The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-12-15

mulgated by some of our leading agri-
cultural and horticultural journals.
As an instance of these false teachings,
we quote the following from a recent
issue of one of the oldest agricultural
journals. In reply to correspondents
question, the editor says: "In max
ing chestnut plantations the seed
should always be planted where the
trees are to remain" Ne 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 experience in handling such trees
knows that a chestnut may ibe trans
planted as readily, and with as good
results, as the apple or pear. or course
it is not to be supposed that man can
go into the woods and pull or dig up a
lot of young chestnut trees and plant
them out again with the same pros
pects of success as he could a lot OF
apple or pear trees from a nursery, for
the latter have been prepared for
transplanting by special processes well
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
operation, and, when again set out.
the result of this pruning and removal
is a large number of side or lateral
roots, summing 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 it is termed, and very
few side or lateral ones; consequently,
to remome such trees and make them |
live might be difficult and uncertain
operation. But our worthy and eX-
perienced contemporary would never
advise planting apple and pear tree
seed "where the trees are to remain"
In orchards; and we are at a loss to
know why it should recommend the
treating of chestnut or other nut-bear
ing trees in this manner. 1t must know
that these trees have been successfully
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 distribu-
ted 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.
It Is the dissemination of erroneous
ideas regarding the facility with which
our nut-bearing trees may be trans
planted that has discouraged in a great
measure their propagation and Guilt
walton. In Europe, where everybody
appears to know that nut trees can be
readily removed without loss, they are
in great demand, and, as result, the
city of Paris can boast of more Amer
lean oaks growing within her limits,
and transplanted trees at that. than
can be found in all our large cities and
public parks combined. Now it is quite
time that all this nonsense about
planting seeds where the trees are to
grow as necessity, or even from an
economical point of view, was obliter-
aSed from our horticultural literature,
for It is as absurd 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 transplant as any one of our native
forest trees; but, through habit. we
have become accustomed to ses them
out in orchards. and nobody thinks
there ID sag Mystery or difhuty en-
eountsred in1 sfferming the operation. I
The same reerlt would follow from a
like femiliarsy With oaks, chesnuts !
and other-bearing trees. All that -
required to insure successful trans Il
planting of such trees is to treat them {
in the same manner as we do our va
rious kinds of fruit trees-that is,
the Seeding when one or
two years old, cutting off the tap root
in order to secure a free emission of
side or lateral roots, the greater part
of which can be left attached to thel
tree when removed from one place to
another. There is, it is true, differ
ence in trees as regards their sensitive
ness to the disturbance of their roots, !
some being transplanted more easily Z
than Others; hence greater care may
be required in removing hickories than /
willows, but this is no good reason for
the rearing and trans
planting of the former. If the prepar-
Rtory processes are as carefully attend 4
ed to with the nut trees as with our
fruits and ornamental kinds, no greater v
obstacles will be met in the way of
their successful culture. G
Hoar farmers desire plantations of
oaks, hickories, chesnuts, black wal
nuts and butternuts they have only to
raise seedlings in nursery rooms and seed
beds, then transplant and prune as
hey would any other tree, without
ear ofsevere losses. This is not said y
rs a theory, but from actual exper- ,
ence extending over many years, and
Eith nearly every species of trees =
cund in our forests, besides hundreds
rom others parts of the world. We
would as soon undertake to plant a
,undred or a thousand acres with !
,hesnuts trees from one to ten years
I'D as Of apple trees Of the samo age. OF
And, futher, we think a man would be
INST as foolish to plant apple seeds L
where the trees are to grow in an orch
ard of this extent as chesnuts.-N. Y s.
Sun.