50 



TRANSPLANTING. 



little of the culture of trees, looks upon trees of this size— one ■vrho i-? 

 eager to plant an orchard and stock a garden with large trees, thinking 

 to gather a crop the next year. The latter may indeed be done ; but the 

 transplanting so affects the tree that its first scanty crop is followed by a 

 long season of rest and feeble growth, while the plantation of young trees 

 is making wood rapidly, and soon comes into a healthy and long-continued 

 state of productiveness — often long indeed before the large trees have 

 fairly arrived at that condition. The small tree, transplanted with its 

 system of roots and branches entire, suffers little or no check ; the older 

 and larger tree, losing part of its roots, requires several years to resume 

 its former vigor. The constitution of the small tree is healthy and 

 unimpaired ; that of the large is frequently much enfeebled. A stout 

 and vigorous habit — what the nurserymen call a good stocky plant — is 

 the true criterion of merit in selecting fruit-trees for transplanting. 



Trees intended for orchards, being often more exposed than those in 

 gardeiis, should be somewhat larger — not less than six, or more than 

 eight feet is the best size. For gardens, all experienced cultivators 

 agree that a smaller size is preferable ; we prefer plants two years old 

 from the graft. Most gardeners abroad, when they select trees with 

 more than usual care, take wdiat are called maiden plants, — those one 

 year old from the graft, — and there can be no doubt that, taking into 

 account health, duration, and the ease with which such a tree can be 

 made to grow into any form, this is truly the preferable size for removal 

 into a fi uit-garden. But we are an impatient people, and it is not till 

 after another century of trial and experience in the culture of fruit-trees, 

 that cultivators generally in this country will become aware of the truth 

 of this fact. 



The facility with which the different fruit-trees may be transplanted 

 differs considerably. Plums are generally removed with most success, 

 and after them nearly in the order as follows : Quinces, Apples, Pears, 

 Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Cherries ; the latter succeeding with 

 some difficulty when of large size. 



Laying in hy the heels is a practice adopted as a temporary kind of 

 planting when a larger quantity of trees is at hand than can be set out 

 immediately. A trench is opened, and the roots are laid in and covered 

 with soil, the tops being previously placed in a sloping position, inclin- 

 ing to within a few feet of the surface. In this way they are kept fresh 

 and in good order until it is convenient to plant them finally. In 

 northern districts, where the autumn is often too severe for planting, 

 and the spring is frequently too late to receive trees in time from nur- 

 series farther south, it is a common and successful mode to procure trees 

 in autumn, and lay them in by the heels until spring, covering over the 

 tops of the more tender sorts, if necessary, with coarse litter.* 



In planting an orchard, always avoid placing the trees in the same 

 spot, or near, where an old tree stood before. Experience has taught us 



* We have often known trees entirely destroyed by want of a little extra care 

 in heading- them in. Select first a dry knoll, or position where no water can 

 stand, and, if possible, sheltered from the southern sun. After first digging a 

 trench one foot or more deep, lay the trees down at an angle of about 45 . their 

 tops to the south ; then make the soil mellow and fine, and thoroughly inter- 

 mingle it with the roots, filling all interstices, and covering them at least eigh- 

 teen inches deep. 



Trees are sometimes received in a frozen condition. They should then be 

 placed at once, without unpacking, in a dark cellar, and left until gradually 



