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fortnight in November, are the four best consecutive weeks 
that can be chosen from the whole year, for planting in general. 
There is, at this period, much of the summer ground heat re- 
maining; which, by affording some stimulus to the roots, will 
assist them in “laying hold of the soil,” as it is technically 
called, in their new residence. In the next place, this parti- 
cular season has usually a very moist atmosphere, from which 
the trees possess the advantage that cuttings are afforded by 
their enclosure beneath a bell-glass ; that is, they are protected 
from a drying atmosphere, which would carry off the juices of 
their foliage, and the bark of the young shoots, and thereby 
exhaust and shrivel them, at a time when they are without roots 
to absorb and keep up a proportionate supply. A newly-trans- 
planted tree or shrub is, for a short time, in nearly the same 
condition as a cutting ; inasmuch as many of the spongioles, 
or points of the minute fibrous roots, will have been broken, and 
others disturbed from their former close contact with the earth, 
thereby occasioning much interruption to absorption, which 
always requires time to repair. When transplanting is, from 
necessity, effected in a warm and improper season, puddling 
the roots, as it is called, that is, first mixing the earth with 
water to the consistence of treacle, where they are to be planted, 
and placing the roots therein, is a practice which cannot be too 
forcibly insisted on. Much has been said of late about steep- 
ing seeds in stimulating solutions, before sowing them ; but we 
believe that more good would arise from dipping the roots of 
trees or plants, on removing them, into a rich mixture of loam 
and manure, in the form of a thin paste, so that every fibre and 
spongiole would be cased therein before being planted. In refer- 
ence to autumn planting, it is well known that newly-planted 
trees, with which proper care has been taken, will continue to pro- 
duce fresh fibres through the winter ; and will, consequently, be 
in a position the better to withstand the withering effects of a 
March sun and east wind. These things being admitted, plant- 
ing should be completed as soon as possible. Where ground is 
of a damp character, proper drainage should be immediately 
effected ; and in the ordinary orchard, open gutters may be 
made, to assist in carrying off the surface-water. It would be 
superfluous here to say anything more about the platform mode 
of planting; abundant advice on that head having been given. 
