THE planter's GUIDE. 



245 



have the best roots and branches, and that they have been 

 transferred without accident or injury, premature frost is 

 nevertheless an enemy to their success which no foresight 

 can prevent. In these northern latitudes we have, properly 

 speaking, but three divisions of the year — summer, winter, 

 and autumn. The fourth division, namely spring, although 

 it figures in the calendar, does not always favour us with 

 its actual presence. Sharp frosts in May, and sometimes 

 in October, are not altogether unknown in the best English 

 climates ; but they are mild visitants there to what they 

 sometimes prove in Scotland. 



If the reader have fully apprehended the detail, which 

 has been given above, (especially in section IV.,) respecting 

 roots and branches, he will perceive, that those two main 

 conservative organs, being (as the shoolmen say) " relative 

 and correlative," continually act and react ; hence, they 

 reciprocally flourish and decay, and are reciprocally 

 stationary or progressive. Therefore it must happen, that 

 if, during April and May, a keen frost supervene, when 

 the sap first rises, (and the flow must always be more or 

 less imperfect in the season of removal,) the topshoots of 

 the former year will inevitably be cut down, and the roots 

 must sufi'er proportionally in consequence. In the same 

 way, if they be cut down in October, they will not revive 

 in May or April. In either case, the activity of vegetation 

 being checked in the outset^ and in both branches and 

 roots, it will require more than a single year ere the tree 

 can regain its healthful action. 



The fourth cause which may be stated, is late planting 

 in the spring, which always operates as a great discourage- 

 ment to trees and kills many. By planting early, that is 

 soon after the autumn, or at least not later than February 

 and March, all trees (Oaks and Evergreens excepted) are 

 surprisingly benefited. By means of the moisture with 



