Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-11-10

in this State. In reply to correspond
ent's question, the editor says: I" In
making chestnut plantations the seed
should always be planted where the trees
are to remain" No reason Is given for
such absurd advice, and we are free TO
say that no good one can be given; for
every person who has had any expert
ence in handling such trees knows that a
chestnut may be transplanted as readily,
and with as good results. as the apple or
pear OF course IL is not to be supposed
that a man can 90 into the woods and
pull or dig up lot Of young chestnut
trees and plant them out sgain with the
same prospects of success as he could a
lot Of apple or pear trees from q nursery,
for the latter have been prepared for
transplanting by special processes we'll
known to every nurseryman.
Apple and pear seeds are first sown in
seed beds, from whence they are re
moved when one or two years old, the
tap root being shortened during the op-
Grafton, and, when again set out, the re-
suit of this pruning and removal is a
large number Of side OF lateral roots,
running near the surface of the ground
If the seedlings are left in the seed beds
or rows, and budded or grated without
removal, they would have one principal
perpendicular, or "tap root" as 1t is
termed, and very few side or rlateral ones;
consequently, to remove such trees and
make them live might be difficult and
uncertain operation. But our worthy
and experienced contemporary would
never advise planting apple and pear
tree seed "where the trees are to re.
main" in orchards; and we are at loss
to know why 1t should recommend the
treating of chestnut or other nut
bearing trees In this manner. 1t must
know that these trees have been success
fully transplanted from the nurseries in
Europe ever since gardening has been
practiced as an art. Millions of chest.
nut trees have also been raised from the
seed in this country and distributed
broadcast over the land, and If they have
in any instance failed to grow it cannot
be attributed to their delicate nature or
lack of vitality.
II is the dissemination of erroneous
ideas regarding the facility with which
our nut-bearing trees may be transplant
ed that has discouraged in great meas
ure their propagation and cultivation.
In Europe, where everybody appears to
know that nut trees can be readily re-
moved without loss, they are in great
demand, and, as a result, the city of
Paris can boast of more American oaks
growing within her limits, and trans
planted trees at that, than can be found
in all of our larger cities and public
parks combined. Now it is quite time
that all this nonsense about planting
seeds where the trees are to grow as a
necessity, or even from an economical
point of view, was obliterated from our
horticultural literature, for it is as alb
surd and unscientific as the old notion
that transplanting should be done in the
old or new moon.
We will venture to say that the peach
and almond are as difficult trees to trans
plant as any one of our native forest
trees; but, through habit, we have be-
come accustomed to set them out in Or
chards, and nobody thinks there is any
mystery or difficulty to be encountered in
performing the operation. The same re-
suit would follow from a like familiarity
with oaks, chestnuts and other nut bear
ing trees. All that is required to insure
successful transplanting of such trees is
to treat them in the same manner as we
do our various kinds of fruit-trees-that
is, transplant the Seeding when one or
two years old, cutting off the tap-root in
order to secure free emission of side or
lateral roots, the greater part of which
can be left attached to the tree when re-
moved from one place to another. There
is, it is true, difference in trees as re-
CARDS their sensitiveness to the disturb
ance of their roots, some being trans
planted more easily than others; hence
greater care may be required in removing
hickories than willows, but this is no
good reason for discouraging the rearing
and transplanting of the former. If the
preparatory processes are as carefully
attended to with the nut trees as with
our fruits and ornamental kinds, no
greater obstacles will be met in the way
of their successful culture.
If our farmers desire plantations of
oaks, hickories, chestnuts, black walnuts
and butternuts they have only to raise
seedlings in nursery rooms and seed
beds, then transplant and prune as they
would any other tree, without fear Of
severe losses. This is not said as a
theory, but from actual experience ex-
tending over many years, and with nearly
every species of tree found in our forests,
besides hundreds from other parts of the
world. We would as soon undertake to
plant hundred or a thousand acres
with chestnut trees from one to ten
years old as of apple trees of the same
age. And, further, we think a man
would be just as foolish to plant apple
seeds where the trees are to grow in an
orchard of this extent as shestnuts.-N.
Y. Sun.