The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-10-15

The question is often asked, Wien is
the proper time to plant Fruit Trees, Spring
or Fall?
The most of the planting has heretofore
been done in the Spring, and large part
may continue to be done at that season;
yet there are some decided advantages TO
be gained by buying and planting fruit
trees in the Fall, which we will briefly coll
slider.
First. We may set it down as rule with
all deciduous trees, that they can emily be
moved with safety after their leaves have
fallen or while they are in a domant state.
The leaves are the lungs of the plant, which
also draw large amount of water from
the roots and dispel it in the ai". AS soon
as the supply is checked by removing from
the earth, the evaporation through the
leaves must be checked also or the plant
will soon die. 1t is sometimes necessary
to dig trees in the fall, before the leaves
have all fallen by the natural process, when
the remaining ones are removed by hand.
Any one wishing to test the amount of
water evaporated through the leaves can
do so by covering a growing plant with
bell-glass or tumbler and noticing the con-
densation on the inside. We give special
notice to this particular law of nature,
because it is the direct OF indirect cause of
the death of most of the trees that are lost
by transplanting. To make this fact I'M
dcrstood by your readers we will give as
Rule Second. The amount of top on any
tree at transplanting should always cores
pond to the length of roots to maintain
the natural balance necessary to growth
1t is a common practice with nursery men
to send out their trees with nearly their
,hn1 fnn on fhnn, w fhav
sbly send more than one-fourth their roots,
and if planted in this state they invariably
make a very poor growth or die the first
season. The reason is that they put out
more leaves than the roots will nourish
properly, and which only exhaust the tree.
You may think these remarks have moth
ing to do especially with Fall planting, but
they are essential to all planting and should
be known by all. Wewill now briefly note
some advantages to be gained by buying or
planting i the Fall.
First You can have the best selection of
trees and kinds that the nursery affords.
Second. You can plant at your leisure,
Oh should other Fall work interfere you
can in few minutes "heal in your trees
as nursery-men say, or bury their roots and
leave them we'll covered until next Spring,
when you have them on hand and can plant
out as soon as the ground thaws.
Third. Trees planted or moved in the
Fall will have become firmly settled in the
ground or if only "healed in - the roots
will have 80 calloused' ready to grow much
sooner than those freshly dug.
Any one whe has deferred sending for
trees until Spring, and then had them to
come to hand just in one of his busiest
times will appreciate the advantage of Fall
planting.
Grape vines and small fruits that have
roots very near the surface, should have
mulch of some hind spread on the surface,
after planting in the Fall or after the first
freeze to prevent the frost from throwing
them up Usage Orange are also liable to
be heaved up which may be entirely pre-
vented by blowing furrow to them to be
removed i'll Spring. &.