S74 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



Mid- 



winter. At that season we have often genial showers, which 

 to them is of the utmost importance. Experience proves 

 tliese seasons to be the best for transplanting these plants ; 

 and upon an extensive scale, and in exposed situations, we 

 would advise the adoption of it. At the same time, circum- 

 stances may warrant their removal at almost any day in the 

 year. Evergreens are extremely fond of shelter and shade, 

 and it is probably the want of these that is the principal cause 

 of the failure of these plants, when removed at seasons when 

 there is a long continuance of cutting winds without any rain. 

 In our practice at Stratton Park we planted fifty thousand 

 evergreens in one season, beginning in November and ending 

 in February ; the soil for the most part was of a strong clayey 

 nature, and by no means favorable for plants in general, still 

 tiie success here was complete, inasmuch as out of that num- 

 ber not two hundred plants died. Most of the plants were 

 brought a distance of twenty miles, and were from two to 

 three feet high. We attribute the success in this instance to 

 the shade which the plants enjoyed in summer, and the shelter 

 during the first winter after planting ; as they were planted 

 ])artly in very old plantations and partly in young ones, in 

 both cases well sheltered and shaded. Evergreens, particu- 

 larly laurels, may be removed for particular purposes at almost 

 any day in the year, provided that they are taken up with 

 good balls, and shaded, sheltered, and frequently supplied 

 with water over the head as well as at the roots. Evergreens, 

 as well as deciduous trees, of any reasonable size, may be 

 removed, by being carefully taken up with good balls, and 

 immediately planted on the spot in strong baskets. In this 

 way they may bo sent to a great distance with safety. In 

 planting them, the pit should be made sufficiently capacious 

 to hold the ball still inclosed in the basket, the materials of 

 which it is composed will soon decay, and instead of pre- 

 venting the escape of the roots will considerably tend to their 

 nourishment, as in a few months they will be converted into 

 vegetable mould. It not unfrequently happens, that fine spe- 

 cimens? of evergreens, as well as deciduous shrubs, may be 

 wanted for particular j)urposes, and at seasons when it might 

 not be convenient to remove them in the ordinary way. To 



