upon sandy 

 and gravelly soil ; and owing to the declivity of the 

 ground, watering efficiently was very difficult to per- 

 form, in consequence of its running off before it had 

 time to sink into the soil. To prevent this, the sur- 



