The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-04-25
From the Neto England Farmer.

Afo" tue Neto England Farmer.
SUGAR MAPLE TREES
MR. EDIToR-As the Sc ason for transplanting
inc Rock Maple, or as it is frequently called.
Inc sugar Maple, is near at hand l take the lber-
" 10 offer few rema ks the cultivation of that
useful and beautiful tree. have Icing regretted,
as think every gentleman of taste will, when
travelling through our flourishing country towns.
20 hotice the almost universal neglect Of shade
and ornamental trees about buildings and by the
sides OF roads, where little labor and expense u-
oiciorsly bestowed at the proper season, would in
few years. amply and doubly repay the cultiva-
tor, by the additional beauty and absolute value of
MS estate. Aud do most ardentlv hope, that for
the future, more attention and better skill will be
bestowed on this branch of rural decoration
ihere seems to be great want of knowledge of
the proper method of transplantng and treatment
OF this tree. 1t is painful to sec them set out at
their full natural height (often not larger than fish
Poiesl with most of their original tops left on,
Dangling about in the wind for most OF them will
DIE the rst year, and those that live will have but
I sickly existence, slow growth, and never be-
come handsome useful Thus he VINO sets
them is discouraged, the attempt to decorate his
grounds is given up, and the spot remains vacant
waiting Tor the next generation to try further
experiment
The Sugar Maple is NEST successfully trans
planted from the LIST of April TO the LIST of May or
even later, according to the season. The best
Time is when the buds are swollen and Just burst
ing into foliage. Fair, thrifty, young trees, offrom
TWO to three inches in diameter, should be select
ed, and taken up with about as much care as to
preserving the roots, as in removing other trees of
he same size. The long roots may be shortened.
Inc stalk should then be sawed off smoothly, from
ten to twelve feet high, and no twigs limbs left
on IT, In setting it is well to dig the hole deeper
than the roots require, and fill it partly with loan
or top mould. Care should be taken not to set
TOO deep, for this tree delights to send its latent
roots Tar abroad, near the surface of the ground
Let the earth be well trodden in around it, to give
support and keep the tree erect. When the buds
shew themselves near the top as they will in a
lew days, II too numerous they must be rubbed
on, except from four to six, many as shall be
proper TO grow as branches, which are best situat-
ed to form the top or head of the tree. All buds
or sprouts below to be rubbed off and the stalk
kept clear during the season. Any time before Ju-
y will do for this. Sometimes the sprouts will
grow so fast be SO brittle and tender, as to be
blown off by high winds | have lost few fine
trees in that way, but they will mostly recover BY
sprouting again. No further care is necessary ex-
cept to trim the shoots at top with skill so as to
send them up aud out in proper form, occasionally
for three 81 four years keep them free from sprouts
below, and keep the trees erect. This latter is
very easy, except where cattle rub against them,
as having but small top, they are not liable to be
moved by the winds until the roots become suff-
ciently established to afford firm support After
the first three four years, the tree will grow
very fast and form for itself an elegant head 1t
is fresh, healthy looking tree. The leaves when
rotted, make rich food for plants, as may be seen
by observing the grass and other heritage about
these trees to be more luxuriant than elsewhere in
open ground.
1t is believed that in twenty five years after they
are SET they will afford handsome income in the
sweetest sugar and molasses which is produced
from any plant whatever. They grow to large
size, and probably live two hundred years. They
form very pleasant shade in summer, and to those
who delight to look upon beautiful trees there are
none more pleasant to the eye.
The expense of labor for transpianting, exclu-
slve of transporting when brought from a distance
need not exceed ten or twelve cents each. have
set within the last three years, on both sides of
the road which passes the distance of a mile
through my farm, upwards Of four hundred ofthese
trees, most of which in a thriving condition.
Although shall not live to see them grown very
large, yet, somebody else will and hope that
whoever may successfully occupy the same place
hereafter, will not only them of large size, but
have taste and feeling to enjoy their beauty and
preserve them for their usefulness. And why
should men delay to plant and cultivate all sorts
OF good trees, because they may not live to see
them fully grownl What can a man do better on
the face of the earth than to cultivate and beautfy
it While ever ready to depart the lover of beau
tiful trees should act as if he expected to live
thousand years. How pleasant il would be to have
our road-sdes planted with trees for miles together,
instead of being overrun with brush and unsightly
weeds
Now, Sir do hope you will publish something
in your valuable paper, which will excite more at
tention and encourage more exertion for the cult
walton Of this, as well as other ornamental trees.
Respectfully, yours.
ETHAN A. GREENWOOD.
Hubbardston, March 81, 1882.
MARTYRS. According TO the calculation Of
some, about 200 900 Christian Protestants suf.
iered death in seven years under Pope Julian
no less than 100 900 were massacred by the
French in the space of three months; the Wal.
denses who persisted amounted TO 1000 900
within thirty years, the Jesuits destroyed $780,
600; under the Duke of Alya, 81, 900 we're ex