Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-13
After Transplanting.

If the labor of filling our ground with
trees, shrubs, vines and plants ceased
with transplanting, it would not seem so
formidable. The fact is, it has then but
just begun. Such is the character of
our summer climate; the burning sun,
the strong, drying winds, and the alb
sence, for weeks together, of rain rem
der our climate so trying to vegetable
life that it is safe to conclude that if
newly-set trees and plants were left to
struggle for existence unaided a large
proportion would succumb to the unfa-
vOrable influences of the climate
There are some general principles
of culture applicable TO all classes of
plants, and others applicable to specific
classes.
1. 1t may be given as a general rule
that all plants, either at the time of
TRANSFORMING, or soon afterward, should
have their evapOrating surfaces dimin-
ished to correspond to the reduced alb
sOrbing surfaces of their roots. 1t is
seldom that we can take tree or plant
and, transplanting it, leave the portion
in the atmosphere unpruned without
retarding its subsequent growth. Even
the strawberry will thrive much better
after transplanting if portion of the
and the blackberry-tho biennial canes
should be cut down to the ground.
The grape, currant and gOOseberry-pe
ennial vines and wooded shrubs-should
be cut down to within two or three buds
of the ground. Most of the perennial
vines, plants and shrubs of the lawn and
flower garden are improved by pretty
severe pruning, and those aspiring to the
dignity of trees should have their lateral
branches, at least, cut back pretty thor
oughly.
3 Our efforts to preserve the lives and
promote the rapid growths Of transplant
ed trees and plants do not cease with
pruning. We consider it not only i'm
portant to prevent too rapid evaporation
of moisture from the surfaces exposed to
the atmosphere but also to preserve an
abundance of moisture in the soil near
the roots. To effect this end we have
two methods, namely, to capacitate the
soil for absorbing and retaining moist
ure from the atmosphere by frequent
" stirring it with implements or to
prevent the moisture from drying out
of the soil by shading of mulch. Mulch
undoubtedly, not only prevents the
moisture under it from evaporating, but,
by keeping the soil cooler, causes it to
condense moisture from the air with
which It comes in contact.
Under some circumstances one meth
cd of retaining moisture is the most FEAST
blp. under others the other. With
strawberries. raspberries, blackberries,
and all kinds of plants, shrubs, vines,
and trees grown in plowed field or gar
den we should prefer cultivating to re-
tain moisture, but in setting our trees by
the highway. or in a lawn, or wherever
the entire ground is not to be under cul~
tiyation. we should rather give pref
erence to mulChing.
In cultivating young plants the first
time after transplanting great care
should be exercised to avoid tearing
them I'D. If they were properly planted
there is Int little danger in this direction,
as the roots were covered deep enough
TO admit of stirring the ground over
them without endangering their safety,
but if set by careless employees more or
less of the roots may be so near the sur
face that the hoe may catch into and
ier, them ont. We have known straw
berries and even raspberries torn out in
this way. 1t is very aggravating. slff.er
having been to the trouble and expense
of fitting the ground, procuring the
plants and setting them, to have them
torn out and all that they have gained
lost through the carelessness of one
whom YOU pay to be careful.
Another thing to be observed in straw
berries-thev will blossom the first spring
and make a feeble attempt to bear few
berries, and, while the satisfaction afford