APPENDIX. 
419 
around the various roots, and thus both furnishes a supply of moisture, 
and brings the pulverized mould in proper contact for growth. Trees 
well watered when planted in this way, will rarely require it after- 
wards ; and should they do so, the better way is to remove two or 
three inches of the top soil, and give the lower stratum a copious sup- 
ply ; when the water having been absorbed, the surface should again 
be replaced. There is no practice more mischievous to newly moved 
trees, than that of pouring water, during hot weather, upon the surface 
of the ground above the roots. Acted upon by the sun and wind, this 
surface becomes baked, and but little water reaches the roots ; or just 
sufficient, perhaps, to afford a momentary stimulus, to be followed by 
increased sensibility to the parching drought. 
With respect to the proper seasons for transplanting, we may remark 
that, except in extreme northern latitude, autumn planting is generally 
preferred for large, hardy, deciduous trees. It may commence as soon 
as the leaves fall, and may be continued until winter. In planting large 
trees in spring, we should commence as early as possible, to give them 
the benefit of the April rains ; if it should be deferred to a later period, 
the trees will be likely to suffer greatly by the hot summer sun before 
they are well established. 
The transplanting of evergreens is generally considered so much more 
difficult than that of deciduous trees, and so many persons who have 
tolerable success in the latter, fail in the former, that we may perhaps 
be expected to point out the reason of these frequent failures. 
Most of our horticultural maxims are derived from English authors 
and among them, that of always planting evergreens either in August 
or late in autumn. At both these seasons, it is nearly impossible to 
succeed in the temperate portions of the United States, from the dif- 
ferent character of our climate at these seasons. The genial moisture 
of the English climate renders transplanting comparatively easy at all 
seasons, but especially in winter, while in this country, our Augusts 
are dry and hot, and our winters generally dry and cold. If planted in 
the latter part of summer, evergreens become parched in their foliage, 
and soon perish. If planted in autumn or early winter, the severe cold 
that ensues, to which the newly disturbed plant is peculiarly alive, 
paralyses vital action, and the tree is so much enfeebled that, when 
