Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-10-19
Fall and Spring Transplanting.

correspondent objects TO the practice of
those who still continue in the old delusion
that fall is the best time for transplantng trees
stating that some shrubs, and almost all
plants, removed in the fall when the sap, the
great supporter Of their life, has gone down in
to their roots, vegetation ceases in them, and
they, consigned to new cold soil, perhaps not
single fibre Of the roots taking hold until
spring, if, indeed, detached almost, if not entire
ly, from all nourishment, any life remains are
destroyed BY fall transportation. Fruit trees,
being more hardy, bear up, but they are for
ever stricken In the spring, 'ifthe dirt is wet,
and packed solid round the roots, before they
are dug, touching or injuring as few Of the f.
bres and roots as possible, and carefully setting
in their new bed, vegetation goes straight on,
&c.
We give this quotation for The sake Of point
ing out very common error, namely, that the
sap goes down into the roots to winter. In
stead Of this, the sap pervades usually all parts
Of tree alike, and while covered with leaves,
these keep up a constant drain or escape
When the leaves fall, although vegetation has
ceased, the roots still absorb small quantity,
aud as there is no escape through the leaves,
the vessels Of the tree gradually become filled
or dlstended, so that on the approach Of warm
weather, stimulating activity, the least wound
Is followed by flow Of the sap. As soon as
the new leaves expand, as general rule, this
flow from incisions ceases, in consequence OF
the drain afforded in another direction.
Now it usually happenss that removing The
tree in the spring, cuts off in measure the sup
ply from the roots at the very moment it is most
wanted, AN evil quite as great as that resulting
from any diminished supply in consequence Of
fall planting. Our correspondent speaks Of the
evil of "a new cold soil are we to under
stand from this that The plant has warmed the
human being, by removal TO fresh bed. I.
not the new soil as relatively cold in spring
as in autumn! He speaks Of life being de
stroyed by transportation must refer ia
long distances; yet trees may be sent thousands
Of miles if ,CeH packed, with nearly or quite the
safety attending their removal to the next farm.
Ample experience has proved this 10 be true.
Why are we not all allowed to take the same
pains in saving the roots and carrying the earth
upon them, for antums as we'll as for spring
transplantingt
But throwing theory aside,-we have in the
course Of our practice set out many ten thou
sands Of trees of various sizes, both in autumn
BY at least. twenty fold, depends on good soil
careful work, and especially on the subsequent
culture, that on the season Of the year; never
theless, if it were not for the liability to be
thrown out or raised by frost, and the danger TO
half tender sorts from the cold Of winter, we
think the advantages would decidedly prepon-
derate in favor of autumn, more especially be-
cause it is not accompanied with the check We
have already spoken of, at the very moment
the trees should commence to grow vigorously
We have never found hardy trees to succeed
better, fas well, other things being the same, as
when carefully dug up 10 autumn and well laid
in till sprirg when they were set out, without
tha above mentioned check.
Shrubs and small plants, if inclining to be
tender, are always made more tender the first
winter by transplantinR hence they should be
either protected, or the work done in spring
Hardy. early starting perennials, as peonas,
pie-plant, &C., should always be set out in the
fall, while tulips and many other bulbs require
must be modified by circumstances, climate,
and habits OF The various plants. Country Gen
tlemdn.
Natural Pr0duntiouc of Huho