The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-03-27
Trnnsp1aMting Fruit or Shade Trees.

When one has determined to transplant Tor
set out) trees and has made choice of such kinds
as are adapted to his soil, or otherwise prepared
his soil to suit the trees he wishes to grow which
should be done early in the Spring the
Ground can be brought into good condition to re-
ceive them; if the trees are to be selected from
the forest, those that grow in openings or where
they are exposed to the sun and air, will be much
the best supplied with small fbrous roots, and are
usually the prcttiest trees. After selecting one,
trim off the branches as high as may be dcsra
bic, then cut small notch, or otherwise mark
the North side of the tree, then let the tree be
taken up with as great portion Of the roots as
POSSIBLE taking care not to bruise, split, or dam
AGE them, and when any roots have been acci-
dcntally broken split or otherwise damaged, let
them be cut off, or paired clean with sharp
knife; if trees arc to be conveyed eonsidera-
bic distance they should be we'll guarded by
straw or otherwise, in order to prevent injury by
rubbing or drying
Digging the holes, and preparing the ground
to receirc the trecs.-Whether a transplanted
tree shall struggle for several years barely to live,
or at once start into vigorous growth, depends
very much upon the amount of labor and care
the planter bestows. Therefore, in digging the
holes Ill hard ground, as is usually the case in
streets, the holes should be dug not less than
three feet, the larger the better, but not much
deeper than will admit the tree to stand the same
out should be we'll pulverized, and if necessary
be properly enriched by fhe application of ma
nurc, ashes, other compost, which should be
thoroughly mixed with the whole mass of pull
verified soil, by repeated turnings with the spade;
then begin by filling in as much of the prepared
or top soil, as will allow the tree to stand exact
ly as deep as it previously stood, shaping this
soil Tor the bottom of the hole into the form ola
cone or little hillock of slig ht elevation which
IN no frno will
natural position. Then hold the tree upright
on its little mound in the hole, observing to keep
the mark on the north side, extend the roots and
cover them carefully A pail of water may then
be poured in which will wash and settle the
earth about the roots. After the water has set
tied away, fill up the hole, pressing the earth
gently about the tree with the foot and in finish
ing the earth should be drawn up a little round
ing about the tree, and covered with muck, lit
ter, or any thing to keep them moist, and they
will scarcely ever need watering In windy sit
uations where trees are to stand without b3xing,
a stake should be set at the same time with the
tree to hold it upright.
= Pruning, or cutting off the tops of trees at the
season of transplanting think injurious to most
sorts of trees, but should any tree need topping,
or any other pruning, (more than a udicious
shortening Of the side branches to equalzc
the loss between the branches and the roots) it
had better be deferred until about the first of Ju
ly, OF till after the fall of the leaves in Autumn.
We should especially avoid pruning at that peri
cd in Spring when the buds are swelling and
the sap is in full flow, the loss of sap by bleed
ing is very injurious to most trees.
EvERGREENs. AS to the best time for trans
planting Evergreens, every writer seems to diff
fer, and no theory has been extensively prac-
ticed to my knowledge, am induced to believe
the rules which regulate the time for removing
all deciduous trees and shrubs applicable to them.
Most authors agree that deciduous trees and
shrubs may be transplanted at any time after
they lose their leaves and before the buds begin
to expand in Spring, provided the ground can be
} brought into good condition to receive them.
Evergreens do not lose their leaves in Autumn,
but the frost puts them into dormant state in
which they remain until quite late in the Spring
, When they are removed, it should be done care
, fully with ball of earth connected with their
roots and some good mould should be provided
to fill in with | have known pines to be trans
planted in this way in Winter while the ground
was frozen, with good success. Cedars and Ar
Dor VitHs, and perhaps most evergreens require
to be partially shaded the first Summer.