758 
EX TRA C I S.— ARBORIC ULTUR E. 
ARBORICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 
On Trvnspi.anting Evergreens. The seasons generally taken advantage 
of for transplanting evergreens are spring and autumn : that is, about the month 
of May, after the spring frosts are supposed to be over, or in the month of 
August, before the frosts set in. Mr. John Kinment, gardener at Murie, in Scot¬ 
land, has invariably found, that such plants as were removed in April and May, 
had an advantage over those transplanted during the preceding autumn. The 
reasons he assigns for this circumstance are, that such plants as are lifted in 
August cannot be supposed to have their young wood so well ripened oft’ as 
plants that remain undisturbed at that season of the year; if the plants be 
checked by being transplanted at that season of the year, when the young wood 
is imperfectly ripened, generally in place of their pushing away vigorously 
in spring, the. young wood is apt to die back, the leaves assume a sickly yellow 
appearance, and the whole plant is rendered an eyesore. Take advantage of 
moist weather for removing the plants, and having fixed on the various situations 
where they are to be placed, cause the pits to be made before the plants are 
lifted, then take them up, with good roots and balls as entire as possible; the 
plant, if large, should be put into a handbarrow, made for the purpose, and 
carried to its destination by two or four men, according to its size or weight; let 
it carefully down into the pit then adjust the roots and cover them with fine 
mould, then gently press the soil down with the foot, and give a slight watering 
through the rose of a watering pot, afterwards fill up the pit and level off; gentle 
waterings must be occasionally given in the course of the season; in ordinary 
seasons two or three waterings will be sufficient. On stiff soils, or under large 
trees, the plants are much benefited by trenching and loosening the earth a few 
feet all round them the following winter or spring, after being transplanted. 
On dry soils, and in sheltered situations, evergreens may be transplanted during 
the winter months with success; but on low lying retentive soils, it is advisable 
to defer the transplanting of large evergreens till at least the beginning or middle 
of April .—John Kinment , Mem. Cal. Hort. Soc. 
On Pruning Forest Trees. Forest trees are regarded either as objects of 
ornament or of profit. Ornamental trees require no assistance from the pruner. 
Natural forms cannot be improved by art, even when directed by the most refined 
taste. It is only in woodlands, raised or maintained as sources of profit, that the 
skill and exertions of the forest pruner are available. In such cases, the special 
object is to obtain the greatest quantity of marketable timber. To have timber 
of the finest grain or quality, no lateral branches that grow within the convenient 
reach of the pruner should be allowed to arrive at any considerable size: the 
soundness of timber is not deteriorated by pruning, provided the wounds made 
in the execution be no greater than will be healed during the following summer. 
A scar made by the axe, bill, or chisel, if exposed longer than tw r elve months, 
will always remain a flaw; for though it may afterwards be covered smoothly 
over with collapsing wood, it is impossible that any perfect union can take place 
between a surface of timber which has been exposed to the air for several months, 
and that which is subsequently formed over it. All wood work (except oak felling 
and peeling) is done in winter, chiefly because the leaves are off, and the grow th 
has stopped. It is necessary to observe, however, that pruning performed in the 
