American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-10-23
5artt., Garden 4 atuassheld.
Transplanting Fruit & Other
Il Trees. N

- - w.
Mr.. Freas This is department
of terra-culture in which very few Who
have not the advantage of practical
education, excel. One hcifobsticle in
the way of success, and probably,
which more than any. or all other
causes combined, renders abortiye
the efforts and hopes Of the tyro, is
to be fonnd in the imperfect manner
of preparing the holes for the recep-
ton of the trees, Forest. trees require
of course, larger excavation than
fruit trees, which Are generally Of more
deminutive size, and setin better soil.
To illustrate the necessity of giving
the roots ample "seope and verge
enough, We prssent in this hplace,
the experiments made by M. Uhal-
ormesu, q french author .of, discrim-
instion, and whose zeal in this de-
partment of horticulture Silence, has
secured to him the respect of all who
are familiar with bis efforts and their
results:
S"Four peach trees, resembling 9TH
or as to size and vigor of growth as
much as possible, were planted. No.
1 IN s.hole three feet'sqaare; No. 2
in D hole two feet square, and No. 3
and in holes eighteen inches square.
The soil ana exposition similar. No.
/ has every year given the most
abundant crops, ard the relative size
ofHthe trees are as follows: the stem Of
No. 1, IS feet high and 8 inches in
circumference; that of Ne. 2, 9 feet
high and 81 inches circumference |;
No. 3, 8 feet high and 8 inches 8 lines
in circumference No. 4, 81 feet and
3inehes in circumference, v---,4 ~
1t may be well to remark that trees
and plants derive their aliment from
the soil in a state Of solution, and
this effected through the agency of
the minute terminal points or sponax
ioles of the roots. These are almost
microscopicalin their tin.y, and Id deed
are go fragile that they can. only
permeate the finest and mcst perfect
ly favorable soil. And obstruction
in the form Of stone, consolidated mass
of earth, or other obstacle, oper.
stes to direct them, and consequent>
ly to- prevent the supplying their
proportional sh are of nourishment to
tree. They are in many respects
strictly analogous the lacteals of the
human syitem, and comparatively
possesses all tho fragi!ity and mi
nuteness of organization which char
acterize the latter. 1t will hence be
seen that exposure or unnecessary
drying of the roots, previous to the
transplantation, and subsequent TO
their removal to the nursery, must
be, of necessity, highly detrimental
and injurious to their health. On.
the same account all harsh stamping
and crowding while transplanting is IS
to be avoided, it endangers these
organs, which are SO essential to the
health and increment of the tree
In "Kenrick's Orchardist,' q work,
by the way, which should be in the
hands of every young farmer, in the
land, we have the following in rela.
tion TO the circulation of the sap.
"These enumerable mouths. or
sponglets, absorb and drink in with,
out discrimination, all the fluid SUBJ
stances which come in their way
These fluids ascend through the alb
lurnumor wood to the leavs which
are true laboratories of all plants
as we'll as the organs of respiration.
The circulation of the sap, which
commences its movements, first in the
branches, and last of all in the roots,
il produced by the attraction of the
leaf buds and leaves, which are de-
veloped by the warmth of SPRING
their Transportation requiring supplies
50 great and continual that some
plants are stated to perspire even
twice their weight in twenty-four
hours. The true sap thus generated
in the leaves, and separated from the
more watery particles, decends thro'
the inner bark, having now acquired
new powers, and being now peculiar
lily prepared to nourish and give fia-
vor to the fruit and continuing its
decent, in disposition in its course
the cambium or mucilaginous sub
stance, by which new and cessive
layers of wood and bark are annually
added to the tree !; while whatever is
not adapted as alimeut to the pecu>
liar wants of the plant, is again re-
turned by the roots to the earth"
Another very important matter to
be attended to in transplanting fruit
trees, and one which we are sorry to
preceive is very often neglected, is to
keep down the weeds around the
trunk, When . good orchard is de.
sirable, one that will progress rapid
ly to maturity, it will be well to keep
the soil under careful cultivation with
wseded crops avoiding of course, in
the routine, all such vegetables rs
will shade the soil too much, and pre-
ferring, as q general practice. those