The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-03-26
for the farmer.
THE BEST TIME FOB TRANsPLAN.
TING.

With every returning Fall and Spring the
question arises: Which, OH the whole, 10 the best
srason for transplantingi We do not propose
now to discuss the question at length, but merely
70 state a few general principles.
Before nlanting the question to be considered
FIRST is the nature of the soil into which our trees
are to be set. If il lie wet, and cannot easily be
made dry by draining and trenchiug, theu in
that case, assuredly, Fall planting is not the
best. Trees set in such soil in Autumn, get but
slight hold of the earth before Winter sets in.
The stagnant water at the root not only caskers
them, but 10y alternate freezing and thawing,
heaves them out and exposes them TO the air.
AAd~ W hen all this does not oceur, the stem Of
the tree is swayed about in the soft earth, ma
king hole around il for the descent of air to
the roots. When Spring opens, such 4 tree, if
alive, is in q poor condition 10 make vigorous
growth. If trees must be planted III such soil
which, by the Way, we much questionable best
way would be TO wait until Spring, or TO dig
them mp in the Fall, heel them i'm in sOinr dry
and sheltered spot for the Winter, and set them
out as Spring fairly opens. But We must
say that, considering the many kinds of diseases
TO which all kinds IF trees are subject, we Ould
go without trees--fruit trees, certainly-rafh-r
| than set them in cold wet soil that cannot lie
reclaimed Wonld IL not he better to sell the
uncongenal land and buy better, if draining
cannot he ehectedI
case Of planting upon an exposed and bleak site.
| Trees set ont in the fall on snch land, wonld he
likely to get lashed abOut or blown over by the
winds of Winter, before getting established. Set
ont in April, the roots would get pretty firm
hold before Autumn came around, and wOnld
sustain the tree in its place.
Again: Trees whose hardihOod is at all'doubtful
should not be planted in the Fall They are not
in condition TO resist the cold of Winter Trees
are often condemned as tender and the nursery
men who sell them get roundly abused, because
the trees perish the Winter after transpianting.
when they Womb undoubtedly have lived had
they been set out in Spring.
That evergreens of every name shonld be trans
planted only In the Spring, we need not now
stop to show. Some of the hardest kinds may
90 through the Winter safely, after Fall plan
ting, but theory and experience testify against
the practice.
With some exceptions like these, We say, plant
in the Autumn. Hardy trees, such the apple,
cherry, and plum, and forest trees generally, set
out in good warm soil, gain decided advantage
by this treatment. If set out early in the Fall,
the ground gets well settled about the roots, and
considerable root growth Is made before Winter
sets in. By this means they are prepared to ell
dnre the cold of Winter and TO start forth vigOr-
ously in the Spring. In Fall planting, it is well
to throw up mound of earth foot high around
the trunk, to prevent hard freezing of the roots,
and to keep them firmly in their place. This
precautiOn will also prevent mice from barking
the trees. Large and those with short roots
should be well tied 10 stakes, to prevent their
being blown over by the winds.-4mericdn 4gri-
cHltluist.