PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS. 179 



and if frosty and withering weather is avoided, the 

 planting may be successful. 



Note. — The winters of Great Britain are so mild 

 that the frosts are seldom an impediment to planting, 

 in either of the winter months. In our Middle and 

 ^Northern states, the winter season is unsuited for 

 planting trees of any kind. — Ed. 



It is admitted by all, that the transplanting of ever- 

 greens should not be attempted when the plants are in 

 full growth ; for, though even then they may survive 

 the shock, the chance is that most of them will perish 

 or die down to the ground. It seems also ascertained, 

 that the loss of evergreens when transplanted is caused 

 by the excess of perspiration from their leaves, com- 

 pared with the quantity of sap taken up by their 

 mutilated roots ; and that, consequently, dry, parching 

 w T eather, at whatever season it occurs, is, other things 

 being equal, the most unpropitious for the operations 

 to which we are now adverting. At first sight, this 

 principle might seem to exclude the end of summer 

 and early autumn from the seasons available for plant- 

 ing ; and yet it does not, and- that for various reasons. 

 At the period to which we have referred, there is much 

 warmth in the soil, and as the perfected sap is then 

 descending from the leaves, the growth of roots com- 

 mences rapidly and goes on to a considerable extent, 

 in which case the plant is soon out of danger. Then 

 there is often cloudy and dripping weather, after the 

 turn of the day, as it is called, and every one must 

 have remarked the greater geniality of that season in 

 regard to growth, as compared with spring. Besides, 

 in the spring months, the soil is colder and the 



