The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-03

FortFairfield-an excellent farming region by
the way-asks tor the best time and the best
mode of transplanting maple and elm trees.
We are glad to know that this young farmer
is thinking upon this subject, and we wish
there were more in the same way of thinking.
Forest trees don't grow in one season and if a
young tiller OF the soil hopes to refresh him
self under the shadow OF the beautiful maple
and the graceful elm in his advanced age, he
must see TO it that THESE trees are set out in
due season. He must not wait till he reaches
mature manhood or old age, before he COM
mences the good work IF transplanting trees.
How many thousand old farmers in our State
wish they had set out trees in their early
lite? And they now wonder why they did
not do it? Perhaps they thought OF it year
after year, and kept putting it off from time
to time, until they finally gave up thinking
about it, or if they tn ink of it at all it is only
with regret.
We have often thought, when riding
through the country, how beautiful the farm-
ers might have made the grounds about their
dwellings and the roadsides by transplanting
from the forest in years gone by, the maple
and the elm II such work had been done
in season how beautiful would the landscape
have been made? 1t is not too late now Tor
young men to egin the work, and if the old
er men would do it, the coming generation
would rise up and call them blessed.
We can say to our ''young farmer at Fort
Fairfield that moro depends on the mode of
transplanting forest trees than on the time
when it is done. And yet some seasons of
the year are better Tor such work than Others
We once transplanted a white maple tree, s
inches in ameter three feet from the gronnd
in the month of June when it was in full leaf
But we tried it as an experiment and sue
ceeded beyond our expectations. This
tree was removed so carefully and with so
much earth upon tine roots that the leaves
did not witber, but continued to grow. One
old gentleman remarked at the time this tree
palk in country village, that 1T didn't know
that it had been removed at all. But the
work was some what expensive. and we would
not recommend June as suitable month in
which to transplant trees. We only allude
to this instance to show the importance of
doing the work well when it is done.
Early spring ald late autumn are the best
seasons OF the year Tor doing this work, and
which is the better we are not prepared to
say. Ii trees are transplanted in the spring
as many roots as possible should be taken up
with them and especially should we be careful
not to wound them. 1he small roots, the
little hbres, are more essential to the life of
tree than many suppose. Some think that if
they can take up with the tree large roots
without regard to the small ones, the work will
prove successful But this IS mistaken no.
ton. There is another blunder committed
in transplanting trees. The holes are not
generally opened large enough, and so the
tree is jammed into the ground, its large roots
cramped, and its mall ones knotted up.
When thus set out, the tree will not probably
live, or it it does not die, it will receive such
shock that its growth will be feeble. Holes
should be dug lon!er than the roots will
measure so that there may be loose soil upon
the outside of the roots as well as about
them. As before intimated, the small roots
should occupy their natural positions, and
fine earth should be sifted in among them so
that they shall be thoroughly imbeided in it.
This is important for these rootets and fibres
will Immediately begin to seek nourishment
| from the earth in close contact with them
| and give it to the tree. Their functions are
quite as important and essential as those of
the large roots which generally receive most
| thought and care But be it remembered,
these little ibres do all the soaking and the
large roots are only the main conduits to
convey the nodrishment to the trunk and
branches of the tree which they have extract
ed from the earth.
When trees are transplanted in autumn be-
fore the ground freezes the same things are
to be done and the same care taken. But
there is another mode of transplanting late
in the fall. Before the ground closes, dig
trenches about the trees intended for trans
planting, and fill these trenches with tan
bark or other material which the frost will
not render hard as frozen ground. Have
the holes dug before the ground freezes, and
| after it is iIozen remove the trees with all the
ground adhering to the roots and place them
| in the holes and set them solid. This is a
good way, and generally succeeds if the trees
are properly cared for during the following
spring and summer. Sometimes it becomes
necessary to water trees, but too much water
should not be used; and when it is used, it
should not be dashed on carelessly so as to
wash away the earth from the roots, or hard
ell and cake the ground. Mulch Of straw or
other materials may be placed about the
roots and that will somewhat guard them
against drought. Trees eight or ten wears
old may transplanted and made to i've II
proper care is taken. And it is something to
save several years in growth. We think .rees
of good size may be made to live just as well
as very small ones. Now we hope our
"Young Farmer" and many others will trans
plant thousands of our noble forest trees this
autumn and next spriLg.
| AGRICOLA.