TO THE PUBLIC.-TRANSPLANTING TREES. 
Ill 
TRANSPLANTING TREES. 
In a late communication for your paper, I made 
some remarks on the time and manner of taking up 
trees for transplanting. I now propose to resume the 
same subject; but, before I proceed to the prepara¬ 
tion of the ground, into which the tree is to be 
placed, it may be proper to remark, that in remov¬ 
ing trees, it is desirable, when it can be done, to 
take them from a soil as nearly similar to the one 
into which they are to be placed, as possible. It is 
better, however, to remove them from a wet to a 
moist, or from a moist to a dry soil, than the re¬ 
verse ; for if removed from dry to moist or wet land, 
unless they are of species usually found in such 
lands, they acquire sickly habits, which result in 
consumption of parts near the heart of the tree, 
and from year to year, the leaves are more and 
more subject to a premature ripeness and fall off, 
sometimes long before those of the same species in 
favorable locations, until at last the top begins to 
die, and eventually the whole tree is lost. 
Another consideration is that of pruning. Ever¬ 
greens should never be pruned at all. One of the 
choice elements of their beauty, is their branching 
limbs and fine conical heads; and much of that 
beauty is derived from the branches starting out 
near the ground, thus making the form from the 
earth upward, complete. If they must be deformed 
by the saw, however, let the mutilating process be 
performed, early in summer, when nature is most 
active, and the tree is in vigorous growth, in order 
that it may form its own panacea, and heal the 
wounds before disease commences and rottenness 
ensues. 
The murderous and sacrilegious practice of cut¬ 
ting off the tops of trees, is still, by many, tenacious¬ 
ly adhered to. It is a practice, however, every 
physiologist must see the necessity of abandoning, 
when he considers that the ascending stalk is 
in reality the head of the tree, and that the branch¬ 
es are but appendages, or, in fact, so many trees of 
the same species, taking root in the main stalk and 
growing out therefrom. 
Thus, it will be seen, that, if the main stem of 
the tree is taken off, its height is determined at that 
position, and whatever upward advances may be 
made in the way of top, are the result of these ad¬ 
ventitious appendages, the branches, taking the 
place of the main shoot, and throwing up an artifi¬ 
cial head. I would say, then, if you value the 
beauty, health, long life, or size of the tree, prune 
the side shoots as much as you please (but prune 
close, and with care) and nature will apply her rem¬ 
edy, and as the spreading roots increase, the means 
of procuring nourishment, new branches, endowed 
with the same faculties of self-provision and self¬ 
protection, will shoot out and fully replace those 
taken off to meet the exigencies of the parent tree, 
by providing shade for its roots, and furnishing my¬ 
riads of leaves for the elaboration of sap, to provide 
for the wants of the growing trunk. 
In preparing the ground for planting trees, the pit 
should always be made much larger every way than 
the size of the roots actually require ; but in setting , 
a tree should not, in ordinary cases, be planted 
deeper than it originally grew. The pit should be 
filled up, with light earth or inverted turf, which, 
in such a position, will soon become light earth, 
charged with vegetable remains; and, in time, will 
become the convenient and healthful food of the 
tree. When you have filled the pit so as to give 
the tree its usual depth, then, after setting, throw in 
and around, light earth, until the roots are well 
covered, after which, less care may be used. 
Errors often arise, in selecting the variety of trees 
for transplanting. For instance, maple has, in time 
ast, been the popular shade-tree. Hence, maples 
ave been thrown into every soil and exposure, in 
consequence of which many have lost their labor 
with their trees, have become discouraged in tree¬ 
planting, and thereby their farm-buildings and way- 
sides are left vacant of the beautiful and healthful 
embellishments. I say beautiful, because every 
one admires the regular symmetry, and just propor¬ 
tions of a well-formed and vigorous tree, and ill 
these days of well-directed taste, the dwelling seems 
to lack a necessary appendage, that stands in “ un¬ 
blushing nakedness,” with no tree to shelter it from 
the scorching sun, or protect it from the merciless 
peltings of the bitter storms, and driving winds; 
while the health of the denizens of such habitations, 
especially in low regions, or in the vicinity of rivers 
and ponds, are more exposed to the inroads of dis¬ 
eases arising from miasmatic vapors, continually in 
exhalation, with no trees to inhale their pernicious 
qualities, and thereby render the atmosphere purer 
and more congenial to the demands of animal life. 
William Bacon. 
Richmond , Ms., March , 1847. 
TO THE PUBLIC. 
In an article which I wrote, and which was pub¬ 
lished in the American Agriculturist for November, 
1845, charges were made against Mr. Luther 
Tucker, then Recording Secretary of the N. Y. State 
Ag. Society, of using his official influence to pro¬ 
mote his personal interests. These charges were 
founded upon what I then supposed to be good 
authority ; but further investigation has convinced 
me that there was no foundation for them. I there¬ 
fore fully and freely withdraw those charges against 
Mr. Tucker, and believe his statement in reply to 
these charges, published in the Cultivator for De¬ 
cember, 1845, to be true. A Member. 
LARD LAMPS. 
I have often alluded to, and even laid some stress 
upon, the use of lard lamps, in my enumeration of 
the evening comforts of a country gentleman’s fam¬ 
ily. This is not only because the light afforded by 
them is more beautifully brilliant than any other, 
except gas, but that lard is always one of the staple 
products of the farm. The lamps used for burning 
it, do not differ materially from those for burning 
oil; and if the lard be made hot, and the lamp filled 
just before it is to be lighted, any kind of lamps 
will do as well. I have always been troubled to 
see a family straining their eyes, at work round a 
table, with one miserable, long, lumpy tallow can¬ 
dle, with as much wick as grease, shedding its fee¬ 
ble rays, just enough to make the “ darkness visi¬ 
ble while, in point of economy, it is cheaper to 
burn one lard lamp, than two such candles, to say 
nothing of the pleasure and advantage of seeing 
