THE AUT OP 



Transplanting. 



Transplanting consists in taking up young plants, and re- 

 planting them in another place for a time, with the view of 

 developing the fibrous root and strengthening the neck of the 

 plant. It is chiefly practised with plants raised from seed, 

 which are transplanted after the first year's growth. Seed- 

 lings of resinous trees and evergreen shrubs should be trans- 

 planted between the middle of August and the end of 

 September, or between March and May. Seedlings of deci- 

 duous trees should not be removed until the sap has gone to 

 rest, and in their case only can the stems and roots be cut too 

 long. Transplanting is done with a dibble, in rows of about 

 eight inches apart, with a distance of four inches at least 

 between the plants. After a couple of years, the plant will be 

 sufficiently grown to be removed to the nursery or to a per- 

 manent position. By planting it at once where it is intended 

 to remain, we avoid both the cost and labour of a future 

 transplanting and the delay, as well as the chance of failure. 

 Careful nursery treatment is almost indispensable for very 

 young subjects, which require continual attention in culture 

 and pruning. 



The Nursery. 



This should be in a favourable position, well aired, well 

 drained, and having good easily worked soil. Porous soils, 

 which are liable to be always too dry, should be avoided, if 

 possible, as also should those that are too compact, as they 

 retain the water on the surface. As regards the improvement 

 of the soil in a nursery, a mixture of vegetable mould is 

 preferable to manure off the dung-heap. A tree raised in soil 

 richly manured is better than one grown in bad soil, but 

 inferior to one grown in good natural soil composed of various 

 elements. The ground is broken up before winter, and the 

 soil and compost mixed together in the trench, and not 



