THE -FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
317 
seek guidance from suck principles expecting too muck from a mere 
rule of tkumk application of them, tkat complete failure is so often 
experienced, or at least tkat tke true value of such principles is so 
seldom ascertained. Tkese observations are not only applicable to 
the theory of transplanting, but to every other operation of which 
the principles can (and it would be difficult to name one of wkick 
they could not) he conveyed in a written treatise. 
Thus most persons who know anything about planting at all will 
have learnt that evergreens should be transplanted in autumn, or 
under certain conditions in spring ; and that the deciduous trees and 
shrubs should be removed at some period between the falling of tke 
leaf in autumn and the swelling of tke bud in the following year. 
Tkese may be considered as the broad principles, which, if duly and 
properly carried out in practice, all other circumstances being favour- 
able, will be productive of much success. But as regards both ever- 
greens and deciduous plants, these principles may be practically 
violated to a wide extent ; with tke former, however, muck more 
than with the latter. It will be borne in mind tkat the observations 
and illustrations now to be given have sole reference to plants that 
can be replanted immediately after being taken up. At the end of 
June in the present year, I determined on moving two large plants 
of Forsythia viridissima, which were monopolizing too muck space in 
a bed of small flowering shrubs in my own garden. In the places 
which I intended them to occupy, holes were dug and well watered. 
The plants being put in, and sufficient soil thrown upon the roots 
to cover them, another good wateriug was given, and the remaining 
soil tilled in. The plants were growing luxuriantly at the time ; 
nevertheless, they gave no indications of being injured. In fact, 
not a leaf drooped. Of course growth for the season was checked, 
but that was rather an advantage than otherwise, for it induced 
short sturdy shoots, which, in a Forsythia, constitute perfection. 
Obtain these, and you have flowers in abundance. 
Now, the success of these plants depended in no small degree 
on the peculiar character of their roots. They have an abundance 
of succulent fibres, which, if the plant is at all carefully removed, 
are ready to resume their functions immediately after transplanting ; 
and those of the plants in question being supplied with plenty of 
moisture, and kept out of the ground but a short time, no material 
check was given. In transplanting under similar conditions, this is 
an important point to attend to ; and, in fact, under any circum- 
stances whatever, it should be kept in view. 
Of course there are many r other deciduous shrubs than the 
Forsythia, which, if necessary, might be transplanted in summer 
with perfect safety. Plants with long woody roots having but few 
fibres, and those principally at the extremities, it would be hazardous 
to experiment upon ; but such as have an abundance of succulent 
rootlets, principally' within a foot or two of the base of the stem, 
may with proper care be as successfully transplanted in summer as 
at any other season. Recollect it is not recommended to transplant 
any shrub or tree in summer in preference to autumn; but where 
circumstances render it necessary or advantageous to do so, it may 
October. 
