30 SHOW OF THE QUEENS COUNTY AG. SOCIETY.-CULTIVATION OF FRUIT-TREES 
SHOW OF THE QJJEENS COUNTY AGRI¬ 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The article under this head, vol. 5, p. 333 of the 
Agriculturist, after noticing in very complimentary 
terms the Temple of Flora , erected in the centre of 
the tent appropriated to the exhibition of fruits, 
flowers, &c., states “ it was the handiwork of the 
ladies of Flushing, and did them great creditand 
that “ thousands of choice flowers were culled to 
adorn the temple, principally from the gardens of 
Messrs. Winter & Co.; but Flushing is a down of 
flowers, and many of the private gardens contributed 
to form the temple and the pretty pyramids and 
bouquets which surrounded it.” On that, as on all 
previous similar occasions, the ladies of Flushing 
rendered most efficient service, and exhibited their 
taste and skill in the general decoration of the 
place of exhibition, towmrds w T hich many of the 
private gardens liberally contributed; but the Temple 
of Flora so flatteringly noticed, was designed by 
ourselves, and erected under our supervision exclu¬ 
sively by the workmen in our employ; and every 
flower used in its decoration, including those com¬ 
prised in the sixteen large bouquets which sur¬ 
rounded the dome, w r as culled from our own pre¬ 
mises, the ancient and well-known Linnasan Botanic 
Garden and Nursery of the late William Prince. 
The Temple, which was probably the largest, and 
in labor and materials the most expensive, single 
floral ornament ever exhibited on a similar occasion, 
(being about 26 feet in circumference and 18 feet 
high), together with a very large additional supply 
of flowers, we contributed towards the general 
decoration of the place of exhibition ; and further 
contributed, as exhibitors, several stands of flowers, 
and two masses of pyramids, each from 4 to 5 feet 
high, comprising in the whole several hundred 
varieties. Winter & Co. 
Flushing , L. 1 , Nov. 1 6th, 1846. 
CULTIVATION OF FRUIT-TREES. 
A Correspondent in your January number 
vol. 5, cautions gardeners against, transplanting 
trees while the sap is in circulation, as it cannot 
then be done without the risk of injuring them se¬ 
riously. Allow r me to ask a few plain questions on 
this, and kindred subjects of equal importance con¬ 
nected with the cultivation of fruit-trees, which is 
much less studied or understood than it ought to be, 
even by those who profess it, and make the fruit a 
means of profit. 
Are deciduous trees, or those which lose their 
leaves annually, moved more successfully in autumn 
or spring ? and why ? How are ignorant cultiva¬ 
tors to know when a tree or shrub is in a proper 
state to be moved without damage ? 
What season is best for transplanting evergreen 
trees ? (a) 
Should the roots of trees ever be trimmed, as is the 
practice of many gardeners, unless where they are 
broken, or bruised in taking out of the ground ? (6) 
Should trees be headed down, or trimmed at all, 
when they are first removed, or is it best to wait 
until they have rooted well ? (c) 
Is it best to trim trees and hedges in spring, or in 
autumn ? and why ? ( d) 
I have been told that experienced nurserymen 
remove evergreens two or even three times before 
they are placed wfliere they are to remain perma¬ 
nently. Is this a good practice, and what is the 
philosophy of it ? (e) 
Is there any method known by which trees can 
be prevented from throwing up suckers—whereby 
we can be spared the torment of having borders, 
walks, and grass-plots, disfigured by these pests, 
spoiling their beauty, and never allowing us to rest 
from our labors ? (/) 
I have heard it asserted, that when an apple or 
pear tree does not bear w T ell it can be made to do 
so by digging around it, two or three feet from the 
trunk of the tree, and cutting off the ends of all the 
horizontal roots. Is this a well ascertained fact? (g) 
What kind of manure is best for apple, pear, 
and plum trees, and the best time and manner of 
applying it ? (A) 
Is it true that a barren tree may be made fruitful 
by cutting a ring of bark tw T o or three inches wide, 
entirely out ? Has it any good effect, and if so, 
how;, and at what season should the operation be 
performed ? (i) 
I had best stop now, for I came fearfully near 
asking a question about the management of peach 
trees ! “ Heaven bless the mark !” I shall be 
careful of broaching a subject so prolific of disputes, 
whether it is of peaches or not. It is a sore one to 
me, for I have had some little experience in them, 
and in the vile varmints that infest their roots, and 
the equally unmanageable yellows that attack the 
branches. Being a very humble-minded man, and 
well knowing that I w T as ignorant of every mode of 
treatment likely to succeed, I took everybody’s 
advice, and, as may be anticipated, killed them all— 
and out of pure kindness too. I do not like to 
speak ill of any one—and therefore say no more— 
but I have taken a final leave of the whole—trees, 
worms, and yellows, together, and buy my peaches. 
An Amateur. 
(а) Much has been written respecting the proper 
season for transplanting trees—summer and autumn 
for evergreens, and spring or mild v T eather in win¬ 
ter for deciduous trees. The principle which justi¬ 
fies these practices, is, that all plants whatever, 
with few exceptions, are most safe!}' removed when 
they are in a comparatively dormant state, and w T hen 
the wmather is temperate, and the air moist and 
still, rather than dry and in motion. As it is 
known that the greatest degree of torpidity in any 
plant exists a short time before it begins to grow or 
push out shoots, late in winter or early in spring, 
is regarded as the best time for transplanting. The 
chief difference to be regarded between evergreens 
and deciduous trees, is that, from the circumstance 
of the former being at no time, whatever, in a com¬ 
pletely dormant state, they may he removed at any 
time, in winter, spring, or autumn, when the wea¬ 
ther will least affect their fibrous roots and leaves 
by evaporation. 
(б) Whenever a tree has a tendency to run too 
much to branches, pruning at the roots may be ad¬ 
vantageously performed, as the size and symmetry 
of its head may be preserved without mutilating or 
destroying a favorite branch. Besides, another ad¬ 
vantage may sometimes be derived by skilfully 
wounding the roots in order to provoke young 
