The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-05

4
paper communication from Traxi, in which,
after quoting some remarks OF mine before the
Board of Agriculture, in respect to the proper
mode of transplanting trees in heavy soils he
says he does not know what mean by advis-
ing to plant on the surface, Sc. Ii Uau
In justice to myself and to the subject in
question you will, know, allow me to say in
explanation of my remarks as reported, that
the law does not provide the Board with a
stenographic reporter; and that, in point of
fact it is owing to the unrequited kindness of
Mr.. Boardman, who attended our sittings, that
any report whatever of that which was said, or
the substance oft, is preserved. Whether,these
oral discussions were of value or not, is not
now to consider; but it is not to be presumed
that what was said, could be reproduced with
entire verbal accuracy.
Nor is this desirable. In my opinion. Mr.
B., in the exercise of his discretion as to
what should, and should not be printed of the
substance, even, of our remarks, has acted
with eminently good judgment Still even
in this he does not pretend to verbal accuracy
in his report. ..
In speaking to the subject of the report un-
der consideration at that time it was not INV
purpose to do more than allude in very brief
terms to the mode of transplanting 1 approy-
ed OF, and that only in the hope some discus
sion might be provoked by my re-
marks. In recent communication
to the Farmer on this topic 1 had
expressed myself with sufficient fulness-and
as the paper was in possession of the members
had only to throw out mere suggestion of
the method in order to afford a legitimate
opportunity for interchange of views
Allow me to quote paragraph from that
article, which was preluded by statement that
there was nothing novel in its suggestions, but
that in my opinion the method was wise
one and should be followed in our stiff soils:
So far as have had experience and have
been able to acquire knowledge by read;no
the way to transplant a tree that shall oroy1
is, after due preparation of the soil. to GIlace
it on or near the surface, where its sprinoinc
roots will not be impeded by wall of stiff cIaIs
or thrust into cold sand bank. but viii y,
once be received into the surface soil. fulj of
that geine or hu1nus. whatever chemists NOV
Saii & s .haeh ,natnre has elaborated as food for
with good, triable loan, let the mound be snt-
ably mulched, and the tree will grow Tba
droughts of summer will have NJ ipiurions
effect on it, while the suns rays will warm the
earth surrounding It's roots, SO as to ~ipen the
aoO0d one month sooner than if planted ac.
cording to the prevailing fashion. lII l-l-~
Of course, in moister climates a mulch
might not be required, but with the fearful
drougbts that often accompany our summers
it Is necessary precaution. Personally am
entirely Indifferent to Traxi's comments. IT
is welcome to think himself more knowiro
than myself-and am inclined to think he is
should not have trespassed on your space but
for another consideration. This is the very
time the question should be ventilated, not
withstanding critics. In the coming spring
many of our citizens will be replantine their
destroyed fruit gardens 1t is desirable that
this planting out should be such as to secure
for health, at least, as well as for pleasure, an
early return of fruit to be JoLloped By a pe,7na-
nerat supply. " u p. io 4
1t is easy for one who has control of acres.
which he proposes to make garden Of to
prepare the ground by undertaking, plowinp.
culxvating and every other known mode Of
communion Of the soil, but in the small gar
dens ofthe city,where for years and years there
have been few opportunities for soil drainage
there is no chance for the plow or any other pull
verizer than the lazy spade of some self-styled
gardener" a..i tslI a1-
The entire soil has become sour and sodden.
In all these grounds 1 am satisfied, can with
due care be raised most delicious fruits and
the method is, where the ground is not unus-
ually wet, to plant upon the surface;-and
where the soil is very wet, by raising a little
mound, and planting upon that, in both cases
supplying suitable mulch, which will keep the
surface from being baked by the sun, and save
the nuisance Of watering, which is almost al
ways injurious.
This method, planting upon the surface and
upon raised hillocks, has been so fully discuss
ed by gardeners of distinguished reputation
that cannot forbear, in view ofthe coming ne
cessities of SO many of our citizens, quoting for
their benefit few words from some books at
hand; promising, however, that years ago
was so thoroughly convinced of the wisdom Of
DR.. Lindley's suggestions that have ever
since followed them. with the happiest result.
My trees are planted on wet, stiff retentive
clay and have never had either dead trees or
dead wood. t.-l.f.sf. ..... .a..... ai....
Mcintosh, Book of the Garden, vol. 2 D. 3S5,
says: M
Many excellent cultivators, with view to
keep their trees, more especially fruit bearing
ones, near the surface, that they may be within
the reach Of the solar influence, and often to
| prevent their entering into bad subsoil plant
on raised hillocks. In this so far as fruit trees
are concerned, and also where the soil is damn
naturally or rendered so by a wet climate, they
do well, because it is most economical way
of finding good substitute for bad soil. and
est sn.,e Sx.r.eo 4.
| it. This need not however, be carried any fur
ther than to set the roots upon the natural sur
face covering sufficiently with good soil whicI
will, for all ordinary purposes be found suffic
| lent
| In the British Winter Garden, p. 81, Barror
| of Elveston, most successful cultivator, saws
Much advantage would be gained in every
way by placing the tree on the surface of thu
| ground, and by adding soil for the roots to u
| planted in. BY this means the roets, instead
of being cramped in pit, and arriving speedi
| ly at the subsoll, have the depth Of the nati
raj soil to sport in, besides the free access oi
the air ESQ essentially being secured.
Duhamel and Knight are authorities to the
same point.
! DIR. I.indley's Introduction to Botany, vol
n 1871 saws. that Duhamel first discovered
that "roots increase only by their extremitie,
and that, once formed, they never undergo
any subsequent elongation. Length
ening, however, only at the extremities. apt
there by the continual formation of new mat
ter at their advancing point, they insinuat
themselves with the greatest facility betwee,
the crevices of the soil" &C., &c. 4
1toccurs to me that if "Traxi" had acouaint
ed hmsef with these principles, he would no
have confessed himself at loss to apprehen,
my meaning when spoke of planting on tn
surface nor have made his subsequent re
marks about roots above ground" Did h
never see chipmunk standing erect under
cornstalk, shielding himself under the shelter
it afforded in rainstorm, surrounded with tn'
roots that extend from its base like guys IRON
the top of a derrick?-or deer IN Wihdso
Forest, standing amid similar out-of-groun'
roots, under the very base of thousand-year
old oak? If he has not, others have-as
hsar. j. w, DANA